A Field of Innocence

Over the last several decades I have read A Field of Innocence by Jack Estes many times. Jack and I grew up together, joined the Marines when were 17 years old and served in Vietnam during the same time period; however,we have had hardly any contact over the last three decades.A Field of Innocence touched me deeply when I read it long ago as a manuscript and moves me now as well. It evokes a wide range of emotions and memories that many veterans often relive in their worst nightmares.This is an true story and acccurate account that should be required reading by future warriors and leaders that would put them in harms way. It pulls no punches. The language and vivid descriptions are rough, but accurate. It captures the horrors of war experienced by innocent teenaged men and the thoughts, fears, emotions and memories then and evoked in flashbacks and nightmares even now, permanently registered in the brains of brave survivors like Jack Edward Estes.Jack brings life to a story often told, but never in my humble opinion in such a pure and truthful manner. This is how it was. It is a story that will haunt the reader for a long time.Jack Estes captures the essence of war through the eyes of a young Marine who has suffered the horrors of war, the loss of brother warrior friends and family and the aftermath of memories implanted in the heart and minds of those who experienced hell first hand.I am shocked that this book has not risen to the top of all factual accounts and experiences of our young men fighting, dying and suffering thereafter as a result of their horrific experiences as grunts in the Vietnam War! My best guess is that, like it did mine, this haunting and spellbinding account will touch your heart and soul bringing the harsh reality of war into the light of day.Jack Estes has done an outstanding job bringing truth to a misunderstood generation of warriors who served their country with dignity and honor. If you can read this book without shedding a tear or feeling the pain and suffering of this young Marine, check your pulse!I am so glad that Jack has republished his intriguing account for generations to come and look forward to reading his next novel, A Soldier's Son.If you are looking for a first hand factual account of what teenagers fighting and dying for their country in Vietnam experienced, look no further, THIS IS IT!

I have a mixed review regarding this book. I think it portrayed a good view of the thoughts and actions of a junior enlisted Marine serving in a tough place. It provided honest insight into their relationships, thoughts, fears, and action during a very hard tour especially if one was attached and had a wife and child.The book had many mix-ups regarding places and things but I guess it is due to the Marines short time in our Corps and also lack of someone to proof read thoroughly and help him to resolve the issues.I am sometimes disappointed that some book written by junior troops belittle officers, SNCO's and NCO's as this one does. The NCO and SNCO were the thread that held us together. And, we had many more officers and NCO's who were excellent leaders than some numb nut as described in this book.Overall I somewhat enjoyed reading this book. I think it was an attempt at an honest report although some of it seemed a stretch, but then again Marines are known for their sea stories. I was sorry the guy's wife didn't meet him at the end and hope things went well afterwards. But it is still sad a wife would not be there unless there were circumstances beyond her control. Whenever I came back and flew into where my loved ones were I was always proud to see them there and it meant so much just as I am sure it disappoint this young Marine not to have had it.

Field of innocence provides an intimate look at war from the perspective of those who are in the trenches, or in this case, in the rice paddies. The author takes us from the shock of boot camp to the shock of returning home from Vietnam and one is left to wonder which was worse. Within the horror that is all war, Estes points out that relationships between those who fight makes fighting possible under the worst of circumstances. He also points out the mind numbing effects of exposure to too much death, and the inhumanity that human beings are capable of. Estes makes it clear that war can cause serious regression in human behavior and it can destroy not only the body and the mind, but the soul as well, if one is not very careful.The reader is struck by the loyalty of some men to their friends, as well as the self centeredness of others as they place their own lives ahead of the welfare of their brothers.The book was very moving and after reading it, the reader has a new found respect for those who served in Vietnam, or any war, in defense of our values.

I enjoyed reading about Viet Nam from a different perspective. I served with an Army Ranger company. The one thing I have learned is that every grunt that served in nam has a very similar but different versions of their war. We all have the same images burned into our memories and thousands of different mind numbing circumstances that put them there. Was this story proof read? What happened at the theater in Danang? It was jus getting interesting when it was dropped mid sentence and into a different part of the story. F's replaced I's ? There were understandable mistakes of a Marine speaking of Army terminology, like a C141 not a c140. and the Americal division is not the "Screaming Eagles", that would be the 101st Airborne division. Other than that, great read and welcome home brother.

I have always felt guilty about not serving during the Vietnam War because I was able to avoid it by getting college and grad school deferments back then. I have also wondered what it would be like to go through Marine boot camp and to fight an enemy who's trying to kill me. Jack's up close and personal accounts of being attacked in firefights and combat are gripping and graphic in detail. Thank God our great country has heroes like him and his fallen comrades. I owe you all bigtime.