The Cage: An Englishman in Vietnam

By Tom Abraham

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593049683
• ISBN13: 9780593049686
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A good autobiography of an Englishman in Vietnam!

First off, the idea that American forces cannot serve under a foreign officer is a stretch, since NORAD consists of Canadian and American officers in its command structure and in various military exchange programs foreign officers have commanded US units. I am not sure how many British nationals served in the US in Vietnam, but between 3000 and 10000 Canadians did, depending on the sources, including a Medal of Honor recipient (postumously). Abraham gives us good account of a platoon leader in Vietnam. I have read many books depicting experiences in Vietnam from officers, medics, marines, LLRP's, Seals, pilots, POW's, other foreigner in services (Canadians), you name it. What makes Abraham's account interesting is his perspective on things and why he chose to fight with the US forces when he could have quit and stayed in Hong Kong. It is also noteworthy in that he suffers from the after effects and is continuing to struggle. He takes pains to describe things for the general readers, such as the Air Cav military organization and how the US military does things with an outsider's point of view. He offers no political agenda, lessons learned, ideologies, or appologies. He just tells it like it was and is from his perspective. I did find the chronology a little dis-jointed when he bounces back and forth between his current situation and his Vietnam experiences. I would have liked to know more details about his unit and his men. But on the whole it was a very good account.If you are reading this Mr. Abraham, thanks, it was a good read.

They Also Served.

Tom Abraham's autobiographical account of his experences in the jungles of Veitnam during that unpopular war shouldn't really raise eyebrows as it is the story of thousands, except this really is different. Tom Abraham is British and he was a lieutenant in the US Army. This is not suppose to happen by US law as US service personel are not to be ordered by non-US born citizens.That beside, all is explaned in his account of his ending up in the USA, his training as an officer and eventual placement in the harsh enviornment of South Vietnam.The reason for the title is soon explained and the emotional trauma of post Vietnam and what Tom went through soon begins to take it's toll on him.In conclusion a true story that sounds all to familar with the exception of a rare British perspective.