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 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.

It is like you were there!

Started this one and could not put it down. You get transported INTO the story. Your heart rejoices and grieves with the characters. You even cheer them on. Marines are special ♡ and my prayers follow them always 🙏🏻💓

Great Book

A great story into the depths of an incredible unit operating in a little Vietnam village. You get to know all the characters well, and the battles get intense. The only drawback is that it is a little hard to follow sometimes, most likely due to it being an audiobook, listened to and not actually read by you.

The Village - Mico Study of Counterinsurgency

Story: A classic on COIN in one village (a large entity in Vietnam) and the techniques that were successful if not too late for the disaffect US media and public. A must read / listen for military leaders as well as a civic leaders on the need for multiple lines of effort in any society: security, economics, governance, and communication.

Reader: Good.

Production: Good.

Definitely worth your time

I wondered whether there would be enough action and there is. Detailed descriptions of guerilla style warfare as fought in a relatively small village (around 6000 people at the time). Doesn't gloss over the mistakes made by the USA but also doesn't forget about the brave US and Vietnamese men and women involved. Definitely an audiobook I will remember.

Great Epilogue

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book as a whole, the epilogue was alone worth the price of admission. The story of the author’s return to the village was deeply moving.

Outstanding

West writing like the short precise bursts of an M60(old timers will recall that beast). Very powerful. An indictment of military bureaucracy and a sad reminder of what might have been and those we eventually failed

An enjoyable read!

Would you listen to The Village again? Why?

The Village is a good guide for leadership who are looking for guidance in difficult situations.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are quite a few humorous shenanigans that take place when you bring marines together. Hiding prostitutes from a high ranking officer was my favorite scene. Don't be mislead though, there is a detailed history here of why the Marines are in the village that will satisfy anyone who is curious about Vietnam in the 1960s.