Book Review: A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam by Lewis Sorley

Rating: 2.5 (out of 4)

For those who want to learn about the Vietnam war from a different perspective than that which is covered in the mainstream media, A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam may be a good jumping off point. But more than that, it provides uncanny parallels to current events in Iraq – and I might add, can serve as a (highly) relevant blueprint for how to extract soldiers from a war which lacks political support. It is also one of the best profiles of one of America’s greatest warriors, General Creighton Abrams. Written by West Point grad Lewis Sorley, this book is a well researched, and tells the story in a way that keeps the pages turning quickly. Eventually, it falters in its lack of objectivity and over emphasis on the key figure in the book – Abrams.

Of particular relevance today, one can easily read this recounting of the final four years of the US involvement in Vietnam, and replace the names Abrams and Laird with Petraeus and Gates, to give yourself a bird’s eye view of the current conversations that taking place between the Pentagon and the Green Zone. While not intentional, the parallels are timely and remarkable.

Ultimately, the book runs into two problems. First, Sorley isn’t really sure if he’s writing an Abrams mini-biography or a comprehensive analysis of the final four years of the war. Also, you may be left with the feeling (as this reader was) that Abrams was a warrior god, only half mortal, while General William Westmoreland was a bumbling idiot whose likes haven’t been seen since, well, never. I want to believe that Gen. Abrams was indeed birthed from Athena and dipped into the river Styx by the heel, however other authors have been able to look deep into our senior military leadership and convey the humanistic qualities and shortcomings, as well as their genius. Carlos Estes is one in particular that comes to mind (see Patton: Genius for War). At times we are made to believe that we are following Abrams’ every move during his ascension into the role as commander of all US forces in Vietnam in post-Tet Vietnam in 1968. The author fails to reveal that Abrams had, at that time, his youngest son Robert living with him in Saigon for the entire summer – a fact that would reveal much about the ethos, values, thinking, and legacy of this great commander at the time. Of course it’s not a biography, but rather a deep dive into the ’68-’72 timeframe in Vietnam – a time in which the US suffered no defeats on the battlefield, yet still managed to lose political support for the war. Why, and what role Abrams may have played in the view from the home front are never really answered. That is the second major flaw of the book. By focusing on the changing strategy and tactics on the ground, perhaps we lose sight of the complex issues that surrounded this war. Shortcomings of Abrams, and the Pentagon during this four year period are never carefully examined. Rather, we are led to believe that the war was a lost cause from the moment Walter Cronkite got on the air in February 1968 and declared that the war was “unwinnable”.

Despite these flaws, the book is enlightening. For example, in 1971, SORLEY tells us that there were more homicides in New York City than US combat losses in Vietnam, despite the fact that at that time we had more than 500,000 soldiers in the combat zone. The highlight of the book is its very close recounting of how Abrams changed the strategy from “search and destroy” to “clear and hold”, and what that meant for the dynamics of how we fought.

Abrams, whom Patton once called the “greatest tank commander” he ever saw, is a great warrior whose exploits over a 36 year career deserve much further examination. Sorley has written the only biography I am aware of (Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times). I plan to pick up that book shortly, as I find myself intrigued by the man who served as the tip of Patton’s spear in Bastogne and went on to lead all US forces with great dignity and grace during our most trying time as a nation.

History teaches us so much about our successes and mistakes, and every now and then it’s healthy to revisit it with a critical eye. Sorley has done a good job of showing the reader that there were two military eras within the Vietnam War - one led by Westmoreland, and another by Abrams during the final four years. While lacking objectivity at times, the book is revealing and will teach you a lot about something that you probably thought you already knew – true not just for the insights into Vietnam, but also Iraq (if you dare to draw the parallels). If you are interested in having detailed knowledge of Vietnam or General Creighton Abrams, pick it up, but remember to go in with your eyes open.