Young Man in Vietnam: A true story of the Vietnam War—by an American who was there by Charles Coe (1968)
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For my recent trip to Vietnam, I gathered several books about the country with hopes of getting through some as I traveled. I only finished two, but Young Man in Vietnam by Charles Coe was stand-out fantastic!
Before I get into my review, though, I have to admit that I had to rewrite this entire post before publishing, once I finally saw the book’s cover I’ve posted here.
What about the cover was so jarring? Because I had read reading the 1968 edition on my Kindle, I wasn’t aware that Scholastic re-published it in 1990 as a teen crossover novel. This made me do a little research, where I discovered that Charles Coe was not actually an American soldier but a journalist, and this “true story” is in fact a “true-to-life” story, not a memoir.
That knowledge changed everything for me. I still love the book, but now viewing it as historical fiction, I’m slightly less awed by it.
Brief Synopsis of Young Man in Vietnam
Although it’s a short book—and although the character’s time in Vietnam might also be considered short, compared to others’—his delivery is powerful. He takes the reader from officer school to the jungles of Vietnam to Manilla to his recovery hospital bed and back to the States, and his method of doing so is quite unique.
Here’s a quick sampling of Coe’s style, informative yet personal, as he recounts being called out to lead his men on a patrol:
There are three kinds of patrols. On a reconnaissance patrol you look for information — and try not to be seen. On an ambush patrol you establish a position — and wait for an enemy who seldom comes. On a combat patrol you look for the enemy — and try to kill him. You have a combat patrol. (32)
Coe’s Wise Literary Technique
Coe opened his book by saying something like, “This is the kind of book that the historians won’t write,” and he’s right. I don’t think you’ll find another book quite like this that describes the details of war in such personal detail.
Coe’s use of second-person voice to recount what he proports to be his own memories of war (but are actually his extensive research into the memories of others) was a masterful stroke that truly made it feel like I was there. I’ve only read a few short stories that use this second-person tactic, but none as effectively as this. Take this passage for example, as Coe describes his first landing in Vietnam:
Suddenly the helicopter is on the ground and you are out of the hatch and running. Your helmet keeps slipping down the side of your head. You’re very conscious of the packstraps cutting into your shoulders. The ground feels strange after so long at sea. Your legs are heavy and you can’t move as fast as you want to. It’s like the childhood nightmare of having to run in slow motion while the neighborhood monster sprints after you at full speed. (9)
The Darkness of War
One particularly troubling scene recounts the time a translator was murdered by an elderly woman during a violent interrogation (28). His description of how “your” kindness to this enemy ended in your partner’s death is startling, and it forces the reader to consider what other morally compromising positions soldiers (especially leaders) faced throughout this horrific war. I hated that scene, but my, was it ever impactful.
Later on in the book, as “you” recover from your time in battle back in the States and have a short discussion with someone interested in shipping over, you find your solace—perhaps your only solace at the time—in booze, and it’s a subtle yet clear acknowledgement of the addictions that ravaged many returning soldiers. Coe writes:
As the gin begins to take hold you feel less and less like talking. You remind them to look after their men and that if they do they’ll be all right. You tell them the most valuable thing they can take to Vietnam is a good sense of humor. You finish your third drink and tell them you have to go out to dinner with a friend. You lie because you want to be alone. (62)
Regarding the language in the book, there seems to be a heavy use of “Jesus Christ” as an expletive, though the other saucy language so common in the military setting is kept to a minimum. Perhaps that’s why Scholastic saw it fit for publishing, though it’s still quite a shock. So, Christian reader beware of that.
Conclusion
I’ve not yet read too much about the Vietnam War, but this book has sure given me a thirst to explore it more. War truly is hell, and this survivor’s tale puts us readers in a position to feel it. If you’ve been interested in learning more about the realities of war, particularly in Vietnam, and if you get a chance to find a copy, I encourage you give this one a shot.
©2025 E.T.
Read More about Vietnam:
- Young Man in Vietnam by Charles Coe (1968)
- Captive on the Ho Chi Minh Trail by Marjorie A. Clark (1974)
- Seeing Vietnam by Susan Brownmiller (1994)
- Listen Slowly by Thanhha Lai (2015)
- Fire Road by Kim Phuc Phan Thi (2017)