Rating: 
Summary: Must read for military history buffs
Review: As usual Rick Atkinsons' writing was complete, insightful and poinient. He brought out the questions and problem of an entire generation of soldiers. Anyone in the military during the mid-60's until the late-70's will find this book full of the same questions in our minds as those Mr. Atkinson has written about. I highly recommend this book to all.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fine Line
Review: Atkinson did a wonderful job with this book. Atkinson wrote about the West Point Class of 1966, following the lives of the men during their years at West Point, through Vietnam, and beyond. As he told a fascinating tale of the cultural changes in our country from the 1960's to the 1980's, he attacked a few Hollywood myths about the Vietnam experience. For one example, the army was not full of unhappy druggies at the time.Atkinson shared anecdotes about many people, but he followed most closely the story of three. One was George Crocker, an army career man; then there was Tom Carhart, whose attitude towards the Vietnam War and the army went through peaks and valleys; and finally there was Jack Wheeler, who liked the army, but did not want to fight. To further flesh out our understanding of life in the army for the West Point graduate of 1966, Atkinson went into great detail on the lives of a couple of people who never served in the army. The two were a minister who worked at the West Point Chapel even though he was a civilian and a widow of an officer who survived Vietnam only to be killed in a border incident between North and South Korea. The book was very well done, but it was not without flaw. Of course this problem might not have been possible to solve, given the scope of the work. As the lives of the graduates unfolded over the years, and Atkinson switched from one person's story to update another, it was sometimes hard to keep all the names straight. It was occasionally difficult to remember all the back story of someone and fit the new developments within the appropriate context. Again, this probably could not have been helped, since Atkinson wanted to cast his net as wide as possible to show us what life was really like for these people. He obviously could not narrow his focus without losing a part of the big picture. This book was great for pleasure reading, but it was informative enough to serve as a wonderful resource for students of military history, Vietnam, and/or life in AMerica in the 1960's and 1970's.
Rating:
Summary: To counter the review entitled: A Reviewer From That Era
Review: First of all the book is about one class at WEST POINT. Not about ROTC, or enlisted folk, or any of the other classes at west point. It's called the long gray line for a reason bud (that's what they call all the graduates from West Point if you didn't know). So my question to you would be why are you buying and reading a book OBVIOUSLY about West Point and expect to get a book about every other commissioning source and elisted personnel in the Military. I mean come on man...use some common sense
Rating:
Summary: To counter the review entitled: A Reviewer From That Era
Review: First of all the book is about one class at WEST POINT. Not about ROTC, or enlisted folk, or any of the other classes at west point. It's called the long gray line for a reason bud (that's what they call all the graduates from West Point if you didn't know). So my question to you would be why are you buying and reading a book OBVIOUSLY about West Point and expect to get a book about every other commissioning source and elisted personnel in the Military. I mean come on man...use some common sense
Rating:
Summary: Bang on target
Review: Get and read this book. The Long Gray Line provides a wonderful view of one specific slice of the Vietnam experience. No, it does not focus on enlisted men, or nurses, or the helicopter experience, or the class of 1957, or the generals, or the politics, etc. To cover everything asked for in one reviewer's missive, a multi-volume tome would be required. Where TLGL succeeds is in following a small group of high school seniors into and through West Point, into Vietnam, and beyond. Atkinson captures the personalities of these young men, and traces their changes as they move through school, war, peace, and life. The changes are more pronounced that what most of us go through, mainly because of the uniqueness of West Point and the abattoir of Vietnam. I will say that few other books, especially non-fiction books, have made me care for their characters enough to weep. Several times while reading this book, and even when re-reading it, I found myself looking at the accompanying photographs of the men and getting teary eyed. Such nobility, such humaness, such loss. This book stays on the bookcase, not in the attic.
Rating:
Summary: Bang on target
Review: Get and read this book. The Long Gray Line provides a wonderful view of one specific slice of the Vietnam experience. No, it does not focus on enlisted men, or nurses, or the helicopter experience, or the class of 1957, or the generals, or the politics, etc. To cover everything asked for in one reviewer's missive, a multi-volume tome would be required. Where TLGL succeeds is in following a small group of high school seniors into and through West Point, into Vietnam, and beyond. Atkinson captures the personalities of these young men, and traces their changes as they move through school, war, peace, and life. The changes are more pronounced that what most of us go through, mainly because of the uniqueness of West Point and the abattoir of Vietnam. I will say that few other books, especially non-fiction books, have made me care for their characters enough to weep. Several times while reading this book, and even when re-reading it, I found myself looking at the accompanying photographs of the men and getting teary eyed. Such nobility, such humaness, such loss. This book stays on the bookcase, not in the attic.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting
Review: Having served in Vietnam twice as an infantry officer I of course found this a fascinating book. Though I did not go to West Point I had a Regular Army commission which basically sent me through the same training as West Point graduates--Ranger School and Airborne School--and units--82d Airborne Division, 199th Light Infantry Brigade and the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Additionally I spent one summer training the yearlings at West Point in hand to hand combat and patrolling. My life crossed and intermingled with the class of '66 throughout my four years of service. Reading this book brought back many memories--some good and some too colorful to reveal to anyone but myself. Years after reading this book I am still haunted by the memory of Tommy Hayes. The one person who remains very much alive in my mind and I cannot forget though I never knew him.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED THIS ONE
Review: Highly recommend this one wheather or not you are into military history. This book addresses the social problems, structure and everyday problems found in our country today, looking through the eyes of a specialized group. This book should be added to any military collection. The author has done a very good job of reporting. The book is an easy read and quite informative as well as thought provoking. Thank you Mr Atkison.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone Should Read This Book
Review: I bought this book when I was in college in part for its insights on Vietnam and also for its insights on West Point. I had a friend that went off to West Point and the tales that came back were almost too much to believe. Well, now I believe them. What a book!! It reads like fiction, but of course it's better since you know it all really happened. This book is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: one of the best military history/biographies ever written
Review: I consider myself a rational, intelligent person; unfortunately, I did a very stupid thing last night - I stayed up until 4:30am to finish this book! I could not go to bed! If you like military books, or if you just like engaging biographies about fascinating lives, you will love this book. Extremely well written. A must read.
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