A Life in a Year: The American Infantryman in Vietnam

by James R. Ebert

This provocative in-depth book focuses on the experiences of the infantry soldier in Vietnam. More than 60 Army and Marine Corps infantrymen speak of their experiences during their year-long tours of duty.

Genres: War, History, Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American History

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jimmie Kepler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisconsin high school teacher James R. Ebert does a masterful job as he combines interviews and printed primary sources in this remarkable telling of the infantryman's experience during the Vietnam War. Ebert tells the story of the US Army and a few US Marine infantrymen during the Vietnam War. He takes their story from induction into the service through basic and advanced individual training, arrival in Vietnam, their first combat experiences, the first killed in action they experience, in some cases the soldier's death, and the freedom birds that take them back to the world. Ebert points out while infantryman accounted for less than 10% of the American troops in Vietnam, the infantry suffered more than 80% of the losses.

Ebert uses an interesting technique starting every chapter with a letter by Leonard Dutcher to his parents. Dutcher just wanted to do his part for God and country and go home at the end of his 12-month tour (13 for Marines). In the last chapter, we find out that Dutcher was killed. It caught me off guard and really added to the impact of the book. Ebert takes many of the soldiers and Marines experiences word for word from the individual himself through interviews or letters. It is a collective look at similarities of the many infantry soldiers and Marines in the war. It is a very personal account from many points of view.

This is an important book in Vietnam War literature. This is what the grunts really went through. I was left with somewhat of a feeling of guilt from reading the book. Why? I graduated high school in 1971. Some of my high classmates went to Vietnam and fought. Everett Maxwell was killed in action. I went to college and was ultimately commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry, went to airborne school and served three years active duty. My becoming an officer deferred my entry on active duty from 1971 to 1975. This is the reason for my reflective thoughts. Read by Jimmie A. Kepler in August 2004.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on what it was like to an Infantryman in Vietnam. The book takes you from the first day of induction, through boot camp, infantry training, the trip over (either by troop ship, which is how I went over, or by plane)then follows the "cherry" phase, "veteran" phase and the "short" phase until you get on the plane to return to "the world". The accounts of daily life are taken from the point of view of both the Army and the Marines. As someone who served multiple tours in both III Corps and I Corps, this book brought back both the humorous times and the times I try to forget. As good if not better than either Robert Tonsetic's 'Days of Valor', or Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried'. A must read for anyone who served in Vietnam in the Infantry or someone who knows a veteran who did.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An analytical look at the realities of the day to day life of an infantryman in Vietnam. Compiled from interviews with veterans, but presented in a somewhat dry textbook fashion. What it lacks in personality it makes up for in volume of factual analysis. Michael Herr'sDispatches and Mark Baker's'Nam are better.

[PG Pariseau · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the experience of being a rifleman in Vietnam. Well-written and -researched, just a first rate introduction to the topic. Vietnam experts may not find much that's new here (beyond the contents of the interviews that were done just for this book), but anyone who has any interest in the subject should check it out.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of interviews and excerpts from letters, this book wasn't "written" as much as it was "compiled". Still, it's a pretty good portrait of America's most unpopular war and the men who fought it.

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The vets stories are picked apart buy the author Ebert some college erudite with no service, he quotes the vets stories in paragraphs, then adds a page after each paragraph giving his explanation of what that vet "meant"
I have never seen worse structure, each page is like this, a quote from the vet then his explanation. Just lets the vets speak, maybe the authors can have a intro or conclusion that's it. Nam by Mark Baker is a better book. Gets right to the nitty gritty of war, and let's the vets speak.

[Kelly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this gives a step by step description of what it looks like to join the military and head off to war. It stars with enlistment, induction, basic training, advanced individual training, and then what happens when you're the FNG getting fired at for the first time with a bunch of old-timers (the guys who have been in Vietnam for at least six weeks already) skeptically watching to see how you'll hold up. I am glad I'm not a man.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

How it went down. From waiting for your Selectice Service letter to going back home, if you were that fortunate.
I graduated High School in 1971. Knew many guys a bit older who went, some enlisted for longer to avoid Nam and go to Germany or stay in Texas ! A few didn't make it back. A few were changed for life in frightening ways.
This book really opened my eyes to their experience.

[Lizistanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch. Read this for another view of the brutality of the war in Vietnam and at home.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best non - fiction book I ever read about Vietnam. If you want an idea of what your soldier went through in their year of service, and they cannot or will not tell you, this book is for you.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My uncle Jerry Severson passed away last year at the age of 82. Thank you to Jerry and thank you to all veterans.

Mr. Ebert depicts chronologically the experiences of infantry soldiers during the Vietnam war. The soldiers are always treated with respect. The stories they tell range from mundane to horrifying. Mr. Ebert writes objectively and is very thorough.

[Melanie Grabowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Content was great, and the layout made logical sense as it follows the various stages of an infantryman but was a bit cumbersome . There were so many testimonies scattered throughout, some of which were recurring that it was hard to get invested in any single account or remember who was who.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A narrative of personal experiences of men who served as a 11B, an infantry man in Vietnam for his year long tour. Only 10% or of men served in Indochina served in a line company in direct contact with the enemy.

[Greynomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Navy was a different story but my time in county, 30 months, I was well aware of the conditions that both the army/marines suffered.

[Laura Banker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for high school.

[larry g best · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a war got to know people that were there.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is tough reading. I read the reviews prior, especially Stephen's 1 *. Found it on my youngest's book shelf (Army/infantry). Part of my annual Memorial Day reading.

[Chris Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the Grunts in Vietnam. If I remember it is along the lines of Platoon but more in depth about the daily struggles, accomplishments, atmosphere of being a low grunt in the Vietnam War. Would like to re-read this again.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever wanted to know what life is like for an infantryman in a grinding war- read this.

[Tracey]

Stephen Koranda gave this 4 stars

[Fishsticks Denon · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book

[Tom Nolan]

paperback

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending....so incredible. I was enthralled till the end. I found myself amused, disgusted, shocked, and respectful. This is a truly incredible work of art. I am so glad I read it.