Testimonials

A pair of debut authors blend memoir and history in this reflection on one of the Vietnam War’s deadliest regions.

Co-author Hughes (the primary author of this book) first became friends with Hast in the 1970s; the two came in frequent contact while coaching their sons in youth sports and serving as Cub Scout leaders in the greater Cincinnati area. Both had also previously served in the military in the late 1960s during America’s conflict in Vietnam, and in 2013, the pair returned to Southeast Asia to retrace the places of Hast’s time with the 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 4-31st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Positioned along the western edge of Que Son Valley (nicknamed at the time “Death Valley”), Hast saw action in one of the war’s deadliest regions during a major 1969 offense by pro-Communist forces. In this volume, he retells his experiences to Hughes, who supplements the memoir vignettes with historical research and the perspectives of dozens of other soldiers on both sides of the war who also fought in the area at the same time. While Hast received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service, his narrative focuses less on his own heroism than on the bravery of his comrades and the tragedy of warfare. “One cannot erase some memories,” the author reflects, noting that he can’t forget seeing “the agony of the dead and dying, hearing the guttural moan of someone’s last breath, the smell of blood, the odor of death, [and] the grasp of a fellow soldier’s hand whose eyes are pleading for help.” While Hast’s narrative certainly contains moments of adrenaline-fueled recollections of battle, he also effectively captures the daily experiences of soldiers through detailed commentary on the “excruciating boredom,” the physical challenges of jungle living, feelings of homesickness, and the ever-present fear of unseen threats.

While Hast’s story could easily exist as a stand-alone war memoir, what makes this volume special is the larger historical context Hughes provides. Not only does the work show the perspectives of other American soldiers who served in Que Son Valley, it also provides the Vietnamese perspectives on both sides of the conflict. This approach makes for a nuanced work that both acknowledges the sacrifices of American soldiers while also noting the political motivations of the North Vietnamese. The book’s ample research is backed by a network of footnotes that reference primary source documents, academic books, and oral history interviews conducted by the author; these elements all serve to authenticate and expand on Hast’s account. Hughes similarly provides historical context to the war, noting both the Cold War–era motivations of America’s decision-makers and the exasperation of the Vietnamese people after centuries of imperialist conquest of their land. The book’s writing style is not for the fainthearted, both in terms of its harrowing content as well as the sheer density of Hughes’ overview of Que Son Valley in 1969. This material makes for a heavy read, but one that’s well researched and balanced by the literary flourishes provided by Hast’s story (“The morning chill had worn off as the oppressive heat of the jungle sapped their strength and caution”).