Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
Elizabeth Partridge★ “Partridge proves once again that nonfiction can be every bit as dramatic as the best fiction.”*
America’s war in Vietnam. In over a decade of bitter fighting, it claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers & beleaguered four US presidents. More than forty years after America left Vietnam in defeat in 1975, the war remains controversial & divisive both in the United States & abroad.
The history of this era is complex; the cultural impact extraordinary. But it’s the personal stories of eight people—six American soldiers, one American military nurse, & one Vietnamese refugee—that create the heartbeat of Boots on the Ground. From dense jungles & terrifying firefights to chaotic helicopter rescues & harrowing escapes, each individual experience reveals a different facet of the war & moves us forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders & events, reminding us of all that was happening at home during the war, including peace protests, presidential scandals, & veterans’ struggles to acclimate to life after Vietnam.
With more than one hundred photographs, award-winning author Elizabeth Partridge’s unflinching book captures the intensity, frustration, & lasting impacts of one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.
*Kirkus Reviews, starred review of Marching for Freedom
A NOTE ABOUT LANGUAGE
There are offensive words in some quoted material in this book, particularly racial slurs that were meant to denigrate & be hurtful. Though these derogatory words are no less offensive today, I have not censored them. They are important for understanding the Vietnam War, its era, & the intense memories & feelings of several of my interviewees.
Elizabeth Partridge is a National Book Award finalist, Prince Honor winner, & author of several nonfiction books for children.