Philip Caputo's "A Rumor of War"

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, reviews, and analyzes Philip Caputo's book about the Vietnam War, "A Rumor of War". The paper points out that Caputo wanted the reader to contemplate the moral ambiguity of the war, the vivid description of battlefield conditions and how Vietnam was an iconoclasm to America's self-image. The paper concludes that Philip Caputo lost all of his illusions about glorious death, meaningful war and service to country in the course of his tour of duty in Vietnam.

From the Paper:

"Caputo noted how frustrations mounted as the "rules of engagement" gradually became looser. The commanding officers once restricted return fire unless otherwise ordered so as to prevent accidentally hitting a civilian. Rules such as these were continually softened until gradually the focus was placed wholly on the body count. Caputo summarized command's attitude by relating General Greene's order which was to simply "kill VC". The orders to produce a high body count (as well as rewards of extra beer rations and free time offered by Captain Neal for those men that killed VC) pressured the men."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Philip Caputo. A Rumor of War. (New York: Henry and Holt Company, 1977).

More papers on Philip Caputo's "A Rumor of War":

• Persuasive Essay # 111663 : "Philip Caputo: "A Rumor of War"
• Book Review # 29964 : "A Rumor of War"
• Book Review # 141947 : "A Rumor of War"

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