A Murder in Wartime: The Untold Spy Story That Changed the Course of the Vietnam War

This work is shocking in that It shows us how twisted, complex and confusing the Vietnam war could be. For those who remember those turbulent times I highly recommend it.

The author did a superb job focusing on these events and the primary players. Wish however he'd included more about General Abrams' other crusades to destroy US Army Special Forces (SF). Too, aside from the reasons given for President Nixon having charges dropped against our commander, Colonel Rheault, there was an additional undertaking within SF to influence Nixon to make such a decision. Never did get any feedback as to whether or not word of our raid planning reached the top as intended. Also very glad our guys were freed before the raid was launched - could have been very messy. Otherwise the book illustrates perfectly why conventional Army brass of Abrams' variety have no business commanding SF programs; neutralizing enemy agents really gets their panties in a wad. De Oppresso Liber

Jeff Stein's "A Murder in Wartime" bravely tackles all of the moral issues of wartime in general and the moral ambiguities attached to the Vietnam War, in particular. In 1969 eight Green Berets were accused of murdering a Vietnamese who may or may not have been a spy for North Vietnam. The case called into question the morality of waging a guerilla war, the role of the regular U.S. Army in such a context, the control of the CIA, and the politics of waging an unpopular war. Stein manages to weave all of these issues and dozens of key participants in the alleged murder and its aftermath without losing focus. Stein's narrative style flows easily through the perspective of all the key personnel and pulls the reader into the moral and ethical wilderness these people faced. Stein is careful not to pass judgement on the Green Berets charged with the crime, or on the regular Army establishment who may have seized on this incident just to put the Green Berets in their place. Instead he allows the reader to face the same dilemma all of these people did and make their own choices. An outstanding piece of historical writing.

This is one of the best books I have read on the Vietnam war. Well written. If I could get the rights, I would turn it into a film. Well worth the read. Find it if you can.

After reading "A Muder In Wartime" I concluded that everyone had the best of intent, even when they were acting in complete opposition. Acting under the color of their government's authority, American Army officers killed one of their agents for, at best, inconclusive reasons. No big deal, he was Vietnamese. It was happening every day. They were charged with murder -- by their own Army. What insanity, they were doing a terrible job and now they were being persecuted by their own government. In secret to boot. This wasn't suppose to happen to Americans. At the core this case paints our dilemma of being in Vietnam -- complexities, involved motives, conflicting loyalities, and no clear picture of right and wrong. The case was our morality play. Everyone thinks they are acting in the best interest of their mission, their country. The victim and his family were left behind in Vietnam. It was a harbinger of darker things