Title: Cong Catchers: A Soldier’s Memories of Vietnam
Author: Lee Halverson
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media LLC
ISBN: 979-8-88622-353-8
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 368
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Hollywood Book Reviews
Since the Vietnam War, the U.S. has seen many military conflicts, but none has been quite as controversial as Vietnam. Since it’s been so long, it is easy to forget how poorly Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home from a war they didn’t ask to fight, so it is always an honor to get the perspective of one of these brave men who made it home. Cong Catchers is particularly intriguing because Lee Halverson either has the best memory in the world or kept meticulous diaries of his military time.
Cong Catchers is a surprisingly detailed account of Lee Halverson’s time leading up to the draft, his time in the war, and a few months after he came home. Unlike the gritty war stories which people are accustomed to, Mr. Halverson’s story delves deep into his day-to-day activities, from basic training to his work as a military police dog handler in the mountains of Vietnam. Every page of this book is filled with enthralling stories, and it gets so profoundly personal without ever feeling uncomfortable. This is probably partly thanks to Mr. Halverson’s strong religious faith which underlies the book.
Lee Halverson has what can only be described as a gift when it comes to storytelling. This book is not filled with the violent action you would expect from a book about war, but nevertheless, you find yourself hooked on every word. It would be comparable to sitting on your grandfather’s lap and listening to his stories. He has such a way of making the small details seem important, and they all seamlessly blend into each other. There is never any time when there seems to be an abrupt change in time or pace in Cong Catchers. Mr. Halverson also does a beautiful job of sharing his opinions about what was happening in Vietnam without being overly judgmental or preachy. The only thing I wish was different in this book was the colorful language used to describe certain people, which was understandably acceptable at the time but no longer considered politically correct.
You don’t have to be a fan of military stories to enjoy this book. Much of Mr. Halverson’s story is probably relatable to modern-day service people because it seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. Apart from some colorful descriptive words, the story is great for all readers and could benefit tweens and teens since that era of history is likely glossed over at best in school. This book will give you a new appreciation for Mr. Halverson and all the men he served with who didn’t get the appreciation they deserved at the time.