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Infuriating, heartbreaking, and another thing I wish we were taught.

Well this is not a pleasant read, especially in light of reported crimes by Australian troops in Afghanistan. Central argument is that incidents such as MyLai were the rule rather than the exception, from creation of designated free fire zones, requirements to meet body count totals, the devaluation of Vietnamese woman to sexual object. As stated a harrowing but very well researched book on a forty year old war.

This may be a book that is actually better on audio than in print, because the detail gets repetitive. This is not criticism—the repetition is the point, that atrocities like My Lai were not exceptions but the rule, handed down from commanders. These details are not easy to listen to, but if you want to understand US involvement in Vietnam, they are necessary. 💡💡💡💡💡