Rating: 
Summary: An epic story of a seperated genertaion
Review: THis book certainly details the hardships of cadet life at the United States Military Academy. Furthermore, it shows the struggle of being a good leader and duty in the face of adversity. By the end of the book you may feel as if Gerorge Crocker, Tom Carhart, and Jack Wheeler are the boys you grew up with. Details the harsh realties of war and the life after war. THis book does not miss a thing in the description of the USMA class of 66 as it details the death of classmates, the triumphs and downfalls of the living and the harshness of broken dreams. THe best book of the Vietnam War I have ever read and certainly a book that bears true lessons of life, courage and leadership.
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Summary: A Reviewer From That Era
Review: This book is about a few people from the West Point class of 1966. What about the classes of '56 and '57 ... and '60 and'61 and '62 and '63 ... and '70 and '71 and all the others before in between and after? What about the several times as many officers who were not from West Point who bled ... and died? And what about the hundreds of thousands of kids who were soldiers once ... and young ... and not maimed ... and not dead? Is this book representative, about them? No. Though pitched as a history of the Vietnam era, it isn't. This book does not tell the story of that era, it's but snapshots in time of a few West Point officers. Is this book inspirational? No. I found it to come off as a negative, chip-on-the-shoulder affair. Should students of history or prospective officers read it? No. I think it is discouraging. The author did a commendable job of doing much with little, highlighting people and stories that are not really that important or typical. But, many of us who are actually from that era feel this book does not accurately depict and represent our era. As this book can be misleading and depressing, I do not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: To Me, This Was Boring
Review: This book may be of interest to West Point officers who inadvertantly found themselves in Vietnam. But, to me, after all the great marketing hype and superlatives that drew me in, this book was boring. I give it a star for good writing and editing, but, those don't make a book interesting.
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Summary: OUTSTANDING MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY!
Review: This book was written about a lot more than just the West Point Class of 1966. This book was written about the sweeping social and political changes that took place from 1962 to 1971. The story begins in the year that the Class of '66 reported to West Point as plebes for Beast Barracks, and carries the reader through 1971, the year that the Class of '66 became eligible to resign their commissions, and beyond. This time period straddled some of the most timultuous years in US history. Well written and very readable, yet not a "lightweight" paperback. A great, truly inspiring story. Also, this book is a perfect complement to "The Nightingale's Song" by Robert Timberg, which chronicles the lives of five Vietnam-era Annapolis graduates, Sen. John McCain, John Poindexter, Robert McFarlain, Oliver North, and James Webb. Both are great books! Read them!
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. I felt myself interacting with all of the characters. I especially liked Buck Thompson who seemed like a fun person. This book should be required reading for all high school/college students. The sacrifices that men like Crocker, Carhart, Hayes, Kiley, Thompson
and Bonfias made is heroic.
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Summary: The class of '66
Review: This was my age. I am female, but learned a great deal about the academy and Vietnam thru this wonderfully written account. The characters were substantial and complete. I praise Rick Atkinson and I thank him.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Outstanding
Review: To anyone who lives outside of the United States, the term West Point is synomous with military leadership. But how, someome is made into a West Pointer is always being a little engimatic. Rick Atkinson's brilliant book tells us what is like to attend West Point and also the leadership of men in combat and the pressures of command. His depiction of the West West Point years of the Class of 66 are great and full of stories that you would not read elsewhere. The Class of 1966 suffered West Point's greatest number of casualties in Vietnam and that section of the book is almost impossible to put down. The fight on Hill 875 is documented with great care and gives some idea of what a waste war is. The period after the war is also documented with great sensitivity especially the incident at the DMZ in August 1976 when Captain Art Bonifas was murdered by vengeful North Korean guards. My only complaint with the new edition is that it could have gone into more detail about what class members have done since the original publication as some of these men were trusted with some of the US major military commands.
Rating:
Summary: Long Gray Line, West Point 66 Class from School to Combat
Review: What an exciting, engrossing book. You live the life of a plebe in the semi-pre-war, more casual era, then become wrapped in the clouds of the gathering storm clouds as the class progresses. You learn to know and love, hate, or appreciate each of the members as though you are there with them.
Through the lengthy reading process, you learn a great deal about life at West Point, rituals, bull, bonding, and training.
Finally you end up in combat and find that the enemy doesn't chose to play by many of the rules that you were taught, that you need to adapt or die. You learn that the order of allegiance becomes your foxhole buddy, your squad, your company, and way down the line becomes some distant concept of why we are fighting this war...you are fighting to protect your men, your friends.
As men who are as real to your as your own classmates die, you grieve with the author. As men begin to harden and tear, you begin to understand Post-traumatic Stress. As men race against odds you begin to understand the terms from other books like "a hail of bullets", "SNAFU", "CYA", "Duty, Honor, Country."
At the end of the book, you are fatigued, you need R&R, you want to go sit and have a beer with your friends and family and sit with the dog and watch the kids play in the neighborhood. You look a little differently when the flag goes by in the next parade.
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