Review of Brothers Bound
Posted: 30 Jul 2024, 12:53
[Following is a volunteer review of "Brothers Bound" by Bruce K. Berger.]
“Brothers Bound” by Bruce K. Berger tells the story of Jameis Jones, also known as Hues, and Brian Charles Kinder, or Buck. Hues and Buck are close friends who were assigned to the same training unit and barracks at Fort Polk, but in late May 1969, they were deployed to the Vietnam War with several hundred other soldiers.
In the hope of being assigned to the same unit at Base Phu Bai, Bucks was assigned to the casualty branch, handling sympathy letter communications with families back home, while Hues was assigned to the graves registration unit, removing the American soldiers who died in action. Friends turned brothers were now separated a mile apart on the big base and their inconstant communication only made them feel close to death.
On September 2, 1969, about four months into their year in Vietnam, the war was intense around several firebases and the Graves Registration Unit needed help evacuating some dead and wounded soldiers from firebase Bastogne. Private Bucks volunteered to aid out his brother’s unit. Tragic events occurred during their evacuation mission. Hues, alongside Buck, were trapped in the heart of an enemy attack from the Viet Cong (VC) soldiers and the American soldiers were taken prisoners during the Vietnam War.
Could they have been having a bad dream? If not, may they be lying unconscious at the crash site? More so, what if this is the reality? Could this be the end for Buck, Jeanie, their upcoming wedding, and the baby?
“Brothers Bound" is a brief, concise, yet incredibly rich and accurate story of human survival. Bruce Berger's work brings to sharp relief the awful world of imprisonment, the brotherly affection of two men for one another, and their unwavering determination to survive.
The story educates readers on why violence is never an answer. War causes psychological damage in addition to the displacement of families, homes, and deaths. Buck and Hue were in pain, and their thoughts were numbed by tiredness, anxiety, and uncertainty. The pain was so severe that Hue became conscious that he was unconscious, and he characterized it as his thoughts floating above his body, watching it and trying to figure out what to do. With such depictions, the story was able to properly explore themes like survival, the resilience of the human spirit, and the redeeming power of love and hope. I truly enjoyed the descriptive expression this added to the narrative, making the story vivid while still sending important messages.
I give Bruce K. Berger's “Brothers Bound” a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. This is because it was written in a professional manner with no grammatical problems and the author used relatable experiences to bring this book to life. Additionally, there was nothing that I did not like about this book. “Brothers Bound” is a must-read for anybody who wants to understand the mental anguish of war and the strength of love.
******
Brothers Bound
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Brothers Bound” by Bruce K. Berger tells the story of Jameis Jones, also known as Hues, and Brian Charles Kinder, or Buck. Hues and Buck are close friends who were assigned to the same training unit and barracks at Fort Polk, but in late May 1969, they were deployed to the Vietnam War with several hundred other soldiers.
In the hope of being assigned to the same unit at Base Phu Bai, Bucks was assigned to the casualty branch, handling sympathy letter communications with families back home, while Hues was assigned to the graves registration unit, removing the American soldiers who died in action. Friends turned brothers were now separated a mile apart on the big base and their inconstant communication only made them feel close to death.
On September 2, 1969, about four months into their year in Vietnam, the war was intense around several firebases and the Graves Registration Unit needed help evacuating some dead and wounded soldiers from firebase Bastogne. Private Bucks volunteered to aid out his brother’s unit. Tragic events occurred during their evacuation mission. Hues, alongside Buck, were trapped in the heart of an enemy attack from the Viet Cong (VC) soldiers and the American soldiers were taken prisoners during the Vietnam War.
Could they have been having a bad dream? If not, may they be lying unconscious at the crash site? More so, what if this is the reality? Could this be the end for Buck, Jeanie, their upcoming wedding, and the baby?
“Brothers Bound" is a brief, concise, yet incredibly rich and accurate story of human survival. Bruce Berger's work brings to sharp relief the awful world of imprisonment, the brotherly affection of two men for one another, and their unwavering determination to survive.
The story educates readers on why violence is never an answer. War causes psychological damage in addition to the displacement of families, homes, and deaths. Buck and Hue were in pain, and their thoughts were numbed by tiredness, anxiety, and uncertainty. The pain was so severe that Hue became conscious that he was unconscious, and he characterized it as his thoughts floating above his body, watching it and trying to figure out what to do. With such depictions, the story was able to properly explore themes like survival, the resilience of the human spirit, and the redeeming power of love and hope. I truly enjoyed the descriptive expression this added to the narrative, making the story vivid while still sending important messages.
I give Bruce K. Berger's “Brothers Bound” a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. This is because it was written in a professional manner with no grammatical problems and the author used relatable experiences to bring this book to life. Additionally, there was nothing that I did not like about this book. “Brothers Bound” is a must-read for anybody who wants to understand the mental anguish of war and the strength of love.
******
Brothers Bound
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon