A Rumor of WarA Rumor of War

By Justin SchaubBy Justin Schaub

PlotPlot

A Rumor of War is written by A Rumor of War is written by Vietnam Veteran Philip Caputo. Vietnam Veteran Philip Caputo.

The book talks about his days of The book talks about his days of being a Lieutenant in the Marine being a Lieutenant in the Marine Corp during Vietnam during Corp during Vietnam during 1965-1966. 1965-1966.

The book progresses through The book progresses through three parts. The first being boot three parts. The first being boot camp plus initial time in Vietnam. camp plus initial time in Vietnam. The second part is when he The second part is when he became a causality officer during became a causality officer during part of his tour. The last part is part of his tour. The last part is when he gets back to combat and when he gets back to combat and the eventual conclusion. the eventual conclusion.

Philip CaputoPhilip Caputo

Caputo was a idealistic young Caputo was a idealistic young adult and joined the Marine Corp adult and joined the Marine Corp right of college. right of college.

Attended boot camp on Paris Attended boot camp on Paris island. island.

Enlisted as an act of “rebellion” Enlisted as an act of “rebellion” against parents. against parents.

Landed in Vietnam on March 6Landed in Vietnam on March 6thth, , 1965. 1965.

Became very cynical about the Became very cynical about the war, comes across in the writing. war, comes across in the writing.

His goal in the book was to warn His goal in the book was to warn future generations about the truth future generations about the truth of war. of war.

War in VietnamWar in Vietnam

Very rarely saw the enemy, Very rarely saw the enemy, consistently on the move.consistently on the move.

Lack of targets lead to increasing Lack of targets lead to increasing frustration.frustration.

Juggle and terrain against Juggle and terrain against soldiers.soldiers.

Times of extreme emotion, from Times of extreme emotion, from boredom to excitement. boredom to excitement.

Experienced a war of attrition. Experienced a war of attrition. Not only as a officer in the field, Not only as a officer in the field, but also at one point during his but also at one point during his tour worked at head quarters tour worked at head quarters keeping track of casualties. keeping track of casualties. Monitored enemy and friendly Monitored enemy and friendly dead in the area. dead in the area.

ThoughtsThoughts Philip is able to convey the madness Philip is able to convey the madness

of the war throughout the book. of the war throughout the book. You get to see the “slide” of Caputo You get to see the “slide” of Caputo

as well as other men who he leads. as well as other men who he leads. One of the most shocking endings I One of the most shocking endings I have ever read. have ever read.

The double speak that was required The double speak that was required when discussing casualties is when discussing casualties is interesting. Would change the name interesting. Would change the name of injuries to sound less war related.of injuries to sound less war related.

Philip was shocked by how higher up Philip was shocked by how higher up General and Colonels acted. Parading General and Colonels acted. Parading bodies out for Generals to see as well bodies out for Generals to see as well as building a horse shoe ring for a as building a horse shoe ring for a Colonel in the middle of a conflict are Colonel in the middle of a conflict are some of the extreme things talked some of the extreme things talked about.about.

Vietnam BooksVietnam Books If you are interested in the If you are interested in the

Vietnam time period or just great Vietnam time period or just great memoirs, I suggest you pick both memoirs, I suggest you pick both this book up as well as a book this book up as well as a book called Dispatches by Michael called Dispatches by Michael Herr. Both are incredible reads. Herr. Both are incredible reads.

Works CitedWorks CitedPlotPlot

http://www.usedbooks.co.nz/a-rumor-of-war-pi-2182.htmlhttp://www.usedbooks.co.nz/a-rumor-of-war-pi-2182.html

Philip CaputoPhilip Caputohttp://www.nndb.com/people/883/000104571/http://www.nndb.com/people/883/000104571/

War in VietnamWar in Vietnamhttp://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/

ThoughtsThoughtshttp://www.12thcav.us/Photos_Viet_212_coB_67.htmhttp://www.12thcav.us/Photos_Viet_212_coB_67.htm

Vietnam BooksVietnam Bookshttp://hooleintelligence.vox.com/library/book/6a00d414201beb6a4700fae8e311da000b.htmlhttp://hooleintelligence.vox.com/library/book/6a00d414201beb6a4700fae8e311da000b.html