Review by ReyvrexQuestor Reyes -- A Police Action

[ReyvrexQuestor Reyes]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Police Action" by A. A. Freda.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Vietnam War we knew from history — the conflict between the northern and southern parts of Vietnam as divided by the 17th parallel — may be said to be a war of ideologies more than anything else. For arrayed on one side were the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies, while on the opposing side were the United States and its anti-communist allies. And there's the ongoing Cold War lurking in the background. Nevertheless, if America’s war effort was mainly to check the spread of Communism, as had been floated around, then it could rightly be called a police action, as in this novel, A Police Action by A. A. Freda.

To James Coppi, Specialist 4th Class, US Army, this war was just another conflict he had to contend with, as he’d just been from an earlier conflict back home with a girl he left behind. Their future could not be possibly planned until the last segment of his military journey was finished. And yet, here in Colorado, just weeks before being sent to Vietnam, he met Samantha Powers. Coppi had gone a long way from his native Italy to life in the Bronx and through all the training and assignments of his military career. He reflected that all his life was hardships and here with Sam is the chance for a change — will he take it?

A Police Action delightfully chronicles the developments of the war and the love story of Coppi and Sam. Freda made the exchange of letters between the lovers as enjoyable to follow as the exchange of shots on the battlefield. Of course, other highlights of the story equally kept me entertained. Sad to say, however, there was no more suspense with regards to the result of the war for we already knew the outcome since many decades back, but the lives of the characters, aside from Coppi and Sam, were surely interesting studies of human behavior in times of love and war.

Nevertheless, there was something disconcerting that I observed from the dialogues of the soldiers. No, it’s not the usage of cussing or swearing words mind you. I am of the opinion that for the sake of realism this was to be tolerated. Moreover, in the rank and file, this was how some soldiers f*ck in’ speak. What I gathered as rather disheartening was the realization that not one of the soldiers seemed to have known why he was in the war except that he was drafted or required to. There was no fervor of patriotism involved. Although the title seemed to have pointed to the right perspective, that America was doing a police action in this war, it appeared sort of a disservice to America, however, when not enough verbiage was included so as to laud America’s gargantuan initiative for safeguarding the democratic way of life as we knew it.

I liked the way the narrative flowed, i.e., in a light-hearted manner, in spite of the war that was a grim business. And with the audacity of Coppi, and his hilarious antics, there just can’t be a dull moment. Although I disapproved of his usurious rates at lending, I still found Coppi likable for he felt for his comrades somehow in other ways. His philosophy in life was at times, outrageous, but he kept a code of honor. I thought people should be entitled to some quirks sometimes.

A Police Action was obviously well- edited. Two errors were all I have found. With regard to the overall content of the novel, the plot was nicely laid, and the writing was highly comprehensible. The sights and sounds of war all came descriptively abundant in details — presumably told by someone who had been there. I recommend this novel to matured readers of fiction due to adult content. A Police Action by A. A. Freda is hereby rated 4 out of 4 stars.

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A Police Action
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