Youth In Asia: 1968. Vietnam. The Central Highlands. Young Men Will Change. Some Will Die.

by Allen Tiffany

On the 50th Anniversary of the start of America's commitment of major combat units to Vietnam, Youth In Asia is a new novella of young Americans trapped in the jungles of Vietnam's Central Highlands in a war they did not understand. Youth In Asia relives the friendships, loyalties and betrayals of young men in combat.

Written by an infantryman who served as both an enlisted man and an officer after the war, Youth In Asia presents a realistic account of five men of the 173rd Airborne Brigade separated from their unit in the darkness of a jungle night. After the furious fight for Hill 875 and the battles around Dak To, this story is set near the border with Cambodia as North Vietnamese Army units and Viet Cong irregulars are massing for the brutal Tet Offensive of 1968 that broke the back of America's war effort.

It is a story of determination, triumph and loss. It is a story of furious, close combat in lethal firefights, and it is a story of confusion both on the battlefield and in the minds of young men a million miles from their homes. Those that survive will have changed. Forever.

90 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2015

About the author

Allen Tiffany is a retired Army Infantry Officer and has graduated from the Army's Airborne and Ranger schools and the Command and General Staff College. He has also earned his graduate degree in Creative Writing and has published a number of professional articles, a short story, has been a newspaper columnist, and he has been a fiction editor for a campus literature magazine. Allen was born in Kansas and has lived in Georgia, California, Texas and Singapore. He has traveled extensively in Asia and Europe. When not working in the high-tech industry, Allen spends his time with his wife and four daughters or writing. He also enjoys long distance biking.

Reviews

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

`I saw the flow of casualties from the enemy's Tet Offensive...Marines from the meat grinder of Hue. They were angry.'

Allen Tiffany is a retired Army Infantry Officer who graduated from the Army's Airborne and Ranger schools and the Command and General Staff College. He has also earned his graduate degree in Creative Writing and has published a number of professional articles, a short story, has been a newspaper columnist, and he has been a fiction editor for a campus literature magazine. Allen was born in Kansas and has lived in Georgia, California, Texas and Singapore. He has traveled extensively in Asia and Europe.

Facts and pertinent ones. But the impact of this historical fiction novel is best appreciated after reading Allen's introductory comments: `Though I did not serve in Vietnam, I was trained--both as a soldier and as a young leader--by the officers and soldiers who did serve there and remained in service after the war to help rebuild the Army. They are a special breed. These men and women rebuilt America's military after it was shattered by the Vietnam War and events in America between about 1968 and 1974. In that timeframe, America was a place of contradictions, confusion, and great turmoil. Leaders were assassinated, Martin Luther King and others fought for the rights of all Americans, woman asserted their status as equal to men in jobs and sexual freedom, marijuana was widely available and cool, and a new kind of music with a much harder, angry edge was growing in popularity. Additionally, Americans were becoming much more affluent, with televisions in almost every home. Our government, though, was losing its ability to form and control public opinion as the evening news showed events as they happened, which was unprecedented, and seemed at odds to what we were being told. Our leaders had come of age molded by the Great Depression and their experiences in WWII, which was a fight that was tremendously challenging but easily understood. As a result, they'd become disconnected and reactionary, desperate in their attempts to remain in control. They lost their ability to lead the country. President Nixon resigned shortly before he could be impeached for criminal acts. Concurrently, America conscripted young people against their will to spend years in the military. We kept half a million men and women in an Asian country most Americans could not find on a map, to fight a war by self-imposed rules that the other side would not abide. And we had no clear understanding of what outcome we desired or how to achieve it. After 1968, that lack of vision led to years of slaughter on both sides, and a military disintegrating from confusion, loss of discipline, and increasing drug and alcohol abuse. In the midst of this, a cadre of young officers like Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf, and likeminded men and women in the military, and associated civilians held together the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. They did so by sheer force of will, integrity, and an unyielding conviction that they could help rebuild these organizations while also caring for our young men and women in uniform. I saw these great leaders in action. These troops raised me in a professional sense. I will be forever in their debt.'

This degree of compassion and insight is what makes this book not just another Vietnam novel such as `The Things They Carried', `If I Die in a Combat Zone, and `Going After Cacciato' - brilliant as those are. Instead Allen addresses those issues of the Vietnam War we'd rather bury (having served in Vietnam during this time from of this book these memories remain very alive). As his synopsis states, ` Youth In Asia presents a realistic account of five men of the 173rd Airborne Brigade separated from their unit in the darkness of a jungle night. After the furious fight for Hill 875 and the battles around Dak To, this story is set near the border with Cambodia as North Vietnamese Army units and Viet Cong irregulars are massing for the brutal Tet Offensive of 1968 that broke the back of America's commitment to fight the Vietnam War. It is a story of determination, triumph and loss. It is a story of furious, close combat in lethal firefights, and it is a story of confusion both on the battlefield and in the minds of young men a million miles from their homes. Those that survive will have changed. Forever.'

Allen Tiffany is a bright new voice who has recreated a period of time and wartime dysfunction. His style is strong, gnawing close to the bone, and placing a period of our history squarely in front of our eyes for us to never forget.

[John Podlaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Army relocated Corporal Jacobs from the DMZ in Korea to Vietnam, assigning him to the 173rd Airborne Division just after the vicious battle of Hill 875 and the area around Dak To during November, 1967. After in-country training, he is assigned as a team leader in one of the infantry squads of Bravo Company, the entire battalion was critically short of personnel - replacements were trickling in every day.

This small novella is a first-person account of his short time with the unit just prior to the 1968 Tet Offensive. Mr. Tiffany classified his story as fiction, but it reads like a true account - as if he were there! A new arrival, nicknamed Elvis, puts the platoon in jeopardy on the very first day, choosing to write the experience in a journal instead of keeping watch. Corporal Jacobs catches him and takes appropriate action. However, he continues to be a thorn in everybody's side.

On the battalions last night on the fire base, Bravo Company is assigned to patrol around the fire base and protect the hilltop while it's dismantled during the night; Corporal Jacobs team is bringing up the rear and soon faces its worst nightmare. The column of men had stopped for an extended break on the hillside, and when doing so, the rear team must set up rear security to ensure the enemy isn't following them. Elvis' job was to let them know when the column started to move again. Unfortunately, he fell asleep and the five men were now separated from the rest of the company in the total darkness. What now?

The team soon notices dozens of NVA soldiers moving around and digging in between them and the fire base, preparing to attack the fire base! All at once, they hear gunfire and explosions erupting some distance away - the rest of Bravo Company had walked into an ambush. Now what?

"Youth in Asia" tells it like it was. This story is engaging and worth reading in a single setting - it's short, but with a profound message. Who will survive this harrowing account? Don't miss this one! Great job Mr. Tiffany!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[Ronel van Tonder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Army life, war or history has never interested me much. And yet, this journal like look into this man's service during the Vietnam war was engaging.

Despite being a short read, it contained a very detailed snapshot into a soldier's life. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be out there in the jungles and the heat an the death... But the author paints a vivid picture of this. Enough that I don't would never wish this on anyone.

This is a well written, engaging and enlightening novella that I highly recommend to anyone - whether you're interested in war or not.

I received a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

[Ann Girdharry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Graphic. Brutal in its honesty. This novella describes the heat, the misery, the mental pressures and terror of fighting for your life in the jungle. The small group of men who are thrown together must work it out - survive together or die. It's a tough subject.
I particularly liked the author's intimate portrayal of each character's flaws and strengths and wove a story that drew in each of the men. There are some surprises and a lot of tension in this short work and I found I read from beginning to end in one go. Recommended.

[Henry Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Youth in Asia, a Vietnam Veteran recounts his experiences from 1967, shortly before the Tet Offensive, in a letter to his grandson who's looking to enlist.

The story picks up after an introduction from Mr. Tiffany, the author, giving a snapshot view of the war that broke the American military, and the men who helped reshape it--Vietnam veterans--who also trained Mr. Tiffany. I appreciated that personal connection.

As someone who has never served in the military, this story made the experiences of American soldiers in Vietnam a reality for me.

There were a few lows, many highs, but always with a sense of unblinking realism threaded consistently throughout the piece. From the physical conditions and toll on the human body, to the inner workings of a Claymore, to nicknames for people and helicopters, to the raw and frank dialogue--I never disbelieved I was in Vietnam during the grandfather's letter.

The cast of characters? Engaging. Especially the secondary characters. Harrington, Tusi, Elvis, Otlin and Wicker, though he (Wicker) was the least fleshed out--as he was often peripheral, rather than an integral part of the plot--but he was nevertheless a strong character.

They held my attention during the tense battle scenes that pulled no punches, and the hot-rainy-cold-miserable-waiting-to-battle scenes, but I especially liked the scene with Harrington and Elvis about their views on war. And the one with Elvis' notebook...spoilers.

Now and then, I wanted more of the scenes described above as opposed to the nitty gritty on the mechanics of how a weapon worked, or specifics on patrolling. Don't get me wrong, I liked those parts, too. They added to the realism, and I did enjoy the wonkishness and understanding of tactical practicality. I think I just wanted a stronger balance between that and the grandfather's story, the soldiers' stories.

In battle scenes, the grandfather was believable and competent, afraid and confident, and preoccupied with keeping his squad alive. In the non-battle scenes, he seemed, oddly, the least fleshed out, though his internal conflicts and feelings about the war were well-rendered.

Specifically, I wanted a stronger connection to his grandson, and a greater sense of a personal message, a personal moral, as he saw it. A greater sense of what he took away from the war, what it took away from him, and not simply his experiences as he experienced them. Stronger sense of reflection, and a greater connection from the grandfather's past and Vietnam to the grandson and the present--and what that might mean for the young man personally.

It would have come full circle to the opening of the story, to the reason he's writing his letter, and to how he envisions his life ending. In another light, the grandfather's experiences shaping the grandson would have reflected the Vietnam veterans helping to shape Mr. Tiffany.

Missed opportunity? Me being overly analytical? In my estimation, both. Either way, it shouldn't take away from your experience. This is a good story.

Overall, I enjoyed the piece. It largely stayed out of the politics of war, at home and abroad, in order to focus on telling one man's story. And I liked that that story could've been many a soldier's tale. I caught only one typo in the introduction, and some lines of, I felt, needless repetition in the story. It was a fast, smooth read, and where it was grindingly slow, it was meant to be, put me in the jungle right along side the soldiers.

If you especially like military fiction, or historical military fiction, this piece will definitely keep you engaged.

I'd also like to commend the author on donating half the proceeds of this story to the Wounded Warrior Project. It's a worthy cause.

Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I received Youth in Asia as a free review copy from the author, Mr. Tiffany, and only promised him an honest review (which Mr. Tiffany did not receive, vet or read before I posted it here).

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[James Devo · Rating 5 out of 5]

As child of the 70s, I spent a lot of my teenage years watching Vietnam movies. In my twenties, I travelled to Vietnam to make a documentary and saw the craters still scarring the land, the effects of Agent Orange on the populace, and in the middle of the coffee-growing regions, a farmer utilising a GI panier, with the name of its former owner still stencilled onto the thick canvas.
I also saw Americans, ex-servicemen, who had returned to the country where they had, as Allen Tiffany says, “lost their youth” in war.
Therefore, when I saw Mr Tiffany’s book, with its no-nonsense cover and matter-of-fact blurb, I was very interested to read it.
Youth in Asia opens with a preface that sets the tone. Clear, concise and written with a balanced cadence, Mr Tiffany explains that although this is a work of fiction, as an ex-serviceman who was trained by Vietnam veterans, the stories are grounded in truth. He also paints a vivid picture of the world in turmoil, the changes in society and culture that were tearing at the fabric of America. It’s a great way to open the book, and sets the tone, which is academic but with a real gravitas.
The story itself is written with a lack of baggage, streamlined to a Hemingway level, with the directness of a military report. Although told from the first person, the other characters in the small squad are clearly drawn and identifiable, the narrator’s voice older than both the vernacular he uses in the field with his comrades, and his sometimes physical approach.
It really rings true, from how the soldiers interact, how our narrator doubts his own abilities as a leader, and the effects of the drama that unfolds as their mission goes wrong. There are military terms and methods clearly explained, that enrich the reading experience.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s more “For Whom The Bell Tolls” than Platoon or Hamburger Hill. It’s serious, painful, thoughtful stuff from a character that has obviously ruminated on his actions for most of his life. It approaches something that has become over time, through books, film and various ideological pedagogues almost an operatic caricature of a terrifying moment in international history. Youth in Asia is refreshingly sober and sobering. That Mr Tiffany can express this so well is down to his writing style and skill.
Both the book itself and Mr Tiffany’s willingness to give 50% of the revenue to wounded soldier charities is a fitting testament to the situation and the men that were at the cutting edge of a horrifying war. I’ll be extremely interested to read Mr Tiffany’s up-coming novel, to see if it reaches the heights of this reverential and yet exciting work.

[Travis Bow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this a fun-filled page turner? No. Is it a heart-wrenching graphic drama of the horrors of war? Not really. But it's a good, solid, real-feeling story. It feels like the kind of story your grandpa might write down about his experience in the war.

I hardly noticed the writing, which is high praise. A bad book draws attention to the author's voice, either by awkward phrasing, pacing, and punctuation or by showy prose. This story does neither. It tells the story clearly, holds your interest, and conveys the meaning effectively.

While there are some of the expected themes (the hardship of war, the humanity of young soldiers), they aren't overstated or melodramatic. I kept expecting a big plot twist (or, horribly, some play on the similarity in sound between "Youth in Asia" and "Euthanasia"), but while there are unexpected events, nothing feels contrived. "Solid" really is the best word I can use to describe this story.

I give it three stars (closer to three and a half), because while I did like the story and had nothing real to complain about, I wasn't really surprised or challenged by it. The story didn't stand out as edge-of-your-seat entertainment, nor was it particularly thought provoking or emotionally challenging. It felt like what could very well be a true story, but it didn't leave the kind of lasting impression that would make me say I "really liked it" or "loved it".

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.

[H.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novella Youth in Asia by A L Tiffany is a very well written story of a small slice of the Vietnam War. It’s a fast-paced read and well worth the time. I’ve read many books and Tiffany managed to pull me into the world he created and keep me there. The description and action were expertly intertwined and kept the pacing brisk.

The violence was realistic and I didn’t think gratuitous. I felt the horror of the climactic scene and what the main character had to withstand to survive was realistic and sadly violent. The dialogue perfectly matched the action in the story and was also realistic. There could have been more depth to the characters but I understand that is very hard or near impossible to achieve in a novella. I also would have liked to have just a bit more background of the main character as to his life before he arrived in Vietnam.

I received a free copy of Youth in Asia in exchange for an honest review.

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

A.L. Tiffany’s novella covering a short period of time in the jungles of Vietnam conveys a story of young men living in an environment where they age quickly. While the men are young in age, they soon learn they must make mature decisions or suffer deadly consequences. The author describes combat patrols with enough detail to place the reader in the scene and at the same time keep the story moving at a good pace. Readers get to know the characters through few words and empathize with the main character, a corporal leading a squad in combat based on his limited experience patrolling the demilitarized zone in Korea. Tiffany portrays young men involved in an unpopular conflict hoping to stay alive long enough to get back home. This story is highly recommended for a realistic glimpse into the lives of young American infantrymen fighting in Vietnam as told by a thoughtful soldier and storyteller.

Review by Valerie Ormond (February 2020)

[Santiago Panama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started to read this book and I wasn't able to put it down. I read it entirely non-stop.
Now, the title mentions the Tet Offensive, but actually the book deals about a short period of time between November 1967 and early to mid-January 1968, and the Tet Offensive started on January 30th, 1968.
It is a great read, the way that Allen Tiffany describes everything is so fluent, that before you know you are finishing the book.
I do recommend it is a great read.
If you are a veteran or if you like to support the veterans that have given everything for this wonderful country, buy this book, first you won't be disappointed, and second, all the proceeds go to benefit the veterans.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen Tiffany provides us a powerful short story about the war in Viet Nam in time to honor those who served there on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of that conflict. As a military officer, an graduate of Airborne and Ranger school, Tiffany provides a unique knowledge of the military and specifically the army that allows him to deliver this poignant short story about American Army Personnel who served in Viet Nam.

Having five people I knew loose their lives in Viet Nam and with one of those, John Michael Tompkins, having been my childhood best friend and "big brother" growing up I knew the pain and loss that this conflict brought to many families in America. Having talked with and received written documents from those men that were with John on the day he died I learned how harsh the reality of an Ambush can be, especially when your comrade and friend don't survive.

So, it was with interest that I wanted to read Allen's story. Let me say that his portrayal of this squad of men and their patrols in the highlands of Viet Nam capture perfectly the stories that John's friends relayed to me and wrote in their own diaries. I felt as though I was walking through the jungle with those men. So, thank you Allen for a powerfully written message about the men who served. I will say that it was a hard read, because I could picture my friend John and picture his death in an Ambush and know that it happened during the Tet Offensive, just as your story tells.

NOW FOR THE STORY REVIEW:
A young Army Airborne Ranger leaves his tour of duty in Korea along the DMZ to head for his next posting, Viet Nam. He arrives in November 1967 just a short time before the 1968 Tet Offensive (Tet meaning New Year) by the Viet Cong takes place. This young corporal will be placed in charge of a squad of men because he has "experience" because of his time in Korea. He and his four men will need every once of courage, strength, fortitude and good luck to survive what is coming.

The Battalion and the Company that his squad is part of has just lost 200 men on hill 857 where there were also 700 casualties. So, the squads, platoons, companies and the Battalion are all very short handed. Our Corporal comes along just after that and thus gets placed in leadership quickly.

We will follow him and his three "veterans" (men who have been through that fight) and their new "cherry" recruit that has just arrived from the United States and is fresh out of basic trainer, which means, he knows nothing.

The character of each man will be developed by the author, but what is amazing is how well he tells of their thoughts, their fears, their anxiety and their courage under fire. This is not the stuff of hero's (although there will be heroics), this is the stuff of real men of war and the ravages that they will face, the sweat, the heat, the bugs, the insects, the tiredness, the lack of food and good water and the contact with the enemy which brings the true inner man to the surface.

The title of the book is correct, these were very young men thrown into war, many of them just 18 years old. They would change from what they would see. They would either come home "much older" than their age, or they would come home in a coffin. Death was always just one step away.

This book is fairly quick and easy to read, but for those who were there (I wasn't) or those who lost friends (I did) you can't read this without it bringing back many memories, not all of them nice.

Thank you Allen for such a well written story.

[K. Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youth in Asia is a short story set in Vietnam, following a group of U.S. soldiers as they patrol the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. The American troops are not allowed to enter Cambodia, while the NVA and Vietcong can cross the borders freely. This puts the U.S. troops in constant danger. Youth in Asia is told from the perspective of one of these soldiers as he recounts his experiences to his grandson. It is a unique way to tell this kind of story because Jacobs, like many survivors of Vietnam, has not felt the need to tell his story until he is a grandfather, when he hopes to pass on some wisdom.

But Youth in Asia does not provide any moral lessons, nor does it try to make sense of the politics of the war. To me, this is a story about survival. During the war, Jacobs and his men are faced with the constant threat of attack from an NVA or Vietcong ambush as they patrol the Cambodian border, while some of his men do not seem to share his urgency and fail to grasp the risks of this battle. At one point, Jacobs lashes out at Elvis, one of his troops, who seems more focused on writing (and sleeping) than doing his job. In this story, where team members are dependent on each other, this will have dire consequences.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I am not sure the author's politics, but I interpreted the book as providing a good perspective on the troops who were forced to fight an unpopular war. War is not just an abstraction or a video game, there are real people, mostly young, that have to go out and patrol and fight and face the risks that most Americans would never be able to understand.

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of “Youth In Asia”, Allen Tiffany, kindly sent me a copy of his book to read, although I warned him I hardly ever read novels. I’m glad that Allen persisted and still decided to send me a copy as I thoroughly enjoyed this short story of American combat soldiers in Vietnam during 1968.

I don’t think I can add much to the sterling reviews already posted in regards to this book. I suppose all I can do is add my compliments to the author for writing such an engaging account. Although it’s not a very long book, 90 pages, it’s a very engrossing story. I liked the format that the author decided to use, that is, in the form of a letter from a combat veteran to his grandson who is about to join the military.

The main character in our story lays out in this letter his experiences in Vietnam and how it affected him and other men in his unit. It’s a good story, provides enough details about the war, type of fighting these men were engaged in, and details on the weapons and tactics involved.

The author uses a nice hook at the start of his account when he mentions the book; “We Were Soldiers Once... and Young”. It’s a great way of setting up what is to follow. Overall I really enjoyed this short journey to the killing fields of Vietnam (that might not be the best phrase but I think you know what I mean) and I think I could have continued reading late into the night if I was allowed.

I think most people who enjoy accounts of the Vietnam War and the soldiers involved will find this story easy to read and possibly a thought provoking book, well done to the author.

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the formative years of my Gen X, the American psyche was impacted by the Vietnam War and its aftermath. It was portrayed in TV shows like Tour of Duty and movies like Platoon. As time has passed, these stories have given way to those of the Afghan and second Iraq War. Therefore, Youth In Asia was a poignant reminder of those who have served and sacrificed, and not received the recognition and honor as others before and after them.

The main event of the story is how a small squad gets separated from the rest of its battalion and must survive a harrowing journey back to their firebase. It takes up only about half of the story, with the start a little slow as it first sets up the characters with their quirks and personalities, as well as how they arrived in Vietnam. The slow start is worth the payoff: it makes the characters more memorable, from the grizzled veterans to a new arrival, and of course, the narrator who is in charge of the squad and must take the responsibility for their lives and deaths. The characters are painted in such a way that we care about them, thereby raising the tension as they make their last mad dash from behind enemy lines.

I would not say the story is about heroes, as much as regular people who are thrust into a difficult situation and must find the hero in themselves. Overall, Youth In Asia is a well-written, quick read.

[Bill Leviathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youth in Asia is a novella that follows a small squad on their mission in the jungles of Vietnam. It is written as a first person account of the events, with the narrator coloring his perception of the wartime events with how life changed after the war.

The story is short, and as such, there are not many characters featured in depth. There is the narrator, and a soldier new to the Vietnam war named Elvis. Elvis is a bright eyed young kid with ambitions of being a playwright, and views the war as a necessary step to becoming a great writer. This leads to some resentment toward Elvis from the rest of the squad, especially from the narrator.

The story only follows one mission, but it is written in such vivid detail you can feel the heat and the humidity of the jungle overwhelming you as you sit on your couch taking in the words.

I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! This is a very well written account of one soldier's experience during the Vietnam War. I finished it in a very short time, because I couldn't put it down. While reading, I felt like I was actually listening to a soldier's experiences - the good and the bad of his year in the jungle. As an Army veteran (although too young to have served in Vietnam), I can attest to this being a very real account of military life, and the variety of characters you encounter while serving. Allen Tiffany is a gifted storyteller - I can't wait to read his next work!

[Mary Ellen Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent 1st person POV fictional account of the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War. It is well written and compelling though brief. The audiobook was well narrated. The author did not belabour the reader with unnecessary detail but explained enough for those who are unfamiliar with military terms. The style is similar to Sean Parnell's Outlaw Platoon though it is not as lengthy and a different war. Well worth a read or listen. I was given a copy of the audiobook by the author with no request for a review but felt it was worthy of a good one.

[Marisol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellently written. Great character development, realistic action that keeps the story moving. The author doesn't presume that you know much about war and everything you need to know is detailed just right and doesn't feel presumptuous even if you do know a little on the subject matter. Highly recommended.

[Peter Mirakian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale Well Told

This is a very fine novella. The narrator's voice is consistent and natural. The action scenes are tense and concise. The descriptions of Vietnam and the emotions of the men ring true. I would love to read more from Tiffany.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Youth In Asia: The Vietnam War's 1968 Tet Offensive in The Central Highlands -- Young men will change. Some will die by Allen Tiffany is the recollection of a fictional soldier. For such a long title the book itself is rather short. The length is not so important as how well or original the story the story being told. Perhaps it's my age but I have seen and read plenty on Vietnam as well as hearing stories and serving under those who have fought in Vietnam.

Although written to be a complete story, I felt that it was only an excerpt from a book or an episode of a television series. There is action and frustration and death and wanting to live to make it home again. Overall, however, I found it average in the whole Vietnam genre. Vietnam is a difficult subject as the nonfiction is as compelling as the best fiction. Up against Caputo's Rumor of War or the fictionalized real life like Hasford's The Short Timers (later made into the movie Full Metal Jacket). It's a tough crowd to break into and although well written Youth in Asia teeters on the edge.

[Louis Reichenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A realistic story

After trying so hard to keep his men and friends alive he nearly gets killed himself! This book is a good read, but a little too short.

[Mel (Reviews In A Pinch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: I read all the time. I have my favorite genres, but I do try to step outside of my comfort zones and read a little bit of everything. History and historical fiction are genre I tend to shy away from because I’ve found more books that can’t hold my attention there than books that I’ve enjoyed. However, if the book is about war somehow that piques my interest and suddenly I’m more likely to want to read it. Youth in Asia instantly sounded interesting to me once I saw that it was about the Vietnam War.

For someone like me, Vietnam has always been more of an abstract war. I know it’s real and has affected a lot of people, but I didn’t live through any of it. I’ve heard stories, but that’s all they are…stories. We learned about the Vietnam War in history classes, but it still doesn’t seem like it’s real. It’s still just a concept of war. Youth in Asia helped put all of that into perspective for me. It was written as a first-person account, pushing the reader to understand the fear and uncertainty the soldiers over there felt on a daily basis. As a reader, you still don’t understand the full scope of what those soldiers went through, but it helps on a basic level that you can always put towards compassion or empathy.

I have a new level of respect, for anyone serving, that I didn’t even realize I was missing before reading Youth in Asia. Like most people I forget how lucky I am that I’ve never had to fight for my freedom. Others have done it for me. Freedom isn’t free and a lot of people have paid the ultimate price for it and not just in Vietnam. Youth in Asia really makes you think about the individuals involved. You can’t just look at a war for the politics or the advantage at the end, but seeing the men fighting as individuals was almost heart stopping.

I enjoyed reading Youth in Asia. It’s not overly gory, in fact it was pretty tame compared to my expectations. It was short (about 90 pages), but those pages make you think. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it and maybe that’s amplified by the 4th of July celebrations, but I think it’s pretty rare when a book makes you think beyond it’s story to reality. I would highly recommend Youth in Asia.

For more reviews, check out Reviews In A Pinch today!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the years when America was fighting in Vietnam, millions of American men were sent over into an unfamiliar environment, fighting and dying in a war that seemed to have lost its purpose. The war heavily damaged the American military and significantly contributed to social unrest in the United States.
To the soldier on the ground in Vietnam, it was simply a matter of surviving the current day. The main character is the leader of a small unit that is helicoptered into remote locations where there is suspected or known enemy activity. Many of those missions proved to be an uncomfortable bore, the men slept in wet holes in hot, humid and often rainy weather and had little to do. The only thing worse was the sudden and completely unpredictable firefight that would erupt. Ambushes and hit-and-run attacks would take place and just as quickly be over.
This book is a chronicle of the narrator’s adventures and the time frame is shortly before the Tet offensive of 1968, where the enemy proved that they were not reeling from the force of the American assault and almost defeated.
The action is that of a small unit out in the field trying to understand what they were facing, establish a perimeter and their attempts to see the enemy before the bullets began flying. Events are consistent with what others have written about their war in the jungle, so at a fundamental level there is nothing new in this chronicle.
The writing is quite good, Tiffany is able to place the reader in the environment so that they understand the physical and mental discomfort of the solders as they risk it all in fighting what can only be called a dubious battle. There are many action/adventure stories on the market that feature the “super soldier” that always emerges victorious, no matter what the circumstances. In this case, the victory is merely staying alive in order to hold unit reunions where the attendees really don’t have a good time. Like most of their fellow soldiers, the title of the book could be “Youth Left in Asia.”
This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review also appears on Amazon.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief, but insightful look into the definitive few months for one man in Vietnam. It is an unvarnished account of the boredom, routine, fuck ups and clusterfucks that are part of being in a combat zone.

The tone seems genuine. Having family members I've talked to who served in World War I, Korea, and Vietnam the attitude rings true. There's a prosaicism and fatalism that's necessary to survive combat both physically and mentally.

We were all scared at first, especially Elvis, but he quickly caught on how boring patrolling was. He hadn't yet experienced the brief minutes that become an eternity when you're in a fight.

Worse than bloody warfare was the rules of engagement that guaranteed a loss and why there was so much resentment for those coming back. And don't forget the shitty homecoming reception.

Our enemy was rolling back and forth across a border we could not cross. They were killing us and then running to a sanctuary that we created. It made no sense.

It's not long, but if you want a quick taste of that hell, then this is a fairly accurate description from what I've ever been given second hand, which is little. Because most people would have given almost anything to never have those memories in the first place. They certainly don't sit around chatting it up.


~Copy provided by Netgalley~

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read that I didn't want to put down because it is heart-wrenching to consider the horrors and discomforts soldiers endured in the Vietnam War. It was not what I expected in that I did not expect it to focus on such a short time period of the war but to include more details in the panorama of the war. There were times I was confused about what was going on because I am unfamiliar with military terms and the nature of the camps in the war (it was difficult to picture the men getting into the perimeter when they were estranged from their group and how the attack looked, for example). Nonetheless it was an engaging and thought-provoking read that I think reveals the dark personal experiences of soldiers in war. It left me wanting more, because it was so short. I really appreciate the intro and the author's commitment to our veterans.

[Ronel van Tonder]

Short but thought provoking

Army life, war or history has never interested me much. And yet, this journal like look into this man's service during the Vietnam war was engaging.

Despite being a short read, it contained a very detailed snapshot into a soldier's life. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be out there in the jungles and the heat an the death... But the author paints a vivid picture of this. Enough that I don't would never wish this on anyone.

This is a well written, engaging and enlightening novella that I highly recommend to anyone - whether you're interested in war or not.

I received a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.