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Edison 64
Edison 64—A Tragedy in Vietnam and at Home tells the moving, but little known story of 64 students from Edison High School in North Philadelphia who were killed in the Vietnam War. That is the largest number from any school in the Country.
Forewords are by Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, who calls it "an extraordinary contribution" and Former Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, who describes it as "remarkable.” Both are decorated Vietnam Combat veterans. The book contains history, interviews, and poignant photographs.
Forewords are by Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, who calls it "an extraordinary contribution" and Former Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, who describes it as "remarkable.” Both are decorated Vietnam Combat veterans. The book contains history, interviews, and poignant photographs.
246 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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December 16, 2019Edison 64 serves up a heart wrenching mosaic of stories told of mother's, neighborhoods and friends forever changed by Vietnam.
September 8, 2019
War has always been a terrible thing. It scars those who serve our country and those who watch from afar in unfathomable ways. To go down in history as the school that sent the most young boys to their deaths during the Vietnam War is undoubtedly a disturbing legacy.
When jobs became increasingly difficult to acquire (and the street violence became steadily worse), about 70% of people from Northern Philadelphia left to join the army. They theorized that it would be better to “get shot while in uniform and earning a paycheck than left dead in my street by some gangbanger who capped me for the fun of it.” Hundreds of men from this area of the U.S. gave their lives in the Vietnam war. Sixty-four of them were from Edison High School, making this the school with the highest number of student deaths in a war.
Edison 64 is a heart-wrenching tale of several boys from this school who suffered tremendous loss and pain, and some who ultimately gave their lives fighting.
Opinion:
This story is one of the most gut-wrenching tales of tragedy I’ve ever read. Because of the truthfulness that is laced throughout this book, it hits home even more so than a nice fictitious sob story. It tells the tale of several young men from Edison High School who, pushed by high unemployment rates and low-income status, enlisted in the army and fought in the Vietnam War. The past of the school itself is a sad tale but should primarily be remembered as a place of community and brotherhood. To this day, this school remains and has a high standard for academics. In truth, this school only served as a home base for the hundreds of men that died for the sake of the war. Poor economic conditions forced the town of North Philadelphia to sacrifice the lives of its men so that the future would remain bright.
I would highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It might be a bit heavy for younger readers due to the very nature of war, but this book would serve as a tremendous educational read-a-loud for all families. It beautifully tells the story of young men who fought in the Vietnam War and the school that united them all.
When jobs became increasingly difficult to acquire (and the street violence became steadily worse), about 70% of people from Northern Philadelphia left to join the army. They theorized that it would be better to “get shot while in uniform and earning a paycheck than left dead in my street by some gangbanger who capped me for the fun of it.” Hundreds of men from this area of the U.S. gave their lives in the Vietnam war. Sixty-four of them were from Edison High School, making this the school with the highest number of student deaths in a war.
Edison 64 is a heart-wrenching tale of several boys from this school who suffered tremendous loss and pain, and some who ultimately gave their lives fighting.
Opinion:
This story is one of the most gut-wrenching tales of tragedy I’ve ever read. Because of the truthfulness that is laced throughout this book, it hits home even more so than a nice fictitious sob story. It tells the tale of several young men from Edison High School who, pushed by high unemployment rates and low-income status, enlisted in the army and fought in the Vietnam War. The past of the school itself is a sad tale but should primarily be remembered as a place of community and brotherhood. To this day, this school remains and has a high standard for academics. In truth, this school only served as a home base for the hundreds of men that died for the sake of the war. Poor economic conditions forced the town of North Philadelphia to sacrifice the lives of its men so that the future would remain bright.
I would highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It might be a bit heavy for younger readers due to the very nature of war, but this book would serve as a tremendous educational read-a-loud for all families. It beautifully tells the story of young men who fought in the Vietnam War and the school that united them all.
September 8, 2019
The Vietnam War, one of the first where news reporters were on the ground with the troops, sparked considerable controversy at home. Hundreds of thousands of our soldiers returned home to cries of "Baby killer," and their service wasn't honored the way it should've been. Edison High School sent the most teenage boys to the war of any high school in America. Sixty-four boys never returned home. Richard Sand interviewed several veterans and the families of those who gave their lives in service to our country, and he tells the stories of their lives and service. He also discusses the background of the war and the continued effort to get veterans the recognition and benefits they both need and deserve.
This book was a stunning tribute to the Vietnam War and the servicemembers who fought for our country. Whether or not you’re familiar with the specifics of the war, this book is a good read because it gives a good overview of the war and some necessary details. While the individual stories can be a little choppy, the information in them paints a picture of the whole man, not just the soldier. It also does a good job talking about the after-effects of the war that most veterans still live with to this day. This book is one hundred percent non-fiction, which makes it so much more powerful. Several times while reading, I had to hold back tears. This book is a must-read that really makes you think about the cost of war.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the effects of the Vietnam War or the stories of those who served.
This book was a stunning tribute to the Vietnam War and the servicemembers who fought for our country. Whether or not you’re familiar with the specifics of the war, this book is a good read because it gives a good overview of the war and some necessary details. While the individual stories can be a little choppy, the information in them paints a picture of the whole man, not just the soldier. It also does a good job talking about the after-effects of the war that most veterans still live with to this day. This book is one hundred percent non-fiction, which makes it so much more powerful. Several times while reading, I had to hold back tears. This book is a must-read that really makes you think about the cost of war.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the effects of the Vietnam War or the stories of those who served.
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June 15, 2019MWSA Review
There are some history facts that just cry out for someone to personalize and share with the world. This book is one of those chronicles history that begs to be told. Edison High School in Philadelphia—which is now no longer standing and was replaced with a shopping mall—was home to the most former students killed in Vietnam of any school in the entire USA. There were sixty-four young men killed who had attended Edison, and they later became known as the Edison 64. A plaque and a flag now mark the old location of their high school. This book takes memories and stories of people who knew them and who went to school with them. Some family members, some high school friends—but all have been damaged emotionally in some way. In fact, the whole community of Philadelphia has suffered in some form. This book allows the rest of the nation to know these young men. The author shares photos of them along with the emotional remembrances of fellow alumni who also went to Nam and survived the war. The book is a written tribute and memorial to the sixty-four and to the community where the young men grew up and went to school: a moving reading experience. You cannot but feel some pain for all of us as a nation. Those at Edison High School gave more than their fair share. We can all be proud and grateful that such young men lived. This is author Richard Sand's best book to date.
Review by Bill McDonald (June 2019)
There are some history facts that just cry out for someone to personalize and share with the world. This book is one of those chronicles history that begs to be told. Edison High School in Philadelphia—which is now no longer standing and was replaced with a shopping mall—was home to the most former students killed in Vietnam of any school in the entire USA. There were sixty-four young men killed who had attended Edison, and they later became known as the Edison 64. A plaque and a flag now mark the old location of their high school. This book takes memories and stories of people who knew them and who went to school with them. Some family members, some high school friends—but all have been damaged emotionally in some way. In fact, the whole community of Philadelphia has suffered in some form. This book allows the rest of the nation to know these young men. The author shares photos of them along with the emotional remembrances of fellow alumni who also went to Nam and survived the war. The book is a written tribute and memorial to the sixty-four and to the community where the young men grew up and went to school: a moving reading experience. You cannot but feel some pain for all of us as a nation. Those at Edison High School gave more than their fair share. We can all be proud and grateful that such young men lived. This is author Richard Sand's best book to date.
Review by Bill McDonald (June 2019)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews