Fields of Fire

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Summary: James Webb captures and illustrates the essence of Marines
Review: My all time favorite novel. The Honorable Mr. Webb personally epitomizes the characteristics of the legends of the Marine Corps, a real Marine's Marine. His writing and stories resound with realism, and strike home the story as a result of being told from his obvious experienced perspective. He magically and gracefully captures the evasive masculine beauty of the camaraderie Marines share. He skillfully weaves the story so that the trials of leadership, service, and the effects of the grim specter of combat are equally represented and properly illustrated. A masterpiece in any setting, this book eloquently portrays the true spirit and essence of the countless souls who have borne the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor...
Semper Fidelis

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Summary: Dire Fields indeed!
Review: Having been through the thick of it, and survived I reluctantly read "yet another Nam book" this one hit me. What a great piece of writing! I lent it to a friend, who was also in country and he never gave it back. So I picked up another copy for the shelf. I still read it from time to time. Whew! Took me back. I could feel the sweat dripping and the searing heat and cool flights at altitude back to base. I even tasted the red grit again. Alright I'll quit trying to pump it up... just read it. Highly recommended if you weren't there... it will take you there.

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Summary: Must read for Marines and Vietnam buffs.
Review: Mr. Webb was among the first to tell of the war from the gritty, unglamorous viewpoint of the field Marine, the grunt. The book chronicles the operations of a rifle platoon operating in Vietnam at the height of the war, and the story circles around a young lieutenant who strives to survive and serve his rowdy band of drafted Marines while still completing the mission. Webb has an unusual writing style, but it works well within the story, especially the "street" style dialogue of the young combatants that depicts the manner in which Vietnam era Marines spoke. Unlike shelves of blase, feelgood snorers of military fiction out there, this book stands apart as one of the truly great war novels of all time. It is a must read for anyone who served or is currently serving.

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Summary: Best book on the Vietnam experience
Review: I'm happy to see this book reprinted. I went through a period of depression many years ago and occupied myself with reading books about the war in Vietnam (it suited my mood at the time). This was far and away the best of the bunch. I really felt I understood what the experience was like for those who were there. One knows from reading it that the author had to have been there himself, and indeed this is true. If you want to know about the war in Vietnam from the perspective of the soldiers fighting it, this is the book to get.