Amazon Companion Book
Amazon Lists "Rice Roots" as the perfect "Companion Book" to Tim O'Brien's best-seller "The Things They Carried."
Amazon AI Review
Amazon AI Overview based on a composite of the Individual Reviews listed below as posted on Amazon.com:
"Rice Roots, The Vietnam War: True Stories from the Diary of a U.S. Combat Advisor" by Robert R. Amon Jr. offers a unique perspective on the Vietnam War through the eyes of a combat advisor living and working alongside South Vietnamese soldiers in the Mekong Delta. The book, based on Amon's diary entries, provides a raw and emotional account of the daily struggles, both physical and psychological, faced by those attempting to win "hearts and minds" in a complex and often hostile environment.Here's a breakdown of what makes this book noteworthy:
- Unique Perspective:
Unlike many Vietnam War narratives focusing on conventional combat, "Rice Roots" centers on the experiences of a U.S. advisor living and working directly with the local population and South Vietnamese forces.
- Diary-Based Account:
The book draws directly from Amon's personal diary entries, offering an authentic and unfiltered glimpse into his thoughts, feelings, and observations during his year in Vietnam.
- Emotional Depth:
Amon's writing captures the emotional toll of the war, including the anguish, heartbreak, and moral dilemmas experienced by those on the front lines.
- Focus on Pacification:
The book highlights the challenges and complexities of the pacification efforts, aimed at winning the support of the Vietnamese people through one-on-one interaction and community engagement.
- Relevance to Modern Military Professionals:
The book's insights into security assistance, irregular warfare, and the human element of conflict are relevant to contemporary military professionals facing similar challenges in modern conflict zones, according to Army University Press.
- Personal Impact of War:
Amon's struggle to overcome the trauma of his experiences underscores the long-lasting impact of war on individuals, even after they return home.
- Community Engagement:
The book emphasizes the importance of understanding local culture, building trust, and engaging with the population in order to achieve success in counterinsurgency operations.
"Rice Roots" provides a valuable addition to the literature on the Vietnam War, offering a personal and insightful look at a less-explored aspect of the conflict.
Individual Reviews
"Verified purchase" reviews as posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, most recent from top to bottom:
Detailed Account of a Little-Known Advisor Role in Vietnam
5 Stars Amazon Review 11/22/24:
As a former MAT member in the Delta during the phase down period in Vietnam war, I found Bob Amon's account of daily life of a MAT leader very informative and accurate. Good add to the public's knowledge of the advisory role of small groups of soldiers in the hamlets and villages throughout the country. His book along with Jim Robert's book, MAT 111 Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1971, give the reader a good perspective on the pacification effort taken by the US to bring peace and stability to the country through one-on-one interaction with the people. Hopefully more books will be written on this subject before the experiences of these unique soldiers are lost to time.
Excellent read about American Advisors in the field
5 Stars Amazon Review 9/15/22:
Read most of this book in one sitting. Could not put it down. I was also in the Mekong Delta and supported these sub sector advisors. These advisors out in the field had to be diplomats as well as soldiers. A great aspect of the book is his description of his return visit many years later to the same area he fought in during the war.
Kien Giang Province - 1969 - Advising and Fighting in the Delta
5 Stars Amazon Review 5/25/22:
This is a great book because of all the detail in dealing with US Army and the Vietnamese, both soldiers and villagers. Bob built the book from his diary and recollections. He's got a great memory. I'd even forgotten what I did for him after 50 years. I met Bob a few times as I was assigned to the province staff at the same time and visited him at least once. The Mobile Advisory Teams were the boots on the ground to attempt to win the hearts and minds. You get an excellent idea of what they were up against to try to complete that mission.
Authentic, Intelligent Sensitivity to Detail
5 Stars Amazon Review 1/21/22:
I purchased this book because I was a friend of the late 2nd Lieutenant Charles Emery when we were at Buffalo State College together in the late 1960’s. The author devotes an entire chapter to Emery and revives him elsewhere the book.
Emery was shot in the lowlands and died.
In his research, Amon was able to locate a military clerical worker who had access to Emery’s records, and locate Emery’s sister Helen as well as the foster care agency in NYC which supported both Emery and his sister in childhood.
The incorporation of Amon’s original diary and many photographs, and his endless research, make the book exude authenticity. The wording is carefully honed; and the many connections both within the RVN experience, and ones made years later, are alive with stories.
I found Rice Roots to be both accessible and intellectual. This is a unique historical narrative of a slice of the Vietnam War voiced by a soldier of high intelligence and should be in the library of every history department.
Great Reading
5 Stars Amazon Review 2/14/21:
Authentic first hand account with fresh eyes on a misunderstood period of American history. Such a natural voice creates a great page turner.
Worth the read - we've just purchased our 4th & 5th copies
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/25/20:
This is a very well written book from Vietnam Veteran, Lt. Robert Amon, who served with MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam), in Kiên Giáng Province. Lt. Amon graciously added my father to the Epilogue of this book. He did not know my father, SFC Leslie L "Roy" Karnes, but many knew the events that took place that day. Thank you Mr. Amon for writing this book, to allow me a glimpse inside my father's day to day activities during his 2nd tour. May God always bless you and Carolyn. Sue (Karnes) Richardson, proud daughter of a Vietnam Vet.
Important, Outstanding Account by a Combat Advisor in Vietnam
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/23/20:
Robert Amon has written an absolutely outstanding book about his year as an advisor on a small team deep in the Mekong Delta. Bob kept a diary during his year on MAT 88 in Kien Giang Province, January-December 1969. By combining his 50-year-old diary entries with his recollections today, he has produced a detailed account of the challenges, successes, failures, humor, and sadness experienced during his year of trying to win the hearts and minds of communities mostly under the control of the Viet Cong. This book pulls no punches, and is very well written -- I read it almost straight through in just a couple days. Two very detailed maps show the location of his outposts, significant combat actions, and important events. Having been a district-level advisor in the Mekong Delta myself, his accounting brought back a lot of memories -- mostly good but some difficult. U.S. advisors were the First In to Vietnam and Last Out of Vietnam. All too few have written books about their experiences because we all felt we were just doing our job -- without considering that doing your job as one of a very few Americans with no large U.S. or Vietnamese unit around to pull us out of trouble was sometimes an extraordinarily dramatic situation. Robert Amon tells us about those extraordinarily dramatic situations. This is a fantastic story of what his year as an advisor was like.
A Very Different view of Americans in Vietnam
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/16/20
Mr. Amon’s book provides readers with a view on another facet of the war in Vietnam by taking one to the villages where Americans attempted “to win the hearts and minds” of the populace. Taken from personal diary entries and photographs, Mr. Amon recreates existence for a typical 5-man advisory team implanted in villages in the Mekong Delta. This seldom shown view illustrates the challenges faced by the Vietnamese militia forces and their advisors as they encountered Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in the jungle and still dealt with conflicting religious, cultural, and political issues amongst the villagers. The author’s conversational writing style makes the book easy to read. From personal experience as an advisor I can vouch for the fact that advisory teams were largely undermanned, under-equipped, and at the bottom of the food chain for higher level assistance. I highly recommend this book.
A Combat Advisor - Friends, Enemies and Counterparts
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/13/20:
"Rice Roots" is the story of a young man dropped into the middle of the Vietnam War as a Combat Advisor. A true story that faithfully follows the growth of an inexperienced soldier thrust into a leadership position on a Mobile Advisory Team during one of the worst years of the Vietnam War.
Although I was a District Advisor in 1968-1969, the daily accounts of Robert Amon reminded me of my own experiences and at times was a hard read for me because of those memories.
It is a reminder not only of what the war was about to a US Combat Advisor, but what was going on at the Village and Hamlet level and the struggles of the Vietnamese Regional and Provincial Force soldiers, local government officials, monks and rice farmers and their families. All were caught up in the confusion and morass of war with no boundaries or limits.
Once I started the book I could not put it down!
A Great Read for All Interested in the Vietnam War
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/12/20:
This is a real life story about what it was like serving on a sub-sector (small village) five man advisory team. The experience of an advisor was so different than serving in an American unit. The details in the book have been set forth by the daily diary of the author. After reading the book, you feel like you were there with the author for the good times and the bad. Only an advisor (living with the Vietnamese) can relate so intimately with the Vietnamese people and the ARVN soldiers. This is a truly firsthand, day-to-day experience that so few knew much about. This is the real "grassroots" of the war and daily struggles to survive and perform your duties. They are spelled out in intimate detail. Highly recommend this to anyone that served in VN, has an interest in VN and especially anyone in the military that will someday serve in a similar line of duty. An awesome read!
A Vietnam War Personal Experience Unlike Any Other
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/6/20:
This diary formatted book recounts the anguish and horror of the Vietnam War from the perspective of someone who lived with the South Vietnamese soldiers. The book is gripping from the very beginning and the personal thoughts of the author immerse you into the very action that is taking place. This is an emotional and enlightening view of the war from an experienced combat advisor- a must read for anyone who grew up during the era, or who served in the war, or who just needs to know more about what was involved in "winning the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese villagers." I recommend it highly and have purchased copies for Vietnam veteran friends to read.
Trip Back in Time
5 Stars Amazon Review 8/2/20:
This book was an exciting account of the author's time in Vietnam. Through his diary entries, he brought me with him on his travels during his year in Vietnam. His descriptive writing made me feel like I was there, experiencing the heat, bugs and anticipation of the enemy around every corner. My favorite part of the book was how his experience came full circle with his visit back to the war torn country. It was a fantastic read!
Interesting Read!
5 Stars Barnes and Noble Review 8/2/20:
This book was an exciting account of the author's time in Vietnam. Through his diary entries, he brought me with him on his travels during his year in Vietnam. His descriptive writing made me feel like I was there, experiencing the heat, bugs and anticipation of the enemy around every corner. My favorite part of the book was how his experience came full circle with his visit back to the war-torn country. It was a fantastic read!
A Unique and Effective Way to Tell the Real Story
5 Stars Amazon Review 7/28/20:
The way in which the author presented the facts and events in this book was perfect for gaining a real insight into the war. He took each day's diary entry and expanded upon its events in order to make the original journal more meaningful. His recollection of specific individuals-both south Vietnamese as well as his American buddies-, places, ambushes, and the culture is remarkable. Having grown up during the Viet Nam war, I felt i needed to educate myself on exactly what happened over there. This book gave me a very clear understanding of that part of American history. I highly recommend it!
WOW!!!
5 Stars Amazon Review 7/23/20:
I am usually not a very big book reader, especially books about wars, but once I started reading this book I could not put it down. The author pulls you into the story of the Vietnam War and you actually feel like you are right there living it with him. I highly recommend this book!
Written Journal of the Vietnam War
5 Stars Barnes and Noble Review 7/16/20:
A comprehensive and very well written account of Lt.Robert Amon,Jr’s experiences when he served in Vietnam in his capacity as a combat advisor to the South Vietnamese Army.
The Lexicon assisted me in understanding the technical terms the author used when describing people, places, and events.
Amon writes a day to day account of his experiences with unwavering clarity.
Anyone who would like to read a first-hand account of that period in time would be well served by reading, “Rice Roots.”
A Big Advanture !!!!
5 Stars Amazon Review 6/9/20:
The author makes the war in Vietnam come alive in Rice Roots. It is done with not only powerful narrative but photos scattered throughout the book. It is well written and a very enjoyable read.
Great ending.
Tom Phipps
Amazon Companion Book
Amazon Lists "Rice Roots" as the perfect "Companion Book" to Tim O'Brien's best-seller "The Things They Carried."
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