Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman (ISBN 1591135125)

Don't miss this one !:
For those of us who served and the families of those who served, Mr. Basnar's vivid, factual, and emotional accounts of the dailey life of infantrymen in Vietnam will capture the imigination of all who read this outstanding book. "Vietnam Vignettes" will seize your attention with not only the life and death struggles of those in combat but will also share with you the tough, reasoned decisions of a rifle company commander who is entrusted with the lives of the American soldier.

Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman:
Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman gives a first hand view of the Vietnam War as described by Lee Basnar, an American infantry sergeant and then captain during two tours (1967-1968 and 1970-1971) in Vietnam. However, though the stories are based upon Basnar's experiences many of the stories and situations illustrating in this book are common to any infantry grunt completing a tour of duty during the Vietnam War. This book contains three parts. The first section, Opening the Duffel Bag, includes background information about Vietnam and about Basnar's first impressions of the country during his first tour of duty in 1967-1968. Commanding Charlie Company, the section of this book, includes stories about Basnar's second tour of duty in 1970-1971. This section holds the bulk of the chapters and experiences of the infantry captain's experiences during this second tour. On the Way. Wait. is the final section of this book and contain accounts of Basnar's final days in Vietnam. The stories contained in these sections range from comical through heroic to bone chilling. Many of these descriptions aim to educate readers about the cultural and lifestyle differences between regular American life and the life of a grunt during the Vietnam War. These differences are key in understanding the significant conflicts and experiences that these people had while in Vietnam and upon their arrival back to the United States. It is important to note, however, that the author has taken great pains not to preach either the ills or glories of the Vietnam War. His accounts are simply experiences that needed to be shared. Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman is an extremely valuable work. Beyond the amazing insight into the lives of those serving in the Vietnam War, this book entertains, rivets, and terrifies the reader from start to finish. No matter what your personal opinion of the Vietnam War, this book is a must read.

Written from the heart:
Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman by Lee Basnar is an exceptional book written from the heart. With staccato-like shifts of scenes, Basner's book resembles Vietnam War television news clips. However, Mr. Basnar's reporting goes far beyond the 1960's news clips. With his spare prose style, Mr. Basnar not only describes war scenes and events, he also evokes the physical sensation of the war, the incessant noise and the extreme physical discomforts, as well as "the odors. . .the heat, and the soil of Vietnam." The descriptions of violence are never gratuitous. Each vignette serves as a focal point for a particular feeling or experience that creates, for the reader, a mosaic of the entire war experience. Despite the severe hardships of the war, Mr. Basnar never loses sight of the beauty of the landscape and laments, at one point, that, in the lull of the war's infernal noise, he does not hear the song of a bird. Most importantly, Mr. Basnar conveys the human feelings he experienced as the commander of Charlie Company. The author's straightforward presentation and acceptance of his feelings puts a humanitarian face on the sometimes graphic war scenes. He describes the intense loyalty of his comrades and his troops' courage and toughness. He touches candidly on the futility of the war and explains the will to survive, not simply a sense of patriotism, as the primary motivation for himself and his troops to fulfill their duties. True victory was staying alive to return home to cherished families. He describes his feelings of fear in battle and the guilt, anguish and sense of failure when any of his men died or were wounded. At times he experienced these same feelings when he witnessed or was responsible for the deaths of the enemy. Despite the trauma and intensity of emotional hurt in the war, Mr. Basnar does not neglect the lighter moments of humor in the Vietnam experience, for example, being the honored guest of a Vietnamese family celebrating Tet. Mr. Basnar has dedicated his book to his troops whom he decribes as "true warriors." He also seems to be making peace with the ghosts of the past that still haunt him. Vietnam Vignettes is a valuable book, not only for readers with a special interest in understanding the Vietnam War, but for any reader who has suffered any severe trauma. Mr. Basnar, I salute you. I, for one, am looking forward to your next book.

Honoring the efforts of our troops:
When I read Vietnam Vignettes, I was transported back to my own two humanitarian trips to Vietnam in recent years. But what a difference! Though my friends and I were met with nothing but warm welcomes and shows of generosity, we tried to imagine what it must have been like thirty years before. Through the pages of Lee Basnar's book, I learned of the fear, the distrust, the misery, the bonding and the loneliness experienced by our young men and women in a land so far from home and loved ones. The book gave me a much better understanding of today's troops in foreign lands and of the scars left by such events.

Revives Memories Without Causing Harm:
It was good to have some memories of Vietnam revived. Lee revived them without causing harm. Whether the reader was in Vietnam or not, this book offers a perspective on daily life in the war zone without saddling the reader with the a requirement to relive the politics. You can read this book without risk. Lee Basnar should be honored and thanked both for his service in Vietnam and for writing this book.