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Some have called it the Second Indochina War, but most Americans know it as the Vietnam War. It was fought in the name of the “domino theory,” an attempt to stem the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. The controversy surrounding that war survives to this day and casts a pall over that period in American history.
Much has been written about those Americans who fought and often died in Vietnam, but now more and more is being written by those who did the fighting and dying themselves. One of the many who fought and lived is Bob Miller, whose new book,
Kill Me If You Can, You SOB was released in July 2007.
Miller kept a diary during his tour of duty, which he has opened to the world through this book. When viewed from his perspective, the global and military struggles disappear from view, and we are left instead viewing the insanity of war from an individual soldier’s seamy perspective. In this book, Miller recaptures everything about that perspective…the attitudes…the language…the grueling day-to-day struggling for survival, both physical and spiritual. It shows up in his recital of his first day in Vietnam.
Damn hypocrites have been crisscrossing this planet from day one taking whatever they wanted, and doing it in God's name. I don't have a problem with killing or stealing, but I'll do it in my own name and accept the consequences. I’ve read a lot of words about John Adams, but none of his words or those written about him struck a cord with me like the words of Abigail Adams, “History is not a web woven with innocent hands. Among all the causes which degrade and demoralize men, power is the most constant and most active.”
Miller’s attitudes might surprise some. As a soldier he ultimately took his orders from Washington. Yet, he had little respect for many of the top order givers and advisors, for the way they chose to wield their power:
What I do know, Diary, is that every newspaper that finds its way over here is filled with articles about how war protesters are getting troops killed. Yet, these assholes just can’t seem to do enough for Robert McNamara. This godless piece of **** was awarded the Medal of Freedom in February by LBJ in order to spare his feelings when he was replaced because Arlington Cemetery could no longer accommodate his mistakes.
If you want to better understand what really happened in Vietnam,
Kill Me If You Can, You SOB should be on your reading list.
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