...A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo, a man's first-hand experiences during the Vietnam War. Philip Caputo is a Lieutenant during the Vietnam War and illustrates the harsh reality of what war really is. Caputo's in-depth details of his experience during the war are enough to make one cringe, and the eventual mental despair often experienced by soldiers (including Caputo) really makes you feel for participants taking part in this dreadful war atmosphere. Giving way to the parties and the common fun associated with college kids, Caputo failed out of college and realized what he really wanted to be was a Marine. He joined the Marines and went through a lot of officer training until he eventually reached what would be known as his final rank of Lieutenant. Introduced to the Vietnam War in 1965 as a Platoon leader, Caputo walked into the war a little scared but with a lot of determination. I found Caputo’s words to paint a very explicit picture. His style of writing revealed the emotions he must have felt while going through such a life changing experience. I liked the way he put all things, emotions, reflections and actions, into words. He explained every man in detail, and made you feel as if you knew them too. The way he felt sorry for the men who died was touching. Also, the way he explained his annoyance when he raided his first village, the way the women looked who had no feeling in her face. Caputo really drew you into his words. It made me think about the way men and women...
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...An old review from Courtlandt Bryan writes, “Every war seems to find its own voice: Caputo . . . is an eloquent spokesman for all we lost in Vietnam” (PC). Second Lieutenant Philip Caputo, veteran of the Vietnam War, brought us an outstanding memoir called A Rumor of War in which he details his 16-month long tour to Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps in the year of 1965. Now, over 50 years later, it seems Caputo is still affected by the war, though continues to move on with his life. Married, divorced, and children have just been a few major milestones that have changed Caputo’s life. Although in a war where he thought all might be lost, he has journeyed far since his young twenty-three year-old self first arrived in Vietnam. At...
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...A Rumor of War Book Review “ ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet…he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved” Matthew 24:6 Philip Caputo’s relationship with the Vietnam War is depicted in a disturbingly beautiful way in the memoir “A Rumor of War.” Throughout the course of the book, approximately 16 months, we observe a young, ambitious boy ready to prove his manhood, in search of adventure turn into an aged disillusioned man. The words Caputo uses give the sense of involvement, the sense of being right there with the troops, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, but really, we are never even close. Caputo has humble intentions for writing the novel. He wants us to see what he saw and try to understand what happened from another perspective. The words he uses and the way he ties them together are full of passion. Only through a thorough reading of the novel can one appreciate the work and sincerity of this memoir. Furthermore, the reader comes to the conclusion that through the situations presented to these military men, vicious inhumane behaviors become inevitable. Caputo does an amazing job at capturing the dynamic changes in behaviors, mental states, and attitudes, within individuals as well as within the platoon as a whole. "Most of all we learned about death at an early age when it is common to think of oneself as immortal. Everyone loses that illusion...
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