The Vietnam War was responsible for widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the late 1960s. The United States' involvement in Indochina was an issue that pitted friend against friend and generation against generation. Indeed, America was torn between sharply divergent opinions. For those young Americans who were drafted into service against their will, the thought of Vietnam, even years later, sent chills of anger and fear through their bodies. For those who sought the opportunity to fight, the vision of heroism and accomplishment swelled their chests with pride. When U.S. involvement ended in 1973, however, it was the anguish of defeat that haunted the souls of those who participated as well as the bitterness of a nation conflicted by wounded pride and relief. A 1980 movie, A Rumor of War, based on Philip J. Caputo's book by the same title, reflects much of the pain and ambivalence the nation came to know too well.
Like most Americans in the 1950s, Caputo grew up knowing little of Asia and virtually nothing of Vietnam. After the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the possibility of the spread of communism in Vietnam captured the attention of the United States. For the next ten years, diplomatic tensions grew between these two nations. As North Vietnamese Communists began to threaten South Vietnam, the United States initiated a military counter to Asian communist aggression. On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which empowered President Lyndon B. Johnson to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States in order to prevent further aggression by Communist insurgents of North Vietnam against the government of South Vietnam. The President steadily increased U.S. troop levels until they reached nearly a half million men by 1968. However, as a result of the TET Offensive launched by Communist forces, American leaders were forced to begin negotiations to achieve a quick end to the war.
Philip Caputo is a product of the US Marines system during the Vietnam War. ... Caputo's mind now has to take on a new factor: death. ... This is very personal to Caputo. ... This brings a mixture of depression and anger to Caputo. Doing this work is the moment that makes Caputo's mind ready to take action. ...
Philip Caputo starts his story from his indecision of what to do with his life after high school. ... Caputo told his story from a point of view that no media source could have covered during that time. ... I found Caputo's words to paint a very explicit picture. ... Caputo really drew you into his words. ... Philip Caputo did a wonderful job writing this book. ...
Philip Caputo, author of "A Rumor of War," was born in 1941. ... Caputo is best known for "A Rumor of War," but has written 14 other books. ... However, his time away from the battlefields gave Caputo a different outlook on the war. ... One day, troops under Caputo's command miscarried orders and deliberately shot two suspects. ... Philip Caputo uses himself as a source for his book "A Rumor of War." ...
Caputo had one of the most unique perspectives on the war possible. ... Caputo's book chronicles the sixteen months of the war, or at least what he saw of it. ... While Caputo is cleared of all charges he is sent home soon after. ... I found Caputo's words to paint a very explicit picture. ... Caputo really drew you into his words. ...
Caputo suffering from youth took his commander's comments too seriously. ... The men in the military along with Caputo were drawn to war (71). ... Lemon, the platoon sergeant, told Caputo that Sullivan had been sniped while filling canteens a few days after Caputo left. ... The job of reporting casualties kept Caputo busy most of the time. ... Caputo used "Sympathetic detonation" on the casualty report. ...
Caputo suffering from youth took his commander's comments too seriously. ... The men in the military along with Caputo were drawn to war (71). ... Lemon, the platoon sergeant, told Caputo that Sullivan had been sniped while filling canteens a few days after Caputo left. ... The job of reporting casualties kept Caputo busy most of the time. ... Caputo used "Sympathetic detonation" on the casualty report. ...
Philip Caputo was not only an amazing Marine Lieutenant, but he was also a very talented writer. ... Caputo was not very thrilled about his switch, but he went with his head held high. ... It was based around Philip Caputo and began when he decided to join the Marines. ... Caputo ends up in Da Nang serving as a Platoon leader. ... A Rumor of War was written not long after Caputo's experience in this tragic war. ...
Philip Caputo was a young man caught up in one of the most troubled times in our nation's history. ... He was feeling his canteen and was shot by a sniper while Caputo was gone for some R and R. he thought he should have been there and was very upset. ... Caputo could not believe that the commanding officers really did not care, at how many American lives were lost. ... By this time Caputo was beginning to gave nightmares of the people he had watched die in Vietnam. ... Caputo's story of Vietnam tells us a lot about the confusion and turmoil our soldiers experienced in the war. ...
