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Other Publications...Whirling FireLife was simple – living in bunkers, bathing out of wells, avoiding booby traps – but advisors learned that the Vietnamese culture was deep, rich and complex. Poetry. |
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Online Review of Books and Current Affairs Coyote Jack A soldier returns to Viet Nam, November 21, 2006 Memoirs, by definition, are written in order to remember and record. They are life snapshots of people and places filtered through the eyes of the writer, dimmed by the passage of time. Sometimes they are distorted by flawed perceptions or unresolved fears and angers. At their best, they bring a measure of resolution and peace to the writers. Why specifically did Jack Lyndon Thomas write the memoir, "Coyote Jack?" There probably is no single and complete answer to that question, but his words suggest to this reader 1) that the son, Jack Thomas, wrote in hopes of reconciling, in memory, with his now-deceased father, 2) that the father, Jack Thomas, wrote of his failures as a parent in hopes that his daughters will understand and forgive, and 3) that the soldier in Vietnam, Lt. Thomas, was compelled to write to find meaning and resolution of guilt. Initially, "Coyote Jack" seems to be a book most likely to be enjoyed by men. Many women will find the accounts of unloving and aggressive male-male interactions puzzling and disturbing. Many of us don't understand and have little interest in military matters, violent behaviors (testosterone-fueled?), or macho actions. The many pictures will likely get a mixed review by female readers; some are fascinating, others are entirely uninteresting. But keep reading. The poems that appear at the beginning of the chapters seem to reflect a more sensitive observer than one might expect from the narrative of "Coyote Jack." Is it possible that beneath the bluster there is a kind and caring man? This is a good read for men, and it will also speak to women. Read on. The author's writing is best when it is simple and concise. On the other hand, some passages don't quite work for this reader. Consider the following: "...Fireflies flitted in random flight patterns. Even water buffalo seemed to move with a lumbering grace. ... poignant scents from incense, cooking fires, nuoc mam, decayed vegetation, mud, dung, and body odor melded together." The treasure of "Coyote Jack" lies in his telling of the small details of Vietnam life. The author's narrative - not his fanciful descriptions - but the straightforward stories bring the people and places alive. Appealing children, stoic adults, terrible deprivations, horrific accidents, humidity and mud, and ever-present danger - the listing for this rich account could be long indeed, and altogether it allows the country and its people to become very real. . Mr. Thomas doesn't insult the reader by claiming that his return trip to Vietnam miraculously resolved all of the painful issues accumulated over his lifetime, culminating in Vietnam. He wrestled with many of his demons, and some of them are subdued. He is honest with the reader, and that is enough. You may want to read this book if you struggle with family-related guilt and remorse. Certainly, "Coyote Jack" is a worthwhile read it if you have a connection with Vietnam. I am very glad it came into my hands, since I will soon travel to that part of the world. An Important, Relevant Memoir of a Viet Nam Veteran, November 20, 2006 Jack Lyndon Thomas writes with an amazing sense of insight into a man's soul. A product of an era of dramatic change in values, respect for authority, and a redefining of patriotism, Thomas has shown a tenderness, and understanding of human needs, emotional, mental, and physical. His story speaks for thousands of men who served their country valiantly in a cause of questionable ideals. In Coyote Jack, the author has allowed himself to become vulnerable, as he related the complex issues of life and personal discovery by paralleling his experiences in Viet Nam with reconciling his own personal search for satisfaction and creative expression. Thomas described exploring and embracing the culture of Viet Nam, of trying to understand the politics, and religion of the country, and of his appreciation for the natural features of the landscape and the topography of the countryside. He described in words of poetic beauty the peasantry that inhabited the rural areas. The author went on to describe the ineffectual leadership, the ill-defined goals and objectives of the country's leaders. He told of the internal conflict he felt in the midst of the external conflict being experienced all around. This was often traced back to the lack of solid support and execution of the politicians and the man on the street in the United States. I particularly enjoyed the profound poems and statements that introduced each chapter. Part II of the book with Maps and beautiful colored photographs awakened all my senses to the culture, the country, and the people who impacted the life of young Jack Lyndon Thomas through his Viet Nam experience. Thomas is a gifted, creative, and articulate. This is a remarkable account of a period of United States History that needs to be revisited and understood. "Coyote Jack" is a book for every veteran, for every serviceman and women currently serving our country, and for everyone in a position of leadership, influencing decisions being made in planning our country's current military strategy. A journey into the past, November 8, 2006 While the author was in Vietnam, I was a high school ROTC student. I rarely watched the news, because the war was too painful to follow. But I have always admired the Americans who served there. Most, like the author, didn't want to go, but they served honorably and were forgotten when they returned home. Vietnam haunted the author for over thirty years. This memoir is about his journey back to Vietnam to visit the battlefields he had once known so intimately. he describes in detail his year in Vietnam. He felt sorry for the dead Vietcong that he saw sprawled in the rice paddies, their bodies contorted. He felt sickened when one of his Vietnamese allies died. But fortunately he never saw a dead American soldier. Thomas's book includes photos of himself as a young Army lieutenant in Vietnam and later as a gray-haired accountant. In all his photos, he smiles. Yet in the book he describes the rage that he had fought with for most of his life, and the inner peace that he finally embraced. MACV Veterans, October 16, 2006 All MACV combat advisors should find this book revealing and it will perhaps awaken experiences long ago forgotten. Jack Thomas describes the Vietnam War in terms that we can all understand - good and bad. I bought copies of this book for all my kids because Jack tells our story in a way that I am incapable of doing. Ray Wing |
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Sound Bites...Listen to sounds from Vietnam Letters to home All sound bites open in a separate window, please allow for pop ups. QuickTime required. |
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