Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History by B. G. Burkett, Glenna Whitley ISBN: 0-9667036-0-X Publisher: Verity Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $31.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.44 (209 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Outstanding myth-busting book
Comment: Mr. Burkett's book is best described as a war on myth, both surrounding the Vietnam War in general and with psuedo soldiers. On the former, the author goes after popular myths like Agent Orange supposedly causing cancer, there being more draftees in Vietnam than say WWII, etc. and demolishes them with fact. On the latter, Burkett exposes the frauds (both famous and obscure) who claim to be Vietnam vets or vets with high decorations. Among those who Burkett shines the light of truth: 1)one fellow who claimed to have participated in atrocities yet his specialty wasn't one that would have allowed him to even be in the situation he described; 2)one man who claimed the Medal of Honor falsely; 3)one fellow who described exploits in Vietnam yet never actually set foot in Southeast Asia; 4) one person who claimed combat service yet was never in the military at all. Burkett's book also exposes the incredible lack of background work that the press does when interviewing supposed veterans.
Mr. Burkett, from the son of a real Vietnam combat veteran, thank you for your work.
Rating: 5
Summary: The epitome of good history, research and journalism
Comment: A voracious reader I am particularly interested in books about the Vietnam conflict, especially in light of the fact I spent a year there in the service of my country. I've always advised those interested enough to inquire, that if you can read only one book on the war read Neil Sheehan's A Bright Shining Lie; since reading Burkett's and Whitley's effort I've modified that advice to, "If you can read only two books on the war Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History."
Stolen Valor is not a history of the war. Rather it's one of those indispensable works that that adds essential background information needed to understand the peripheral issues that arise in the wake of every conflict. Burkett and Whitley have done their homework and documented their book with what appear to be unimpeachable sources and first-hand accounts.
The main thrust of the work is to set the record straight on a number of sticky issues that have come forth after the war's end. Whether the Agent Orange controversy or the propriety of hawking T-shirts at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., Burkett and Whitley examine most of the major issues surrounding Vietnam veterans along with their accompanying moral ramifications.
Perhaps the most enlightening material concerns the Veterans Administration and its attitude towards and treatment of those veterans who claim to be suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of their service in Southeast Asia. We learn that the VA apparently treats not only those who served in Vietnam for PTSD, but some who apparently never set foot on Vietnamese soil; and even more astonishing are revelations some veterans who didn't even serve during the Vietnam era are the recipients of the VA's largesse for Vietnam induced PTSD.
The book is a treasure trove of information about imposters, those who are labeled "wannabes." Well documented is the high incidence of individuals, some actual viet-era veterans, some never having serve in the theater and incredibly some who never served in the military at all, who are fakers and self-proclaimed war heroes adorning themselves with unearned decorations and illegal medals. Numerous accounts are included of individuals who have made outlandish and false claims of having completed elite military training programs, and then further shaming themselves by claiming ex- P.O.W. status.
The book contains excellent information on how to check the military records of individuals, and includes important lists. Enumerated are those who received the Medal of Honor, Vietnam; the Distinguished Service Cross, Vietnam; the Navy Cross, Vietnam; the Air Force Cross, Vietnam; and Vietnam era POW's who returned alive.
I consider this an outstanding contribution to the general body of literature surrounding the war. It is engrossing, well written and most informative. For anyone with a interest that goes below the veneer of most Vietnam conflict treatments, I consider this a "must read."
If there are flaws they are few and insignificant. Perhaps the single thing that bothered me the most was the occasional tendency on the part of Burkett to be flippant and resort to humor that, more than once, seem stilted and awkward. But this criticism should not detract overall from this examination of real problems and issues that beg to be addressed and examined on a larger scale.
This work, in a real way, is a wonderful tribute to all those who served and did so without returning home to besmirch their contributions by claiming heroic actions and deeds of which they were not a part. At the same time the book stands, whether consciously or not, as a tribute to the wounded and those who so gallantly made the ultimate sacrifice
Rating: 1
Summary: Poorly written, poorly researched
Comment: Surprised at the poor quality of writing and research in a book so widely quoted in Internet chat rooms as the last word on VN vets. The mistakes he made re Kerry's medals are probably the most recently exposed problems with the book, but there are plenty more just in terms of historical context.
Recommendation: don't bother. You can get more recent and accurate information just by performing your own Google search.
 |
Title: America in Vietnam by Guenter Lewy ISBN: 0195027329 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: May, 1980 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: Losing Bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror by Richard Miniter ISBN: 0895260743 Publisher: Regnery Publishing Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
 |
Title: A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam by Lewis Sorley ISBN: 0156013096 Publisher: Harvest Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $27.00 |
 |
Title: A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat by Zell Miller, Smyth, Helwys Pub Stroud, Hall Pub ISBN: 0974537616 Publisher: Stroud & Hall Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
 |
Title: Vietnam: The Necessary War: A Reinterpretation of America's Most Disastrous Military Conflict by Michael Lind ISBN: 0684870274 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 16 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
