The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam (Vintage Departures)

In April 1975, as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, John Bissell, a former Marine officer living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was glued to his television. Struggling to save his marriage, raise his sons, and live with his memories of the war in Vietnam, Bissell found himself racked with anguish and horror as his country abandoned a cause for which so many of his friends had died. Opening with a gripping account of the chaotic and brutal last month of the war, The Father of All Things is Tom Bissell’s powerful reckoning with the Vietnam War and its impact on his father, his country, and Vietnam itself. Through him we learn what it was like to grow up with a gruff but oddly tender veteran father who would wake his children in the middle of the night when the memories got too painful. Bissell also explores the many debates about the war, from whether it was winnable to Ho Chi Minh’s motivations to why America’s leaders lied so often. Above all, he shows how the war has continued to influence American views on foreign policy more than thirty years later. At the heart of this book is John and Tom Bissell’s unforgettable journey back to Vietnam. As they travel the country and talk to Vietnamese veterans, we relive the war as John Bissell experienced it, visit the site of his near-fatal wounding, and hear him explain how Vietnam shaped him and so many of his generation. This is the first major book about the war by an author who grew up after the fall of Saigon. It is a fascinating, all-too-relevant work about the American character–and about war itself. It is also a wise and moving book about fathers, sons, and the universal desire to understand who our parents were before they became our parents. Formats : EPUB, MOBI Genre : Travel, Autobiography.War Quality : 5

in April 1975, As Saigon Fell To The North Vietnamese Army, John Bissell, A Former Marine Officer Living In The Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Was Glued To His Television. Struggling To Save His Marriage, Raise His Sons, And Live With His Memories Of The War In Vietnam, Bissell Found Himself Racked With Anguish And Horror As His Country Abandoned A Cause For Which So Many Of His Friends Had Died.

opening With A Gripping Account Of The Chaotic And Brutal Last Month Of The War, the Father Of All Things Is Tom Bissell’s Powerful Reckoning With The Vietnam War And Its Impact On His Father, His Country, And Vietnam Itself. Through Him We Learn What It Was Like To Grow Up With A Gruff But Oddly Tender Veteran Father Who Would Wake His Children In The Middle Of The Night When The Memories Got Too Painful. Bissell Also Explores The Many Debates About The War, From Whether It Was Winnable To Ho Chi Minh’s Motivations To Why America’s Leaders Lied So Often. Above All, He Shows How The War Has Continued To Influence American Views On Foreign Policy More Than Thirty Years Later.

at The Heart Of This Book Is John And Tom Bissell’s Unforgettable Journey Back To Vietnam. As They Travel The Country And Talk To Vietnamese Veterans, We Relive The War As John Bissell Experienced It, Visit The Site Of His Near-fatal Wounding, And Hear Him Explain How Vietnam Shaped Him And So Many Of His Generation.

this Is The First Major Book About The War By An Author Who Grew Up After The Fall Of Saigon. It Is A Fascinating, All-too-relevant Work About The American Character–and About War Itself. It Is Also A Wise And Moving Book About Fathers, Sons, And The Universal Desire To Understand Who Our Parents Were Before They Became Our Parents.

the Washington Post - Marc Meepson

the Father Of All Things Is A One-of-a-kind Accomplishment That Provides Ample Evidence Of The Long-lasting Impact Of The Vietnam War Among The Families Of The 2.8 Million Americans Who Took Part In It. Wars, In General, Tom Bissell Says, Wound Everyone Right Down The Line. Take The 58,000 American Soldiers Lost In Vietnam And Multiply By Four, Five, Six -- And Only Then Does One Begin To Realize The Damage This War Had Done.

In April 1975, as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, John Bissell, a former Marine officer living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was glued to his television. Struggling to save his marriage, raise his sons, and live with his memories of the war in Vietnam, Bissell found himself racked with anguish and horror as his country abandoned a cause for which so many of his friends had died. Opening with a gripping account of the chaotic and brutal last month of the war, The Father of All Things is Tom Bissell鈥檚 powerful reckoning with the Vietnam War and its impact on his father, his country, and Vietnam itself. Through him we learn what it was like to grow up with a gruff but oddly tender veteran father who would wake his children in the middle of the night when the memories got too painful. Bissell also explores the many debates about the war, from whether it was winnable to Ho Chi Minh鈥檚 motivations to why America鈥檚 leaders lied so often. Above all, he shows how the war has continued to influence American views on foreign policy more than thirty years later. At the heart of this book is John and Tom Bissell鈥檚 unforgettable journey back to Vietnam. As they travel the country and talk to Vietnamese veterans, we relive the war as John Bissell experienced it, visit the site of his near-fatal wounding, and hear him explain how Vietnam shaped him and so many of his generation. This is the first major book about the war by an author who grew up after the fall of Saigon. It is a fascinating, all-too-relevant work about the American character鈥揳nd about war itself. It is also a wise and moving book about fathers, sons, and the universal desire to understand who our parents were before they became our parents. Non-fiction,History In April 1975, as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, former Marine officer John Bissell was glued to his television, racked with anguish and horror as his country abandoned a cause for which so many of his friends had died. This book is his son Tom's reckoning with the Vietnam War and its impact on his father, his country, and Vietnam itself. Bissell also explores the many debates about the war, and shows how the war has continued to influence American views on foreign policy more than thirty years later. At the heart of the book is John and Tom Bissell's journey back to Vietnam. As they travel the country and talk to Vietnamese veterans, we relive the war as John Bissell experienced it, visit the site of his near-fatal wounding, and hear him explain how Vietnam shaped him and so many of his generation.--From publisher description The Father of All Things is a riveting, haunting, and often hilarious account of a veteran and his son's journey through Vietnam. As his father recounts his experiences as a soldier, including a near fatal injury, Tom Bissell weaves a larger history of the war and explores the controversies that still spark furious debate today. Blending history, memoir, and travelogue, The Father of All Things is a portrait of the war's personal, political, and cultural impact from the perspective of the generation that grew up in the wake of the conflict. It is also a wise and revelatory book about the bond between fathers and sons. From the Trade Paperback edition