The Cat from Hue: A Vietnam War Story

Rating:
Summary: a 300 page book "packed into" 850 pages
Review: A very interesting perspective on the war that was somewhat enlightening, but highly redundant and self-indulgent.

Getting through it was a painful slog.

Rating:
Summary: but zero stars for integrity
Review: After a brilliant, haunting description of the battle of Hue, the author flashes back to his experience of a 101st airborne raid in the central highlands, 1965. In the description of this action, it is clear that he was aware that the wanton killing of innocent Vietnamese civilians was going on near the beginning of Laurence's experience in Vietnam. Why did he allow his experience to be confused and diluted by his TV editors? No wonder he was haunted by Vietnam. He could have blown the whistle early on. Career issues prevented this, as it did for too many.

Rating:
Summary: Journalists are not warriors...
Review: Although there are some very cute parts of the book dealing with the cat from Hue, a journalist's perspective of the war in Vietnam is very different from those fighting it.

A member of a major media machine, as this author was, knew they could always get out of a combat zone or even go back to the "world" anytime they wished. The common Marine "grunt" or Army soldier did not have that option. They were there until their tour of duty was over, they were badly wounded or died. The comraderie of young men thrown into the horrors of war can only be experienced by those who have no choice but to face that horror, day after day. No journalist who did not serve in the military in combat will ever truly know what that is like.

This is a good book if you keep in mind the author's relative safety and autonomy compared to the people he is reporting about. To really experience the Vietnam war from the ground level perspective of combat Marine or soldier, there are better books written by those who actually served. This is not one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Insider's History of Nam
Review: As a contemporary of the author in many ways, I understand his mindset in writing this book and agree with his comment in a
C-Span Booknotes interview that this book is his "life's work".
It brings to life that turbulent time of mixed emotions and loyalties which the war provoked in America...and makes you know why. A crusade for good became evil to the crusaders as much as the invaded. This work is superbly written and quite disturbing
as it reawakes the dormant memories of that period. This is a
book that simply had to be written and should be in every military library worldwide - alongside "The Nightingale's Song".
Shakespeare would understand the tragic elements herein.

Rating:
Summary: A Memoir & A Summing Up of the Vietnam experience
Review: At long last, more than 25 years after the shooting stopped, legendary television war-correspondent John Laurence has written what might be called the last, final "bookend" volume to a stunning but uneven cascade of post-WWII, post-Korea war reports, starting with David Halberstam's "The Making of a Quagmire." Laurence's massive undertaking -- 848 pages --goes from the innocence and wildness of the 60s generation through the eventual horror of a nation and its leaders, to a re-thinking of imperialism and democracy in the 21st Century. "The Cat From Hue" -- and there really IS a cat from Hue -- conveys America's learning process and its consequences, examined by one of the architects of "the living-room war." Whether you've read all of "the Vietnam books," or none of them, "The Cat From Hue" delivers what the publisher calls "enlightened non-fiction," complete with foolish and fatal anecdotes, revelations of reporters perfecting their craft, and finding the truth, in the field and in the Alice-in-Wonderland world of "the military media." Laurence's carefully-kept notes and recordings provide a factual underpinning for a style that rivals Hammett, Forsythe and even Graham Greene in the depth, swagger and surprise of its findings.

Rating:
Summary: Destined to be a Vietnam War Classic
Review: Being a Vietnam veteran myself, I have read every major title ever published on the war. I can honestly say that The Cat From Hue will stand the test of time and will join the handful of "must read" classics on the war. The Cat From Hue will occupy a prominent place on the bookshelf of any sincere student of the Vietnam War. I was unable to put it down until I finished it and upon completion knew that it would not be the last time I would pick this volume up. Belongs right up there with David Halbertstam's The Best and the Brightest and Neil Shennan's A Bright Shinning Lie. Don't miss it.

Rating:
Summary: The Cat from Hue
Review: Book Review: "The Cat from Hue: a Vietnam War Story" by John Laurence.

Reading a book like this and knowing the 8 ½ years it took to finish makes one appreciate the words more. A very well written book with no details left out. It is one of the good reading books about Vietnam.

Part I is about Hue in 1968. His first-hand experience with the Marines as they tried to retake the city of Hue. It was during this street-fighting that the cat was found, later to return to Saigon with him and finally back to the United States. The cat named Meo then took control of whatever place it found itself in.

As journalists they were not tied down and were able to leave the battle area and return to Saigon to complete putting together the story and get it sent back to the States to be shown on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. He spent time with all of the units of the military while they went about the duties of accomplishing the assigned mission. Many times they humped it with the grunts and lived as they did in that foreign country so far away. Returning to Saigon for R & R between assignments to regain their senses Jack writes about things that the grunts never were able to see, the relaxing times in Saigon.

Part II starts after a chance encounter with a member of the advance party of the 1st Cavalry Division and he is able to see for the first time An Khe, which would become the first home of the 1st Cavalry Division. The101st Airborne Division was providing security and conducting operations in the area around An Khe while the 1st Cavalry Division moved in. He covered operations by the 101st Airborne Division then moved up north to cover the Marine units. A short visit to some Air Force units including a ride during a support mission in those famed A-1E's that were the workhorse for close-in support.

With the attack on the Plei Me Special Forces camp in progress, the battle of Ia Drang was beginning. A trip to the Special Forces Camp and then, as luck would have it, he was back in Saigon to file that story when the battle fought by the 3d Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division unfolded, with results that would be talked about and discussed for years to come.

Operation Masher and later called White Wing where many battles were fought receives some coverage as do battles after that, but then as with the Military when your tour is over you return to the States. At this time, May, 1966 Jack does not realize it but he will return to Vietnam to cover a much greater story.

In part III, he writes about working in the States and describes some of the stories covered, easy reading but not stories about Vietnam. Returning to Vietnam in August, 1967, he covers many battles and encounters by many units, in May 1968 he again returned to the United States and writes about his life after returning the second time, this time with the Cat named Meo.

During this stay in New York the talk of returning to Vietnam again starts, to result in the planning of a return trip in 1970 to do a feature story on one group of troopers and their daily life in the bush. Many days and nights and also the few times they were able to get out of the bush is described in easy reading detail in Part IV.

Part IV is set in March, 1970. Returning to Vietnam, he describes the events that lead to Charlie Company, 2d Battalion 7th Cavalry, where until censorship was imposed by higher headquarters Jack and his team spent the days and nights following in the footsteps of a Charlie Company squad lead by Sgt Lyman (Gene) Dunnuck. The series started and coverage of some of it being shown nightly on CBS News. Then as happened so many times in Vietnam, a change of company commanders, which leads to the censorship. But, as Jack describes the continued daily miracle that has followed him throughout his time in Vietnam, it happened again and he found himself with Charlie Company to cover their first assault into Cambodia. A final return to Charlie Company to wrap up the coverage and put an ending on the story was arranged. Jack made one last visit to the 11th ACR and then after a short stay in the 377th Air Force hospital in Saigon, he returned with all the haunting memories of three tours covering Vietnam.

Many years have passed since June of 1970 and the final result 8 ½ years of much hard work has produced 850 pages, a history of the War in Vietnam through the eyes of a CBS correspondent. Reading these pages provides the reader with an accurate account of the daily lives of combat units and their first-hand reflections as they counted remaining days till they returned to the United States. Humor is in these pages and a change of writing to bring the reader out of the pages that much of the time brings tears and memories.

Of all of the names mentioned throughout the book early research into finding out what has happened to the men of Charlie Company and what they are doing now has found that Sgt Lyman (Gene) Dunnuck passed away a few years ago.

Jack Laurence now lives in rural England with a tribe of cats but Meo is no longer with him having used up his nine lives and joined the fight elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and passionate writing
Review: Deserves highest recognition for a riveting and detailed behind-the-scenes look at the work of journalists who reported on the Vietnam war. This book is on the same level as "Dispatches" and "Once Upon a Distant War", a memoir that will be read and re-read. The added adventure of Mr Laurence's cat makes this book a great read for animal lovers also. He is to be commended for his dedication to a saved cat that can best be described as a "difficult friend".

Rating:
Summary: Laurence Compares With Herr & Karnow With This Book
Review: Drafted into the Army in early 1970 and having served as a Medic during the era, for whatever reason I have alway tried to gain and understanding of what happened in the two longest years of my life. Books by Stanley Karnow and Michael Herr recommended by other Vets, only made me hunger for more. Along comes John Laurence with this new book which I learn about only by chance listening to early morning talk radio on a sleepless night. I am intrigued by his interview and have to have it. I am not dissapointed. I remember seeing on television after being discharged a repeat of "C" Company 2/7 1st Cav Div and their reluctance to walk down the road with their CO Cpt. Rice. The thoughts and feelings that these type episodes evoke remain strong even today. Many AUS types (draftees) like myself late in the era were college grads which made you question decisions, the career (lifer) mentality, etc. We were there to do the best job we could and go home hopefully alive. In the final chapters Mr Laurence adds a "twist" to why the war was fought and I found it highly therapeutic.

Rating:
Summary: We were soldiers once... and young.
Review: For a generation of americans, viet nam was part of our minds, our bodies, and our lives, present and forever. Laurence brings that place, and time,back. I am not entirely sure I wanted to revisit. Having read the book, I will say only that to read this book is to remember, marvel, and sometimes, to cry. Laurence has written a great book.