firetiger Loc: Redmond, WA

Reading 'Kill Anything That Moves - The Real America War' by Nick Turse.


I am interested in what other Vets thought about this book.

steve6 Loc: Hull MA.

never read it ,but you have peeked my interest thanks see ya.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Like Steve, I'm curious. The novels written by Tim O'Brien, including his biggie, "The Things They Carried", http://www.amazon.com/Things-They-Carried-Tim-OBrien/dp/0618706410 was extremely difficult. The war was as real as I remembered; he made it come alive.

xseabee Loc: Northern California; Northern, Colorado

firetiger; Thanks for the info. After reading the 'Book Description' on Amazon, I am ordering the book. I served four + years in the 'I Corp' region, North of Danang to the DMZ (66-69) and I have never heard of anything like what is described in the book.
I will reserve any comments until I read the whole book.

Bboston75

Haven't read this yet, but have read most Vietnam novels, and the best, I think, is "Matterhorn", by Marine vet Karl Marlantes.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

I was there in 1965. We did go on sweeps were the orders said to "kill anything that moves", that is true. However, the area to be swept was showered with leaflets for days before the sweep. The leaflets described what was going to happen and when. We rarely found anyone in the area but Viet Cong looking for a fight. We did burn huts and you could hear the hidden ammo exploding as we left. Since the VC would shoot down our supply choppers we would on occasion shoot a pig for food, but nobody killed anything at random. We were Marines and I never even heard one of my fellow Marines suggest raping anybody. It would not have been tolerated for a moment. Books like this that lump everyone under the same umbrella disturb me.

Later in the war the courts started giving minor felons such as drug abusers, petty thieves, and people convicted of assault the choice of jail or service. Many choose Army enlistment so we ended up sending a lot of convicted criminals into combat. Would some of them violate the rules? Probably.

I have not read the entire book. I have read excerpts. It is a time I am trying not to relive.

bmazz Loc: Vail, CO

I agree about Matterhorn

"Peachbush Two-six"