The Village

By: Bing West

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Few American battles have been so extended, savage, and personal. A handful of Americans volunteered to live among six thousand Vietnamese, training farmers to defend their village. Such "Combined Action Platoons" (CAPs) are not a lost footnote about how the war could have been fought; only the villagers remain to bear witness. This is the story of 15 resolute young Americans matched against two hundred Viet Cong; how a CAP lived, fought, and died; and why the villagers remember them to this day.

©2002 Bing West (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A minor classic about war." ( The Washington Post)

A good story

Vietnamese our Vietnam veterans move into their twilight years and the wars gets further in our rear view mirror it is nice to know there were some who made a difference and
That generation’s sacrifice is remembered fondly by some.

Memories

Good to know all was not in vain. Sadness and happiness return as opposing forces.

A whole different war

This story reflects what was meant by winning hearts and minds. The Village is not a story of loving the smell of napalm in the morning. It's living with the people and fighting with them. Clearly in the grand scheme of things it is a much different commitment, and ultimately not enough. While Vietnam cast the fault lines in our culture, this story points at a different type of conflict. This story does give one pause to wonder who we are.

A different side of the war

This book is not written to change minds or state a political opinion. It is a well told and compelling story.

Should be listed as a thriller

This book was filled with some wild small unit action. Every page was a new night ambush and kept you glued.