[2SD]≫ PDF Gratis Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes 9780979528538 Books

Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes 9780979528538 Books

Download As PDF : Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes 9780979528538 Books

Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes 9780979528538 Books

As a grunt in Bravo 1:1 Marines (May 1967-June1968) in VietNam, I buried my thoughts and memories for 50 years. Thanks to the Ken Burns/Linda Novick VietNam documentary, and to my very compassionate wife, I am finally exploring what i had suppressed. Karl's book is a critical part of my journey.

My wife and i each read our own copy simultaneously, and discussed it daily as we did. The book - because it is so clear, accurate and well-told - is an excellent assist in this discussion. From weapons to strategy, enlisted/officer differences, racial disparity, role of NVA vs VC, terrain and weather variation and impact, thoughts and feelings during combat, booby traps, good luck/bad luck, religion and the role of god, training vs reality, the different commitement to the war we felt vs that felt by the NVA and the implications of that - the stimulus for deep conversation is all there.

Matterhorn is a perfect complement to the VietNam documentary. Matterhorn tells the story of the day-to-day experience in a combat situation as well as any book i have read, and far better than most. While written as a novel, it is obvious this book is based on real-life experiences by the author.

Karl, thank you for helping me think through, and discuss with my wife and other close friends, that which i have kept buried for half a century. WOW!


Tags : Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War [Karl Marlantes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The novel is set during the winter monsoon season of 1968-69 on and around a fire support base called Matterhorn,Karl Marlantes,Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War,El Leon Literary Arts,0979528534,Literature & Fiction Literature

Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes 9780979528538 Books Reviews

I have had this excellent novel on my shelf for some time, but put off reading it due to the length. Recently, I ran into a friend, a retired Army LtCol, who suggested I read it and tell him what I thought. He found it discouraging that so many screwed up officers were depicted. So I read it. Like the author, I am a Vietnam vet; however, I was doubly fortunate. First, the Corps decided---I wasn't asked in 64--that I was going to be a Radio Relay Tech and sent me to electronics school. That meant while I was with an infantry regiment, the 26th Marines at Khe Sanh, I was with Rgt. HQ for my time in Vietnam, except for a month when my team was assigned to the Combined Action Company in Khe Sanh Ville. Secondly, Khe Sanh was pretty quiet in 1967 when I was there; I rotated home on September 10th, about four months before Tet, when things got interesting. (They was scared to attack while I was there!) So my combat experience was mostly hugging the ground at Da Nang, or Phu Bai and praying one of the incoming rockets or mortars didn't drop on me. Lt. Marlantes, conversely, was a line company infantry officer. He holds the Navy Cross, three other medals for valor and two purple hearts. This more than attests that he was in more "s*** sandwiches" than are depicted in his novel. So I have not the experience to judge the accuracy of his descriptions of ground combat in the bush, but they have the ring of absolute truth to me. There is a helpful glossary at the end for the non-vet, which I didn't need, though some terminology had changed between my time and his. The thing I found most surprising was the level of racial tension depicted. In my time, there was some on Okinawa before I went down to Nam. I was in an outfit where a black staff Sergeant Russell was, I felt, marginalized by the other senior NCOs due to his race (comments were made) and I thought he was the best NCO they had. And there was a place called Four Corners where white Marines did not dare to go on liberty. But I saw none of it at Khe Sanh in 67, and Marine buddies, black and white who were grunts told me that it was nonexistent in the line companies at the time. Everyone was too busy killing NVA and trying to stay alive. But I don't doubt Marlantes. By the time I got to Lejeune in 68, things were worse there and I heard they were much worse after I got out.
The thing that struck me about this novel was that I kept wishing those PC elitists who feel all warm and fuzzy about lobbing for women in combat should read it and imaging their daughters--or themselves--in one of the assaults by Bravo Company depicted in this book. But they won't, and their kids will never serve. Other folk's kids will die so they can feel good about being for equality. I highly recommend this book. And yes, Colonel, the Marine Corps has some great officers and NCOs I'd follow anywhere, and some not worth what we paid them. Just like other walks of life.
I am not qualified, so I will not attempt a literary review of the book "Matterhorn". What I am qualified to comment on is the authenticity of this novel. I was in Vietnam at the same time the author was, our experience differed mainly in the name of our units. Marlantes was in Charlie 1/4, I was in Alpha 1/4. It's all so accurate, so real, and brought back a flood of memories from my time in the jungle. If a person wants to know what it was like to be a grunt in a Marine Corps rifle Co in I Corps in the Republic of Vietnam in the late 60's, then read "Matterhorn". I cannot express how impressed I was by this novel. Mr. Marlantes NAILED it. He wrote my story, and the story of the men I humped those jungle trails with, the men I fought, cried, and died with. Thank you Sir.

Semper Fi
As a grunt in Bravo 11 Marines (May 1967-June1968) in VietNam, I buried my thoughts and memories for 50 years. Thanks to the Ken Burns/Linda Novick VietNam documentary, and to my very compassionate wife, I am finally exploring what i had suppressed. Karl's book is a critical part of my journey.

My wife and i each read our own copy simultaneously, and discussed it daily as we did. The book - because it is so clear, accurate and well-told - is an excellent assist in this discussion. From weapons to strategy, enlisted/officer differences, racial disparity, role of NVA vs VC, terrain and weather variation and impact, thoughts and feelings during combat, booby traps, good luck/bad luck, religion and the role of god, training vs reality, the different commitement to the war we felt vs that felt by the NVA and the implications of that - the stimulus for deep conversation is all there.

Matterhorn is a perfect complement to the VietNam documentary. Matterhorn tells the story of the day-to-day experience in a combat situation as well as any book i have read, and far better than most. While written as a novel, it is obvious this book is based on real-life experiences by the author.

Karl, thank you for helping me think through, and discuss with my wife and other close friends, that which i have kept buried for half a century. WOW!