Official Review: My "Enemy" in Vietnam" by Billy Springer

[MsH2k]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "My "Enemy" in Vietnam" by Billy Springer.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Two of the most prominent issues in the United States in the 1960s were the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. They are often regarded as separate entities, but what happened when the two intersected? One of the most famous men who did not serve in Vietnam was the heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army, stating, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” Author Billy Springer arrived at the same conclusion, albeit via a different path.

In My “Enemy” in Vietnam, Springer shares his experiences as a Black GI serving as a Green Beret in Vietnam during the war. While reading this book, the word “unassuming” seemed like an apt description of both the stories and the author. Vocabulary.com contextualizes this thought perfectly: “You'll find that some of the most unassuming people are actually the most interesting and powerful of all. They're just decent enough not to display it all the time.”

The strength of this book is depicting, in an unassuming manner, how the intersection of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War materialized for Springer. The scene on the book’s cover summarizes the story: the author described this billboard, in downtown Saigon, as the biggest sign he had ever seen. The Vietnamese would ask him and other Black men the same question: “Why are you helping the oppressor oppress us when your people are being oppressed in your country?” Springer said he had no answer to their question. He described racial taunts and retaliation at his command in Vietnam because of the civil rights protests back in the United States. He also described how the Vietnamese people affectionately called him ben-me, which means “soul brother.” I recommend reading this short novel to discover how Billy Springer stayed true to his country and his conscience during the Vietnam War.

Although the content is not light, this 56-page book has an informal layout and is easy to read. There is no table of contents, and each chapter comprises two or three pages, usually introduced by an illustration. The thirteen chapters are generally self-contained entries, such as explaining a coup d’état, describing the perils of being a point man, impressing the locals with his mastery of the Vietnamese language, and visiting a leper colony in Zee-Lin. Springer is a vivid storyteller, and his narratives are brief but powerful. They share his personal interactions with both fellow service members and the Vietnamese people, including the Montagnard, the indigenous inhabitants of Vietnam’s mountain highlands.

The illustrations give this book the feel of a graphic novel, and this aspect will make it attractive to preteens and teens. My “Enemy” in Vietnam would be an excellent entry on a reading list for middle school and high school students to supplement their U.S. History curriculum. I noticed only one instance of mild profanity, and there were no erotic scenes. The benefit of this book’s presentation in a graphic-novel format may also be to its detriment. The author has presented his factual account, and he references other service members who experienced similar treatment, but this read feels isolated in its presentation. A consideration may be to add a brief foreword or introduction by a fellow GI or two; by no means are these added voices required to validate the author’s experience, but it may aid in distinguishing his accounts from fiction, especially for younger readers.

I rate My “Enemy” in Vietnam 3 out of 4 stars. I deducted one star because there were over ten grammatical errors in the book. Furthermore, the second chapter, “The Riots,” was a subset of the previous chapter verbatim and could be removed completely with no content loss overall. The grammatical errors did not detract from my reading enjoyment, and the redundancy mentioned in the second chapter was the only occurrence of this issue. I recommend this read to anyone preteen and older who is interested in a glimpse of an American soldier’s Vietnam War experience from a perspective rarely given.

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My "Enemy" in Vietnam
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[Goodness C N]

I do believe that books on war and all are better appreciate by readers who have interest in them. Regardless, you have a well written review that gives the reader and insight on what to expect. Well done.

[Janet Kimetto]

You did well to mention that this book is only 56 pages, so it could appeal to those who don't like long stories about the war. And I do say your review is excellently written, great job!

[Chinaza Nnabuenyi]

Things are always mess up during war times. War books are quite fascinating to read. Good review.

[Ethan Howe]

Despite of the fact of having many grammatic errors, this is a good read for historians which makes it an interesting read. Thanks for the review.

[Starilanka Glowy]

The whole"unassuming" talk seems pretty interesting especially because it is based on true stories. Thanks for the nice review.

[Ogugua Obinna Stephen]

Political war books aren't my thing but thanks for a proper review. I wish there was no more wars

[DyanaFl]

The matter seems worth way more than 56 pages. I'm not really a fan of histories with this particular theme but your description of 'unassuming' has awakened my curiosity. Thanks for the review.

[Fareed Regal]

Much of what has been written about the Vietnam war focussed on the politics involved. I am very interested in hearing from someone that was actually there. Thanks to your excellent review I will give this one a try.

[Iqra Rafiq 1]

Wars only bring misery to nations and people. Books on wars are saddening. I like the fact that you mention that the book is only 56 pages as I'm not in long stories and I like to read books with fewer pages and meaningful themes. Thanks for the detailed review.

[Medhansh Bhardwaj]

I am fine with the grammatical errors: the author can and will remove them in the newer editions. But the repetition of an entire chapter? This will definitely remove a star from this book's rating. I hope the author reads this review and does what is needed to be done.

[MsH2k]

I do believe that books on war and all are better appreciate by readers who have interest in them. Regardless, you have a well written review that gives the reader and insight on what to expect. Well done.

Thank you for your comment.

[MsH2k]

You did well to mention that this book is only 56 pages, so it could appeal to those who don't like long stories about the war. And I do say your review is excellently written, great job!

The author told his stories--nothing more--and I truly appreciated that.
Thank you for your comment and your visit, C Janet!

[MsH2k]

Things are always mess up during war times. War books are quite fascinating to read. Good review.

I'm not a fan of war books generally, but I am quite interested in the human interaction aspect. These stories help us to understand how we got to where we are today.
Thank you for your comment.

[MsH2k]

Despite of the fact of having many grammatic errors, this is a good read for historians which makes it an interesting read. Thanks for the review.

It really is an interesting read. The author's stories are not ones often told, and they help us get a comprehensive picture of that time in history.
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