Philip Caputo's A Rumor Of War

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Philip Caputo authored "A Rumor of War", and the book is a recital that is deeply personal. It deprecates the sad reasoning behind the war in Vietnam and the emotions engendered. It is a memoir of the war that will haunt Caputo for years and turn him into a notable writer-journalist. Caputo's memoir, which covers his experiences from his entry into the Marines as a young officer with idealistic dreams, to his shattered illusions and ultimate resignation after experiencing the grim realities of war, is a triumph of vivid and brutally truthful writing. Whether the reader is familiar with the world of the professional officer from personal experience, or from film, or from novels, or just from plain curiosity, Caputo's account, dripping as it is …show more content…
Caputo uses his storytelling skills to challenge readers to explore the difficult truths about the immense cost of war and the frailties of our ethical guidelines during times of extreme crisis. To sum up, "A Rumor of War" is more than just an account of what happened in Vietnam. It also serves as a powerful illustration of the ethical challenges that were heaped upon the Americans who fought there. Caputo's vivid memoir lets the reader see not only the physical effects of battle, but also the struggle going on in the hearts and minds of those Americans who had to do the fighting. The book is a meaningful study of the fine border separating justice and evil in the confusion of battle as it shows the wretched outcomes of uncertainty regarding what is fair and the degeneration of ethical behaviors. As we think about Caputo's bright painting of the Vietnam War adventure, we are interested in confirmation regarding long-lasting torment deep rooted through war and the vital demand of holding to very high standards despite

Philip Caputo's A Rumor Of War

leaving his small rural town of Westchester, Illinois. Caputo had always dreamt of being an honorable war hero for a short period of time, then coming back to the states and telling tales of his heroic war stories. However, Caputo is confronted with a rude awakening with the truths of the war which he writes about in his novel, A Rumor of War. Caputo faced extremes as he entered the Vietnam War in January of 1965. Throughout the novel, one can tell his personal identity transitioned from a hopeful…

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Summary Of Philip Caputo's Rumor Of War

“Rumor of War” is a memoir by Philip Caputo, a twenty-four-old man, who went from school to straight marine corps. He wanted to prove himself as a responsible and tough man being in marine. But the bully, top disciplinary environment, physical and emotional breakdown made him realize marine isn’t all about dreams. He receives his first command in Okinawa after his graduation where he learnt the system in the Marine corps and got his first test in the jingle. He gets order to leave for the Vietnam…

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A Rumor Of War By Philip Caputo Analysis

soldiers, I felt like I was learning how a soldier in war thinks and feels. One story in particular caught my attention, that is, A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo. His focus was very much the depressing, guilt filled, melancholy feelings that each soldier feels. He also focused on the idea that every soldier has both good and evil in them and all are susceptible to falling into the natural man. By Caputo’s definition, the natural man fights in war only for the survival and protection of himself and…

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Hope: Vietnam War and Caputo Essay

A Rumor of War A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo tells a trajectory story and allows the readers to see and feel the reality of conflict as the author himself experienced it. From the weeks of tedium hacking through scorching jungles, to the sudden violence of ambushes and firefights, to the unbreakable bonds of friendship forged between soldiers, and finally to a sense of the war as having no purpose other than to the fight for survival. Philip Caputo gives the readers a precise, tactile view…

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Essay about Truman Caputo

Enduring The Vietnam War Over 9 million American military personnel served in active duty during one of the most gruesome wars ever fought, the Vietnam War. As Caputo, from A Rumor Of War by Philip Caputo, refers to the veterans on the war as they return home: “We had survived, and that was our only victory”(337). This war is considered to be the only military conflict that the United States has been involved in that they haven’t “won”. To agree with Caputo, no side ever truly wins at war. Both sides experience…

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