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A Field of Innocence: An Autobiography
At 18, Jack Estes found himself married, broke, and about to become a father, and on his way to the jungles of Vietnam as a raw recruit at the height of hostilities. He figured Nam couldn't be any worse than home, but he was wrong--grossly wrong.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 9, 2014
This powerful memoir tells of Jack Estes's days in Vietnam.
Jack joined the Marines at age eighteen. I was in the service at this time but not stationed in Vietnam. However, I feel for the men Jack served with and could imagine I was there along side of them.
The descriptions of Marines in action, men of my age, were so intense and dramatic that I felt I had to pause in my reading to consider how hard it must have been. "I'm hit" yelled more than one Marine, "...kill me" begged another who must have been in terrible pain.
We get to see the war through Jack's eyes and read about his thoughts in his letters home to, Kristen, the girl he loved and was soon to be the mother of their child.
His descriptions of the Vietnamese countryside were also very visual. I felt as if he was a tour guide, visiting places that could be peaceful or deadly.
I recommend this memoir to anyone who was living during the Vietnam conflict or for history fans.
Jack joined the Marines at age eighteen. I was in the service at this time but not stationed in Vietnam. However, I feel for the men Jack served with and could imagine I was there along side of them.
The descriptions of Marines in action, men of my age, were so intense and dramatic that I felt I had to pause in my reading to consider how hard it must have been. "I'm hit" yelled more than one Marine, "...kill me" begged another who must have been in terrible pain.
We get to see the war through Jack's eyes and read about his thoughts in his letters home to, Kristen, the girl he loved and was soon to be the mother of their child.
His descriptions of the Vietnamese countryside were also very visual. I felt as if he was a tour guide, visiting places that could be peaceful or deadly.
I recommend this memoir to anyone who was living during the Vietnam conflict or for history fans.
October 12, 2014
Innocent No More
I was there in 71/72 & so many memories flooding back. Jack Estes was so dead-on I felt as if I was back in Nam. if you're a Vietnam Vet this is worth your time to read. if you are not it will give you an insight to the conditions our young men had to endure.
I was there in 71/72 & so many memories flooding back. Jack Estes was so dead-on I felt as if I was back in Nam. if you're a Vietnam Vet this is worth your time to read. if you are not it will give you an insight to the conditions our young men had to endure.
April 24, 2014
Very Good Accounting
Well written and wholly believable. Good word-pictures of geography and combat The prospective of a grunt marine.
Cathartic to all combat veterans. Semper fi
Well written and wholly believable. Good word-pictures of geography and combat The prospective of a grunt marine.
Cathartic to all combat veterans. Semper fi
December 11, 2016
I met the author at the Oregon State Fair at a local authors event. He was an engaging man and I figured his Vietnam war memoir would be interesting. As a member of the Vietnam generation who successfully avoided the conflict, it was a powerful read. The author, beset with problems including a pregnant girlfriend and a lack of direction after high school, decides that the solution is to join the Marines. He soon learns that that wasn't the best choice. He then takes us through boot camp and a year in the jungles of Vietnam. He vividly portrays harrowing combat with unseen enemies in the night, the sadness of comrades quickly lost in pointless battels, friendships, drug use and poignant letters home to his now wife and baby girl. He goes in young and naive, and leaves hardened and cynical, yet with a core of goodness that obviously sustained him for the rest of his life. If you are interested in the Vietnam war from the point of view of a common soldier, this is a very good read.
April 19, 2024
Excellent
I’ve read several Vietnam memoirs and this might be my favourite. It takes you into the heart of the action and makes you appreciate the shift the author went through from regular teenager to experienced soldier and the pain this involved. And makes you understand how they could have normal interactions with each other yet continually walk the edge with death. Highly recommend
I’ve read several Vietnam memoirs and this might be my favourite. It takes you into the heart of the action and makes you appreciate the shift the author went through from regular teenager to experienced soldier and the pain this involved. And makes you understand how they could have normal interactions with each other yet continually walk the edge with death. Highly recommend
September 30, 2018
Important Read
Jack Estee takes the reader to his tour in Vietnam with the feeling of walking right beside him. Thank you Jack for your sacrifice, your endurance and that piece of your life that you gave to America.
Jack Estee takes the reader to his tour in Vietnam with the feeling of walking right beside him. Thank you Jack for your sacrifice, your endurance and that piece of your life that you gave to America.
April 30, 2025
Good fictional book about Vietnam
Good fictional book about Vietnam. Looks as if it based on the author’s experiences. So it feels authentic. Describes a time and place well. I enjoyed it.
Good fictional book about Vietnam. Looks as if it based on the author’s experiences. So it feels authentic. Describes a time and place well. I enjoyed it.
December 22, 2025
outstanding
A personal account of a warrior fighting for survival and his comrades. You find yourself being him and experiencing fear, remorse and terrible sorrow. Well worth your time to read.
A personal account of a warrior fighting for survival and his comrades. You find yourself being him and experiencing fear, remorse and terrible sorrow. Well worth your time to read.
May 8, 2022
An excellent account of a young Marine's experience in Vietnam without the politics.
July 4, 2023
Captured Vietnam well
One of the better written VN memoirs, both for the battle scenes and how well he captured the degree of youthfulness of the combatants.
One of the better written VN memoirs, both for the battle scenes and how well he captured the degree of youthfulness of the combatants.
October 22, 2023
Powerful and haunting. Having just missed this conflict I am fascinated by stories like this. I thank God that I didn't have to experience anything like what the author miraculously lived through.
March 24, 2024
As a teenage recruit Jack Estes recounts his time in Vietnam in 1968 and his daily thoughts of his wife and daughter. Descriptions of combat are detailed and exciting.
October 15, 2024
n exceptional read. I have read (a lot), of books about the Vietnam war, and this one really gives you a clear understanding of the war from a soldiers perspective. Quite harrowing in places, but that's how it must have been.
I would recommend this book if you like to read about 1st person perspective of war...
I would recommend this book if you like to read about 1st person perspective of war...
May 11, 2014
GOOD READ, TERRIBLE EDITING!
I enjoyed reading about Viet Nam from a different perspective. I served with an Army Ranger company. The one thing I have learned is that every grunt that served in nam has a very similar but different versions of their war. We all have the same images burned into our memories and thousands of different mind numbing circumstances that put them there.
Was this story proof read? What happened at the theater in Danang? It was jus getting interesting when it was dropped mid sentence and into a different part of the story. F's replaced I's ? There were understandable mistakes of a Marine speaking of Army terminology, like a C141 not a c140. and the Americal division is not the "Screaming Eagles", that would be the 101st Airborne division. Other than that, great read and welcome home brother.
I enjoyed reading about Viet Nam from a different perspective. I served with an Army Ranger company. The one thing I have learned is that every grunt that served in nam has a very similar but different versions of their war. We all have the same images burned into our memories and thousands of different mind numbing circumstances that put them there.
Was this story proof read? What happened at the theater in Danang? It was jus getting interesting when it was dropped mid sentence and into a different part of the story. F's replaced I's ? There were understandable mistakes of a Marine speaking of Army terminology, like a C141 not a c140. and the Americal division is not the "Screaming Eagles", that would be the 101st Airborne division. Other than that, great read and welcome home brother.
January 4, 2016
A raw Viet Nam experience
I appreciated the author's willingness to not only describe the action, but also the emotions involved in the event. He did a great job depicting the relationships between soldiers and how quickly their trust can form. This story needed to be told 50 years ago, although I,m afraid it would not have been accepted but rather just have added fuel to the fires of the protesters. War is not ever good, is it?
I appreciated the author's willingness to not only describe the action, but also the emotions involved in the event. He did a great job depicting the relationships between soldiers and how quickly their trust can form. This story needed to be told 50 years ago, although I,m afraid it would not have been accepted but rather just have added fuel to the fires of the protesters. War is not ever good, is it?
May 3, 2011
I picked this book randomly from a book exchange in a holiday park and what a great read.
If you want to know the extremes of what goes on in a soldiers head during times of sheer boredom to episodes of blood curdling brutality interspersed bargaining with God and thinking of home and seeing friends die this is the book to read.
If you want to know the extremes of what goes on in a soldiers head during times of sheer boredom to episodes of blood curdling brutality interspersed bargaining with God and thinking of home and seeing friends die this is the book to read.
May 16, 2017
Stunning read.
The story hits home hard, but is well written and obviously from the heart. The transition from newbie to scarred veteran is stunning in its simplicity. Many will understand
The story hits home hard, but is well written and obviously from the heart. The transition from newbie to scarred veteran is stunning in its simplicity. Many will understand
March 20, 2016
"Innocence lost"
I found this memoir of a soldiers tour to Vietnam so moving, really emotional but such a read I couldn't put it down. It really is an amazing book. Anyone interested in this subject should definitely read this one they won't be disappointed.
I found this memoir of a soldiers tour to Vietnam so moving, really emotional but such a read I couldn't put it down. It really is an amazing book. Anyone interested in this subject should definitely read this one they won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews