Book Review on Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat

James R. McDonough once stated that his level is not a comprehensive documentation of the Vietnam War, but a simple account of an American platoon leader in battle. Lt. McDonough had, for a year afterwards West Point, been situated in specialized training bases to be sectionalization of an airborne brigade. And as he was readily equipped, he was brought to the Strategic hamlet Program formed by the US armed forces in the mid-sixties to weaken the Viet Cong through civilian control, which, failed in the 1970s.Nevertheless, the US armed forces induce not dissolved this program yet. 2nd Lieutenant McDonough found himself domineering a platoon led by a non-commissioned officeholder. Everyone was in low morale and inefficient as the lieutenant McDonough was replacing refused to wage war tout ensemble the time keeping the platoon from being harmed. Setting his goals straight, McDonough looked forward to gain the fealty of his platoon, as well as, completing the mission with mi nimal or no casualties on their part. Mc Donough journeyed through a backbreaking period of groundwork leadership.He practiced careful observation and frequent combats with the enemy to come out out plans that would ensure an accomplished mission. An air of loneliness have in addition been created throughout the whole story as platoon men shared their nibble of sufferings, fears and yearnings both in their military and personal lives. The novel provided a practical(prenominal) point of view to both sides of the war good and bad, the thoughts that prevail to distributively character in the story and the choices each one of them has to make in the line of duty (Hopkins).The three amours this narrative might embed in the readers mind might includeDoing the right thing in the right time and with the right reasons There is a precondition responsibility each soldier has to his fellow comrades it is to protect them at on the whole costs and Tiny mischiefs might ignite large c onflicts this should teach perplexity in discipline (Jacobs).These are just three of three of the cardinal points presented in this memoir. But, among the most significant to note is leadership. He has great deal goals for a demoralized group of men, has aided each one of them to brave in realizing these goals, and ensuring that each of his men savor the success of these goals. McDonough made a proportion between good and bad leadership through the two lieutenants the non-commissioned officer who refuses to fight, and he who wishes to be a real leader.Vivid details in the memoir bring the setting come to life along with the compel set of characters. McDonough seemingly did not find it necessary to delve much in the morbid images of the war, rather, on the relationships that developed throughout the story. It was reflected in moments of irony and humor an indication of the need to be resilient. He also enumerated vary strategies and tactics that had been formulated during t he war. These relationships were part of the humanizing aspects of the story, including issues that involve latrines.McDonough filled his memoir with discovering varied kinds of relationships with different men from high-ranking men to allies and enemies, and civilians. It was a compiling of the view and experiences of war by different people. The Platoon leader also indicated the ethics and morals of the war, the dehumanizing possibility a soldier might come crosswise in the cruelty of the war.McDonoughs instrument character in this memoir is his being a leader it enabled him to explore relationships, establish a set of war ethics and morals, a progression into a real leader. He portrayed a wise, humane, tough and firm leader, under the most difficult circumstances. The novel is a profound documentation on wartime virtues making it a very important piece in American literature (Mazza).ReferencesHopkins, Martha. Platoon attraction A Memoir of Command in Combat. 2003.25 may 2 007 .Jacobs. Platoon Leader A Memoir of Command in Combat Review. 2007. 25 May 2007 .Mazza, Michael. Platoon Leader A Memoir of Command in Combat Review. 2004. 25 May 2007