Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam

Masters of the Art is a superbly crafted memoir of one man's journey through a Marine Corps enlistment in the late 1960s, at the height of the Vietnam War. The account describes scenes and events that every former Marine reading this book will be able to relate to. This is one of the book's many attributes, one that sets it apart from other war stories. The author is an accomplished writer with something to say in each of the book's 26 chapters. His writing style grabs your attention in the opening paragraphs of each, and does not let go until the message is clear. The process then re-cycles on another theme or topic, in the next chapter. From the turmoil of family relationships, to enlistment, through boot camp, ITR, and aerial combat as a door gunner on a CH-46 Sea Knight, the author takes you on an excursion through the various stages of his life. While the events he describes are often humorous, they can be somber or melancholy. They are always insightful and provide the reader with a snippet of the events the author deems important to the forming of his character. As one might expect from a story involving warfare, death and dying are also touched upon. Most often the author's perspective is dependent upon whether the process is being inflicted upon the enemy or a close friend. In a style all his own, the author puts into perspective the weight of events that transpire on the battlefield to forge the bonds that will forever hold together marines who have fought together. Of significance here, and reiterated in several places in the book, the author learns what he terms "emotional compartmentalization", a defense mechanism he attributes to having allowed him to function effectively within the chaos of the battlefield environment where emotional attachment is often veiled to preserve sanity. If you are a veteran Marine, this book will spark memories that can either warm your heart or bring you to sadness, often within sentences of one another. I do not believe that anyone will walk away from this book unaffected. For me, it brought with it a new found respect for the Marines who fly to support the Grunts, for theirs is truly a dangerous mission. Finally, in the book's epilogue, the author looks back and puts the Vietnam experience into a much wider historical perspective. It is the author's contention that the stance the United States military took against communist aggression in South Vietnam provided surrounding nations in Southeast Asia with the time needed to prepare their militaries and their economies, thus making it more difficult for communism to turn them. In this sense, Vietnam was not fought in vain. On the other hand, under pressure from war protesters, our government's decision to withdraw support from Vietnam directly lead to the fall of South to the North. The peoples of our country and others, turned their backs on the peoples of South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the years following Saigon's fall, permi

This chronicles what the helicopter doop gunner's job entailed.It's consice and very accurate.

Having never been in military, war is a foreign concept to most of us. This book sheds light on a very sensitive issue.It brings a sense of understanding to the average person. Highly recommended!

I was very impressed with the frankness and honesty in this book. It held me captive from beginning to end. The parallels to the war in Iraq provided a startling inside view on today's issues. This book is an incredible tribute to America's veterans, both modern day and from the Vietnam era.

Recommended reading for anyone who cares about our nation's international involvements, as well of students of military and aviation history. Relates to Iraq in ways that many in Washington at completely missing.