A Rumor Of War By Philip Caputo And Young - 1849 Words

The Vietnam War was largely considered a failure, a waste of resources, time and precious lives. It was simply a war that did not need to be fought. But in order to combat the ever prevailing communist forces; the capitalists and in particular, America, decided that Vietnam would be the land where these differences would be disputed. Men were sent in to fight in this war and they came back with very different experiences. As seen in both perspectives held in â€Å"A Rumor of War† by Philip Caputo and in â€Å"We were soldiers once... and young† by Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway; they explore the varying perspectives and experienced seen and learnt within war. Whereas in â€Å"A Rumor of War†, it tackles the consequences of being sent into such harsh warfare, only because Philip Caputo saw the harsh reality firsthand as he was a soldier in the war. The former, â€Å"We were soldiers once... and young† tackles the glorification of war because it’s no t solely a soldier’s account. A journalist was in company of these men and as such details get skewed for the public’s perception. Regardless, both these books share a telling tale of the war in Vietnam through their radically different views. Firstly, it is important to establish the historical contexts of these two books. â€Å"A Rumor of War† was published in 1977, two years after the end of the Vietnam War. It was written by a soldier who served in the war. The period this describes is immediately the post war era and the fallout faced by soldiersShow MoreRelatedA Rumor Of War By Philip Caputo1388 Words   |  6 Pagesof going to war excites many young men that have not experienced or have been a part of one. Individuals want to find a way out of the routine, mundane lifestyle that plagues many suburban households. People that just want some excitement enlist in a military branch that will not benefit them or anyone for that matter. In Philip Caputo’s book titled A Rumor of War, the true side of how war demolishes the human spirit is shown. His nonfiction novel captures the nasty side to war. Philip informs usRead MoreA Rumor of War: the Changes of a Solider1669 Words   |  7 PagesA Rumor of War: The Changes of a Solider The Vietnam War was seen by all as horrible and by many, senseless. War has the ability to change people, countries, and even the harmony of the planet. After the Vietnam War’s end, many Americans didn’t want to hear or speak about the war. Many of the citizens in America wanted to forget it ever occurred. The United States had lost their invincibility to their negligence; the nation believed it could do anything. They especially thought they could endRead MoreEssay on Shattered Youth: How the Vietnam War Changed a Generation1591 Words   |  7 PagesThe Vietnam War is a conflict that was extremely polarizing to people in the United States and words such as ‘wasted’ or ‘quagmire’ are negative words associated with the war. In his book A Rumor of War, Philip Caputo provides a personal account of events that he experienced leading up to and during the war as a soldier in the United States Marine Corps. Caputo’s experiences transform his idealistic views of war when he is faced with the realities of combat, and ultimately the events cause him toRead More Analysis of Philip Caputos A Rumor of War Essay1896 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysis of Philip Caputos A Rumor of War A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo, is an exceptional autobiography on a mans first-hand experiences during the Vietnam War. Philip Caputo is a Lieutenant during the Vietnam War and illustrates the harsh reality of what war really is. 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FatherRead MoreRumor of War Book Review1614 Words   |  7 PagesA Rumor of War Book Review â€Å" ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet†¦he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved† Matthew 24:6 Philip Caputo’s relationship with the Vietnam War is depicted in a disturbingly beautiful way in the memoir â€Å"A Rumor of War.† Throughout the course of the book, approximately 16 months, we observe a young, ambitious boy ready to prove his manhood, in search of adventureRead MoreA Rumor Of War : Character Analysis Essay1819 Words   |  8 PagesA Rumor of War: Character Analysis A Rumor of War details the experiences of Philip Caputo, a Vietnam veteran, as he struggles with the reality and cruelty of war. The story is divided into three sections which each highlight the hardships Caputo and how they cause his physical and mental breakdown. Caputo begins the story as a youthful twenty year old who craves excitement and adventure, and like any person his age, wants to discover himself and find a way to stand out from others. Swept up by patriotismRead MoreThe Movie Born on the Fourth of July Tells Much About The Vietnam War and the Cold War2764 Words   |  12 PagesMassapequa, Long Island that fought in the Vietnam War, who is played by Tom Cruise. It also stars Kyra Segwick, Raymond J. Barry, William Dafoe, and Frank Whaley. This film accurately illustrates not only what went on for the soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War and the effects that the war had at home, but also the social attitudes throughout the country during the 1950s and other major movement s during the time of the war, that like the anti-war sentiment, were largely a response to the pressuresRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder: Post Vietnam War1945 Words   |  8 Pagesthat with every war, there always comes casualties. Soldiers can lose an arm or a leg, or even their life when they go to war. Unfortunately soldiers can even lose their minds because of war. Specifically, this research paper will focus on PTSD, or in other words: post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD has shown up as a factor from many wars, but for some reason, one war in particular stands out from all others regarding the the PTSD numbers. It is called the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War (1956-1975) was