I found this book short on Joe Hooper and long on an attempt at a historical critique of the politics of this country during the Vietnam war. The two authors obviously never served but more to the point, they continually drifted away from the man and bombarded the readers with their perception of the politics, personalities and philosophies of that time and place. I think the authors missed the barn by about 8 yards. Those of us who lived through the war, and most importantly, those days of the 60's, vividly remember the atmosphere that existed in this country. I wanted, no needed, to know better the man, Joe Hooper, not just that he had feet of clay but what he was about and why he like so many ohers of us, answered the call of the bugle. That would have been the real story. Instead, we were treated to the authors rather flawed analysis of the people and the reasons for that terrible and costly endeavor.