Helpful Score: 3
Written by the acclaimed historian and commentator, Douglas Brinkley. Based, in part, upon the detailed diary that John Kerry kept during his two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Like other young men of privilege and connections, Kerry had the option of avoiding military service. However, he served in Vietnam because he chose to chose to. In its details, the book recounts the tale of a young man of great physical bravey and courage. Hoswever, in its broad outlines, it tells the story of a whole generation of young warriors who served a tour of duty in Vietnam; of a man who went to Vietnam without question to do his patriotic duty, as that duty was defined by an older generation, served bravely, but while serving came to see the futility of that war and to realize that his patriotic duty and and moral courage consisted of doing what he could to help stop the waste of brave young American lives.
Like other young men of privilege and connections, Kerry had the option of avoiding military service. However, he served in Vietnam because he chose to chose to. In its details, the book recounts the tale of a young man of great physical bravey and courage. Hoswever, in its broad outlines, it tells the story of a whole generation of young warriors who served a tour of duty in Vietnam; of a man who went to Vietnam without question to do his patriotic duty, as that duty was defined by an older generation, served bravely, but while serving came to see the futility of that war and to realize that his patriotic duty and and moral courage consisted of doing what he could to help stop the waste of brave young American lives.
