Review of Deadly Waters: The Vietnam Naval War And Its Aftermath

[Shem Murundu]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deadly Waters: The Vietnam Naval War And Its Aftermath" by Randy Miller.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Deadly Waters: The Vietnam Naval War And Its Aftermath is a historical fiction book by Randy Miller, who is a US Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. Zachariah Martin, an American youth from Vermont, is the protagonist of the story. The book is divided into three parts. The first two parts detail Zack’s experiences as a Naval officer on two different sea vessels. In the first part, Zack is a crew member on a destroyer ship known as 'the Hawke’, while in the second one, he's on a cruiser ship named 'Providence.’ The third part speaks on the aftermath of the Vietnam War, precisely about how the US Navy vets were mishandled and cheated out of their rightful benefits by 'the Vietnam Administration' (the VA), the American institution responsible for the welfare of Vietnam war veterans.

Through Zack Martin’s character, alongside his compatriots, the reader is taken on a sea voyage from the USA to Vietnam. The themes explored in the book include war, revenge, romance, and friendship, among other topics. The story is told from a third-person perspective, which enables the author to state factual historical information concerning the Vietnam Naval War amidst the unfolding fictional story. While serving their country on foreign land, members of the American Navy are exposed to a defoliant known as 'Agent Orange’, which is used to destroy vegetation that might be used as a hideout by Vietnamese soldiers. This defoliant finds its way into the waters used by the Naval officers in their basic daily activities, and it creates far-reaching and long-lasting effects on those who are exposed to it.

This book is such an exciting book, and Randy Miller is a great author. So far, this has been the best historical fiction book I've come across. I was fascinated by the way he was able to blend fact and fiction to create such an immersive, engaging, and touching story. The way he brought the characters to life was masterful. The character development was great. The pace of the book was steady and balanced. I felt a connection with the characters, and I could feel their pain during their sad moments.

I greatly enjoyed Bill's narration of the Holmanns’ history to Zack. Also, through Zack's journey out of his hometown and motherland, we were able to see the difference in living conditions between Zack's countrymen and the Vietnamese. The pitiful state of the Vietnam natives made Zack appreciate his hometown's ways and standards. The readers, myself included, are taught and reminded to be grateful for the little blessings they have instead of taking them for granted, as things could be way worse. One might think they have it bad until they witness someone else’s situation.

Zack and Tally’s romance story was so sweet. Their commitment to each other was admirable. Tally’s selflessness to Zack was amazing and deserves to be emulated by everyone. Through Zack’s, Tally’s, and Holmann’s families, the author painted such a beautiful picture of true friendship. He highlighted the great importance of love and support, especially during one's lowest and darkest moments. These two aspects of the book: Zack and Tally's love story, and the great friendships among the three families, were my absolute favorite aspects of the book.

I must also appreciate the author for writing this book because this right here is a voice speaking for many Navy vets, most of whom cannot speak for themselves. I commend Miller for bringing this issue to the public space and creating awareness about it. The book had so many positive aspects that they couldn't all fit into such a short summary. I found Zack's patriotism and commitment to his duties admirable.

The heartlessness of the VA officials irked me. The way they did everything in their power to block the suffering vets from accessing the rights they had earned by virtue of their sacrifice for their country was saddening. The only thing that I found negative was the editing. I found more than ten errors, and this is sad because they ruined what would have been a perfect rating. The book's editing was professional. It's because of the editing errors that I rate this book four out of five stars. I recommend this great novel to fans of romance, nonfiction, and historical fiction books.

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Deadly Waters: The Vietnam Naval War And Its Aftermath
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[Sara Nóbrega Bartolomeu]

Your review is so enthusiastic, makes me wanna read it. Amazing review!

[Shem Murundu]

Your review is so enthusiastic, makes me wanna read it. Amazing review!

There was sadness in the story but the author's skillful portrayal of love and friendship among the characters all made that sad mood subside. Thanks for the response.