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Summary Of A Rumor Of War By Phillip Caputo

900 Words4 Pages

People who have served in the war are usually honored and praised for their service and for fighting for the country, but the majority do not understand what they do through. The book “A Rumor of War” by Phillip Caputo discusses his experience, his journey in a way that helps masses comprehend and grasp the concept of a first-hand experience of what it is like to serve in the war. Simply, as the author has worded, “the things men do in war and the things war does to them”.

It is stated behind the book with a blurb that “A Rumor of War is far more than one soldier’s story.” As well as how it is a basis of the Vietnam war. The book is separated into three parts, the first (The Splendid Little War) being the starting point of his journey; explains …show more content…

gave his first public antiwar speech called “Beyond Vietnam” (1967) which was a strong, influential and passionate address against the war which caused controversy and is a good polar to Caputo’s memoire. The author talks about his own perspective, being in the war; being involved whilst King talks his own perspective, how the war is seen on his eyes and rage. This was not the only speech that he made about the war, but also “Why I am Opposed to the War in Vietnam” (1967) where he states “I am disappointed with our failure to deal positively and forthrightly with the triple evils of racism, economic exploitation, and militarism.” In some ways, King and Caputo see eye to eye, but unlike King- Caputo lived to tell his tale of his first hand experience being in it.

All in all, “a rumor of war” by Phillip Caputo is a very well written primary source for historians alike, as well as a detailed insight for those who care to look into the history of United States of America and/or the Wars that have occurred in this country; especially highlighting the Vietnam war due to it being arguably the only war it has lost.
Even though Caputo did not intend for his memoire to “pretend to be history” it does live up to being considered one of the most important yet ever so controversial books ever written about war. A very good read that is raw, intense and lifelike. Not recommended to those who are not faint of heart, those who do not particularly enjoy and/or cannot withstand heavy topics that this book tackles (“how to face death and how to cause

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