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Indlæser... Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat (1985)af James R. McDonough
  
Ingen Der er ingen diskussionstråde på Snak om denne bog.  sacredheart25 | Mar 18, 2017 |  A very unique inside look at life as an inexperienced young officer being thrown into the most emotionally and phsically challenging experience of his life. This book is a very good "heads up" read for young leaders in both the civilian and military sectors. (  ) gslim96 | Sep 18, 2010 | ingen anmeldelser | tilføj en anmeldelse
A remarkable memoir of small-unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in Vietnam.' "Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, McDonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a U.S. platoon taking part in the 'strategic hamlet' program. . . . Rather than present a potpourri of combat yarns. . . McDonough has focused a seasoned storyteller’s eye on the details, people, and incidents that best communicate a visceral feel of command under fire. . . . For the author’s honesty and literary craftsmanship, Platoon Leader seems destined to be read for a long time by second lieutenants trying to prepare for the future, veterans trying to remember the past, and civilians trying to understand what the profession of arms is all about.”–Army Times No library descriptions found. |
 Google Books — Indlæser...Populære omslagVurderingGennemsnit: (3.9)
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This is the second time I've read this book. When I first started reading about Vietnam I wanted to find out what the US was doing there aside from reading about it from historical accounts which I knew to be slanted politically and often unreliable factually. Memoirs became the easiest way to find out what soldiers, marines, airman and sailors were occupied with in their own words. I have learned so much from Vietnam memoirs that some have been the most beautiful reflections I have ever read. War is war and it is never an easy topic to cover but books such as this make the sacrifices offered by thousands upon thousands of people somewhat understandable given the heartbreaking circumstances they were put in.
This book goes over the basic elements of military leadership. Care for his soldiers, making tough decisions which others might not agree with, dealing with ranking officers above him who may be incompetent, trying to make sense of a war policy that may not be able to achieve political victory even when a tactical loss is never suffered.
Probably not the most exciting book on the war or even the most profoundly felt one either. It is nevertheless a sincere work by Brooklyn man born of an Irish father and Italian mother and who was so proud of his country that he did not shrink from serving in a war that his newlywed wife must have agonized through. The book is written (1985) to pay homage to the men he served with who never received the rewards of a grateful nation once they returned home. McDonough does not seem to be religious or else deliberately removes those type of recollections from this book.