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Loading... Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History (edition 1985)by Wallace Terry kraaivrouw | Feb 20, 2010 |   villemezbrown | Apr 16, 2024 | I learned a lot of things through these men's stories. (  ) personalbookreviews | Sep 19, 2023 | ) pepperabuji | Jun 18, 2020 |  ) jonfaith | Feb 22, 2019 | The African American men in Bloods tell their story in their own words, the way they experienced it. Their dialects show through the written speech. Each chapter is more moving and emotional than the next, dragging the reader down into the depths of war, creating an emotional investment in each person mentioned. But the stories are not only about the battle on the front lines but the battle inside themselves, behind the lines, and back at home. Each soldier discusses their views on the Civil Rights movement that is happening while they were away and its impact on them while they are at war. The emotions are still heavy as they tell stories of black, white, Hispanic, Asian, an American soldier is a brother. Others run into different scenarios of racism behind the line and sometimes their abilities to overcome it. Even though Bloods was originally published in 1984, many words of the men who told their stories can still ring true today. Armchair historians, military fans, young adults, and anyone interested in a true horror story should read this oral history, but a minor amount of previous knowledge of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement is recommended for true comprehension. These men should be honored for being willing to share with the world their experiences in such a sensitive and life-changing time period. No doubt the rapport and trust built between the men and Terry while they were in the battlefield contributed greatly to their willingness to be interviewed after their return stateside. It is through that bond of trust that the public is graced with a rich primary resource such as Bloods. For more information, please visit Wallace Terry’s website To purchase Bloods, please click here. ( ) AprilGibbs | Jun 6, 2014 | It's good to note that blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population. Many people who were against the Vietnam War were against it because the draft tended to put poorer people in combat since they were less likely to be able to afford the kinds of deferments that were given to college students. This reflection is buried in these interviews with man after man talking about graduating high school, wanting to go to college, but not being able to afford it and ending up in Vietnam. A couple of these interviews stand out for me. Edgar Huff. At the time of his retirement, Huff was the senior enlisted man in the entire US military and the first black sergeant major in the Marine Corps. He remembers the Marine Corps before and after its segregation. He fought at Guadalcanal, Korea, and Vietnam. This is a true hero who served his country with dedication and honor, yet after his retirement white Marines from Camp Lejeune threw phosphorous grenades into the yard where he and his family were having a meal screaming, "Nigger!" Unreal. I was also moved by the story of Fred Cherry, who was a fighter pilot shot down in 1965 and held in the Hanoi Hilton until 1973. His story of survival and friendship and his dispassionate recitation of atrocities suffered by himself and other prisoners was particularly moving. There are many other stories here that will stay with you - men who came back and ended up in prison and used that time to improve things not just for themselves but for other black veterans, men who made lives upon their return despite being haunted by the war, and men who never quite returned. Their stories are meaningful and important for an understanding of war in Vietnam. My only criticism of the book is that I wish their had been some written history by the author connecting and contextualizing the interviews. I think this extra big of work would have greatly heightened the story this book is telling. (  ) kraaivrouw | Feb 20, 2010 | The author did personal interviews with 20 vets, officers and enlisted personnel, but it's never really stated whether or not the veterans were encouraged just to tell their stories or if they were being questioned specifically about their experiences. However, the stories themselves were eye-opening, and aside from me wondering about the method of interviewing, the book held my interest until I finished it. Originally published in 1985, and now, some forty years after the Vietnam war, it's still quite worth the time and effort to read this small book, especially for those who maybe want a different take on that conflict. I would most definitely recommend it, especially to those who are interested in the personal side of the Vietnam war and its aftermath. Overall, very well done; at times heartbreaking, especially the reception that these men got when returning home. ( )1  bcquinnsmom | Feb 4, 2009 |  trexm5qp7 | Mar 5, 2016 | |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)959.704History and Geography Asia Southeast Asia Vietnam 1949-LC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4)
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It's good to note that blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population. Many people who were against the Vietnam War were against it because the draft tended to put poorer people in combat since they were less likely to be able to afford the kinds of deferments that were given to college students. This reflection is buried in these interviews with man after man talking about graduating high school, wanting to go to college, but not being able to afford it and ending up in Vietnam.
A couple of these interviews stand out for me. Edgar Huff. At the time of his retirement, Huff was the senior enlisted man in the entire US military and the first black sergeant major in the Marine Corps. He remembers the Marine Corps before and after its segregation. He fought at Guadalcanal, Korea, and Vietnam. This is a true hero who served his country with dedication and honor, yet after his retirement white Marines from Camp Lejeune threw phosphorous grenades into the yard where he and his family were having a meal screaming, "Nigger!" Unreal.
I was also moved by the story of Fred Cherry, who was a fighter pilot shot down in 1965 and held in the Hanoi Hilton until 1973. His story of survival and friendship and his dispassionate recitation of atrocities suffered by himself and other prisoners was particularly moving.
There are many other stories here that will stay with you - men who came back and ended up in prison and used that time to improve things not just for themselves but for other black veterans, men who made lives upon their return despite being haunted by the war, and men who never quite returned. Their stories are meaningful and important for an understanding of war in Vietnam.
My only criticism of the book is that I wish their had been some written history by the author connecting and contextualizing the interviews. I think this extra big of work would have greatly heightened the story this book is telling. (