Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History

"Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans," by Wallace Terry, brings together the voices of 20 veterans. The book includes, as Terry notes in his introduction, "Enlisted men, noncommissioned officers, and commissioned officers. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines." Also included are men who served time as prisoners-of-war. Altogether the time spent by these men in Vietnam spans from 1963 to 1973. This is a diverse and compelling collection of personal stories. The men in the book held a wide variety of military jobs in Vietnam, among them rifleman, combat engineer, medic, interpreter, combat photographer, electronic warfare officer, armorer, combat paratrooper, and more. The veterans discuss many topics: racism, interracial friendship and bonding, receiving and recovering from wounds, wartime atrocities, and post-Vietnam life. It's hard to pick out a few representative stories from this rich and rewarding collection, but I'll try. One man describes his work as an activist for incarcerated veterans after the war; another discusses becoming a champion amputee athlete after being disabled in Vietnam; another fondly remembers one of the war's military working dogs. Fred Cherry's graphic account of his suffering as a POW is devastating. Dwyte Brown's memories of the inland R & R spot-a "paradise"-make for an ironic and enjoyable contrast to some of the grimmer entries. And Sergeant Major Edgar Huff's chapter recalls not just Vietnam, but a Marine Corps career that spanned three decades. Terry's text masterfully captures vernacular speech. I could really imagine these veterans speaking the words. The book also includes black-and-white photographs; a glossary of military terms, acronyms, and slang; and a chronology of the Vietnam War. Moving and powerful, "Bloods" is, in my opinion, an important contribution to the fields of African-American studies and military history.

Mr. Terry. Has gone to the very soul of the men who were the participants in his fine book, anyone veteran or non vet will feel the joy the sadness of all veterans and above all the fright that was an every day feeling from the highlands to the aircraft carriers on yankee station

This is simply the best book written by an American about war. Mr. Terry interviewed grunts who more often than not had been to Hell and the book captures the flailing, coughing evil of the place. Terry avoids the B.S. that goes with military ambition. His men were Black soldiers with no sense of "pro patria mori" and varying loyalty to the greater patriotic cause. This book is a dead-down opposite to William Manchester's "American Caesar," a first-rate biography of Douglas MacArthur, who is deservedly revered as a courageous soldier and brilliant general. Terry's "Oral History" reaches down into our humanity and finds a core of emotion that must have been with us when we lived in caves, fearing wild beasts. ****** The challenge is finishing "Bloods." Hell is impossible to visit; "Bloods" is as close as you're going to get. ****** This reviewer carries a VA "purple card."

As an new age Army veterian, I have had the opputunity to read many books about Veitnam, but when I found Mr. Wallace Terry Book, I was amased that I can finally read about the black soldier prospective. Over the years I find myself picking up this book again and again, I have 5 copy's in my collects now, To those who want to know how it was during those time, take my advice get the book...

Racism in the American military helped to prevent American political objectives in Vietnam from becoming a reality. The enemy exploited white racism to the point it divided our forces and reduced our military ability to exert its full capabilities... too many Americans left the Constitution at home. "Bloods" tells it like it is. A superb collection. I applaud it.