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Fields of Fire
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Fields of Fire
by
James Webb
They each had their reasons for being a soldier.
They each had their illusions. Goodrich came from Harvard. Snake got the tattoo — Death Before Dishonor — before he got the uniform. And Hodges was haunted by the ghosts of family heroes.
They were three young men from different worlds plunged into a white-hot, murderous realm of jungle warfare as it was fought by one Marine p...more
They each had their illusions. Goodrich came from Harvard. Snake got the tattoo — Death Before Dishonor — before he got the uniform. And Hodges was haunted by the ghosts of family heroes.
They were three young men from different worlds plunged into a white-hot, murderous realm of jungle warfare as it was fought by one Marine p...more
Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages
Published
June 1st 1982
by Bantam
(first published 1978)
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My father was a radio operator in Vietnam, '69-'70. He saw things that are still beyond my realm of understanding.
A few Christmases ago, he played a recording he had of a firefight he was in for my brothers and me. It was harrowing. What he told us after he were through with this recording was that his CO, James Webb, had written a book about this very firefight and other portions of the Vietnam War in a book called Fields of Fire.
Three days later, just before one of my brothers was set to lea...more
A few Christmases ago, he played a recording he had of a firefight he was in for my brothers and me. It was harrowing. What he told us after he were through with this recording was that his CO, James Webb, had written a book about this very firefight and other portions of the Vietnam War in a book called Fields of Fire.
Three days later, just before one of my brothers was set to lea...more
I want this guy to be my vice president so badly that I thought I should read one, if not more, of his books. Plus, Donald highly recommended this tale. I have to say, I went in with low expectations since I thought of Webb as a politician before a writer (imagine Dick Cheney writing the great American novel), but it was only two chapters into the amazing prose and craft of this book that I realized it was the political career that was the fluke. This book is one of the best I've ever read on th...more
3 likes · like · see review
In literary terms an outstanding novel. I read it some years ago, yet it still upsets me that Snake's Medal of Honor citation was suppressed. The scene of his mother reading the officer's letter in her freezing tenement appartment was very moving for me.
However, over the years Senator Webb has written other things that led me to see him as a crass warmonger. I particularly found his pseudo-glorious depiction of Gaelic Protestants as very offensive. So I now see this book as outstandingly present...more
However, over the years Senator Webb has written other things that led me to see him as a crass warmonger. I particularly found his pseudo-glorious depiction of Gaelic Protestants as very offensive. So I now see this book as outstandingly present...more
"Fields of Fire" a realistic Vietnam war book by James Webb, in the perspective of James Webbs experiences in Vietnam as a foot soldier in the "bush". The story is told from many different vantage points, ranks within the military, different races, economic classes, pacifists. By doing this James Webb eliminated most bias ideas so that I could read a balanced book that took no sides.
This book takes the horrors of war and shoves them in your face. It felt like I was in the bush with these men, li...more
This book takes the horrors of war and shoves them in your face. It felt like I was in the bush with these men, li...more
Jun 17, 2009
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of military history, fans of "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Recommended to Michael by:
critically praised as a major work of the war.
In this gut wrenching story about Vietnam, Robert Lee Hodges, Jr. follows the family tradition and elects to serve his country in the Military Forces. He joins the Marines and after completing officer's training is processed at Da Nang in 1969. He needed a war to serve in, it was said of his family's military history, if there had been no Vietnam, he would have to invent one.
Webb tells the story of Lt. Hodges' unit in periodic chapters as we then see them in action.
Snake, nicknamed for the tatto...more
Webb tells the story of Lt. Hodges' unit in periodic chapters as we then see them in action.
Snake, nicknamed for the tatto...more
I've read it twice, it's really amazing. My grandpa got it for me at Christmas, or my dad, something, and I thought it was about the Chicago Fire. Then I read the back. I thought "Ugh why did he get me a book?" even though I read a lot on Vietnam at that time, I liked eye witness books from people who lived it. But this is REALLY good. Usually when I judge something quickly it turns out to be opposite. So now I try to judge everything to be horrible so it turns out to be awesome.
"You cry when y...more
"You cry when y...more
This is one of the five books I thought every company grade officer should read when I was a Captain. It is a semi-autobiographical novel of Webb’s experience as a platoon leader in the Arizona Valley in 3d Marine Division during Vietnam. Some have called this a flawed work but Webb’s first novel may be his best and has certainly become a benchmark for Vietnam fiction. Written in the tradition of Mailer, rather than Jones, Webb leaves no doubt on which side he comes down on in the great debate o...more
Powerful book about the "vietnam experience" written by one who was there, not long after he actually was a Marine grunt (1978). Even 35 years later, Webb's work has a certain authenticity that only comes from one who knew the nuances of life as a Marine during this horrific time. It was a little difficult keeping track of the different battles and engagements and it would seem at times that the men were merely going in circles and perhaps that is actually reflective of what actually occured - t...more
Fields of Fire is another thinly veiled autobiography about the Vietnam War, similar to The Short Timers, but has a slightly different atmosphere and goes more in depth into the details of combat. Its author is James Webb, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran and now a senator. The novel explores in depth the day in the life of a soldier in Vietnam. The novel is narrated in the third person, switching between following each of the main characters’ unique perspectives. This book goes in depth o...more
Webb does an excellent job of retelling the story through the eyes of the Marines in Vietnam through Fields of Fire. The book puts readers right into the war. When I read the book, I could imagine myself walking alongside the Marines on patrol or watching as a Marine runs out of his hole to save another. Either Webb's story-telling was just amazing or my imagination came out while reading this book, either way it was amazing.
There nothing hidden in the book, readers will experience and know wha...more
There nothing hidden in the book, readers will experience and know wha...more
A must read for those who have never experienced it, a stiff reminder for those who have been there that this is the way it is and you weren't the only way that felt so alone in a crowd.
James Webb was a Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps in Viet Nam so has the position of writing of events and emotions that run through all levels of the infantryman (grunt) through high ranking field grade officers. This story also gives one the insight of the personalities that are co-mingled from college gra...more
James Webb was a Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps in Viet Nam so has the position of writing of events and emotions that run through all levels of the infantryman (grunt) through high ranking field grade officers. This story also gives one the insight of the personalities that are co-mingled from college gra...more
Probably expresses my feelings upon returning from Vietnam better than almost any other book I've read.
The junior senator from Virginia's brutal look at the Vietnam War. Plenty of war-related depressing brutality, but the real downer is how, in Webb's view, nobody on either side - hawks or doves - really cared about the guys who had to serve, or understood them. It was a polarizing moment in American history, but what Webb reminds us is that many of the men who fought the war wound up unable to relate to either side of the great cultural divide. Serving in combat, Webb seems to be telling us, ren...more
A sobering powerful book about the Vietnam war. The author paints the intensity and insanity of combat, and the moral dilemmas that "normal" citizens simply don't come across more than occasionally in their lifetime, certainly not on a daily and minute by minute basis.
The story line follows 5 "grunt" marines through their tour in Vietnam, with two survivors returning home to a society either not impressed, caring, or capable of comprehending the experience.
The author delves into the apparent aim...more
The story line follows 5 "grunt" marines through their tour in Vietnam, with two survivors returning home to a society either not impressed, caring, or capable of comprehending the experience.
The author delves into the apparent aim...more
This was a difficult book for me, but one that was well worth the journey. I had watched the nightly newscasts, read personal accounts of the war and had family members in Vietnam. At times in the narrative, I would have to put the book down and return to it later, when I had my emotions again under control. This was the early 1980's and the Vietnam War was still too vivid and personal.
I persevered however and my esteem of what our fighting men endure and survive rose proportionally. Thank you,...more
I persevered however and my esteem of what our fighting men endure and survive rose proportionally. Thank you,...more
Run-of-the-mill police fiction.
Jan 14, 2013
Brunhilde
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
war-and-military,
favorites
This book is wonderful. It is so well written. I was very tempted to make a new category of "Future Classic" just for it. It is every bit as good as Matterhorn, possibly a tad more raw which aids the genuine feeling of the book.
"There was a footlocker in a shed at home that his parents never opened. It was green, and had sat in the corner of the shed for as long as he could remember, under a grey footlocker that held some of his mother's old clothes. There was no indication on its outside as to...more
"There was a footlocker in a shed at home that his parents never opened. It was green, and had sat in the corner of the shed for as long as he could remember, under a grey footlocker that held some of his mother's old clothes. There was no indication on its outside as to...more
May 08, 2012
Steve Woods
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
vietnam-war,
a-good-read
Another one of many. Clearly much of what is written here is drawn from direct experience, it has that ring about it. The vagaries of combat in I Corps for US Marines were very different than those of Australians further south Further our different social and cultural contexts meant that aside from the nitty gritty of fighting a war, which always has so much in common for anyone involved, no matter time or background, nationality or place, our experiences were quite different...thank Christ. The...more
Throw out all of those copies of All Quiet on the Western Front and The Red Badge of Courage (well, don’t throw them out; donate them to a good cause): Fields of Fire is the war fiction we should be teaching in our high schools.
Webb fought in Vietnam and clearly drew heavily from his own experiences. The primary protagonist is a young, cocky lieutenant fresh out of West Point (Webb went to Vietnam as a young, cocky lieutenant fresh out of West Point). Goodrich’s experiences when he returns to Ha...more
Webb fought in Vietnam and clearly drew heavily from his own experiences. The primary protagonist is a young, cocky lieutenant fresh out of West Point (Webb went to Vietnam as a young, cocky lieutenant fresh out of West Point). Goodrich’s experiences when he returns to Ha...more
This book was published 32 years ago and this is the first time I have read it. James Webb is one of my U.S. Senators so I thought I would read some of the books he has written and found Fields of Fire. I avoided the draft to Vietnam although I was 1-A for a nervous month or so before my first son was born and provided me with an exemption. If you went through anything in the Vietnam era like that, you will probably find yourself somewhere in this book. This book is intense. For me at least.
But...more
But...more
Disturbingly real, an emotive gut check, hard-boiled and yet tears back the brittleness of life of a combat grunt, particularly the Vietnam endurance for survival of U.S. Marines. Whether Vietnam or the Mexican War (1846-1849) -- another war the president used a lie to justify U.S. military involvement (Iraq as well) Webb's novel illustrated how war can be addictive as well as poisonous to those who fight such wars. This one of the books one should read along with Tim O'Brien and Philip Caputo's...more
I liked this book as much as Matterhorn, which is saying something. I might have even liked it a little better, because I felt this book had a more balanced view of race... there are more bad ass heroes that are black in this book. I also felt that this book did a better job of trying to close the loop on what happens after the war and the challenges of re-entry, survivors guilt and PTSD. Add this to the 'Vietnam War Required Reading' shelf!
Awful. Couldn't finish it.
I am surprised at all the terrific reviews. I felt the writing skill to be sorely lacking.
For a quality Vietnam War fiction I would rather recommend such books asMatterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War and The Things They Carried. the writing quality of Fields of Fire compared to top shelf novels such as those two..well, it's like chalk and cheese.
I am surprised at all the terrific reviews. I felt the writing skill to be sorely lacking.
For a quality Vietnam War fiction I would rather recommend such books asMatterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War and The Things They Carried. the writing quality of Fields of Fire compared to top shelf novels such as those two..well, it's like chalk and cheese.
1 like · like · see review
Many accolades have been written about this book, it rates every one of them.
I view it, not so much as a "war story", but as an insight into men from disparate backgrounds placed into conflict/circumstances over which they have no real control, the bonding processes that occur and the changes in personality that result.
The character development is masterful, and is what truly makes this novel.
I view it, not so much as a "war story", but as an insight into men from disparate backgrounds placed into conflict/circumstances over which they have no real control, the bonding processes that occur and the changes in personality that result.
The character development is masterful, and is what truly makes this novel.
I picked this book up because Rachel Maddow mentioned it in her book, Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power. Normally I'm not that fond of war novels, but this one definitely held my interest. Intensely emotional at times, but overall not a difficult read.
this is one of my all time favorite vietnam war books... which sounds a little wrong to say, but every time i read it ( ive read it 3 times now) i become so engrossed in the characters that i feel as though im actually there.... which is kinda of scary when you think about it.
definitely worth a read, particularly if you have a relative who is a vietnam vet
definitely worth a read, particularly if you have a relative who is a vietnam vet
Feb 06, 2010
Bradley
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2009-bookshelf,
combat-arms-techno-thriller
James Webb was one of the most decorated U.S. Marines that served in the Vietnam war and his experience brings brutal authenticity to his well crafted novel. Webb has gone on to serve as Secretary of the Navy and is currently a U.S. Senator from Virginia. None of that takes away from the power of this novel of war.
Excellent book for those interested in the life of a Marine grunt during the Vietnam War. It is a work of fiction, but it could easily be true. Each character develops to a point that you feel their fear, pain and raw determination to survive. Mr. Webb did a fantastic job creating this memorable work of art.
This is a quick read which never-the-less contains some very valuable small unit leadership lessons. I particularly recommend it for younger officers and NCOs, but the broader ethical questions raised apply to each of us. This book is much more than just a story about the Vietnam War.
Well written story of VN between 1969-1970 and a group of young courageous men who struggled with death, life and all the gray area in between. I have read most of the VN books but, by far, this was the very best of all of them. James Webb describes each character, with humbling gentleness, and takes the reader into their lives, passions, and dreams. To me this is a "must read" to understand the men who served in VN.
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James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. (born February 9, 1946) is the junior Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
A 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Webb served as a Marine Corps infantry officer until 1972, and is a highly decorated Vietnam War combat veteran. During his four years with th...more
More about James Webb...
A 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Webb served as a Marine Corps infantry officer until 1972, and is a highly decorated Vietnam War combat veteran. During his four years with th...more
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