I'M NO HERO, BUT I SERVED WITH THEM

A Vietnam veteran reflects on his time in Southeast Asia in this debut war memoir.

“Every male who went into the United States Marine Corps who completed boot camp knew he was bound for Vietnam,” writes Howard in the book’s opening lines. The author, known by his brothers in arms as “Jersey,” was part of Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, an outfit that fought in some of the Vietnam War’s most brutal battles of the late 1960s as they could be deployed anywhere in South Vietnam within a matter of hours. Dedicated to those who fought and died in the company, this book honors the heroes whom Howard served alongside as he laments the lack of recognition they have received in subsequent coverage of the war. While stories of valor and self-sacrifice ground the book, the author is unafraid to discuss, often in graphic detail, the horrors of war. Indeed, the strength of the book lies in the author’s raw honesty when discussing how soldiers were placed on dangerous battlefields and exposed to hazardous chemicals, tropical diseases, and harsh terrain, often without even the most basic of safety supplies. After later reading official government reports of Hotel Company’s actions, Howard notes that “information was withheld or removed completely,” and that entire locations were designated incorrectly. Willing to tackle controversial subjects head on, the author describes how racial tensions back home impacted soldiers in Vietnam: “The Vietnamese never called us the N word,” he writes, recalling a common sentiment among Black soldiers who believed “this is the white man’s war.” Howard recalls that some Black soldiers were so discontented that they attempted to kill their first sergeant, leading to a tragedy that resulted in the accidental death of someone else. This grim story is reflective of Howard’s almost brutally honest approach, which does not shield readers from the terrors of the war. The harrowing prose is supplemented by a wealth of photographs and the inclusion of wartime ephemera such as leaflets, menus, and other primary sources that enhance the narrative’s engrossing stories.

A memoir that successfully honors the sacrifices of soldiers while not shying away from their horrific experiences.