Title: Prodigals: A Vietnam Story
Author: Richard Taylor
Publisher: Casemate; Reprint Edition
ISBN: 978-1935149866
Pages: 336
Genre: Vietnam War Biographies / Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Hollywood Book Reviews
In the history of the United States, almost every generation has been defined by the wars in which we have found ourselves in. From the war which brought this country to the forefront to the Civil War, which nearly divided us forever, and the first and second World Wars that nearly brought a world to its knees, the United States has a long history of drawing its citizens into a continuous fight, whether it is for the security and freedom of all or the resources which come back to us in the wake of those wars.
In author Richard Taylor’s Prodigals: A Vietnam Story, the author tells the story of Dick Taylor, an amateur assigned to a tough-as-nails ARN Infantry battalion who had to learn quickly how to fight and survive in the TET of 1968. He would later go on to serve on an advisory team, find his wife and get married before returning to Vietnam for a second tour. During this second tour, Dick Taylor would find himself in a different situation entirely, becoming a commander and leader of Bravo Company, 1/7 Cav, and forcing him to become aggressive in the field and be firm with his superiors. As the war sees its end approaching, Taylor takes a staff job as his battalion’s intelligence officer, but finds his spirit has taken a hit in the process.
The author does such an amazing job of capturing the emotional, mental, and physical toll of war from a personal POV. The author’s story is not only earnest and personal, but showcases such a vastly different experience between the two tours he served. The thing about war is that while war itself never changes, war always ends up changing the people forced to fight it. Readers see this in the author’s story, as we see the young man who began the war change as each new experience and new offensive forces him to grow and evolve during the course of this war. The powerful imagery the author conjures in his writing really showcases the powerful impact and vast settings this war covered.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction reads, especially those who enjoy memoirs, and non-fiction books on military events and books on the Vietnam War. The author does a great job of finding enough personal memories and details not only from his time in the war, but the time he spent meeting his wife and building a life together as well, bringing in that emotional component and showcasing the impact war had on soldiers and their families as well.
Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author Richard Taylor’s Prodigals: A Vietnam Story is a must-read non-fiction memoir readers won’t be able to put down. The incredible detail the author put into bringing his own life story, as well as the horrors of the Vietnam War to life was astounding, and honed in on the struggles and life-changing events which would define an entire generation for years to come.