“Anyone who wishes to understand what it was like to be drafted and fulfill your duty as a citizen, but to fight in a war you thought was misguided and futile, should read this well-crafted and insightful memoir. Norman Hile takes the reader from the terror and physical hardship of war on the ground to the dread of flying combat missions during the final days of the Vietnam War, when he and his fellow soldiers were wondering if they’d be the last one to die.”
—Karl Marlantes, New York Times best selling author of The Matterhorn, What It Is Like To Go To War, and Deep River.
“Norman Hile has written a powerful, personal memoir of his time in Vietnam. As someone who has read or watched most of the histories of that conflict, I found Keeping Each Other Alive to be a compelling, new and personal history that allows the reader to experience that time in a way more dramatic and human than those other stories. If you wish to experience the life of an articulate, observant soldier on the front lines during the most challenging times of that war, read this book. For anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War, or in the broader experience of a brilliant observer on the front lines of combat, Keeping Each Other Alive is a must read.”
—George E. Pataki, former three term Governor of New York.“For years, I have reported on attorney Norman Hile’s extraordinary dedication to death row clients, but I never quite understood his drive to save lives until I read his stirring account of his time in Vietnam, Keeping Each Other Alive. This is not an ordinary war memoir. It’s a soul-searching examination of the dilemmas faced by good people trying to hold onto their souls while staying alive.”
—Erin Moriarty, correspondent for CBS News, 48 Hours and Sunday Morning, 9 times National Emmy Award winner, co-author of Death of a Dream.
“During the 11 years I’ve known Norm Hile, I had no clue he was a Vietnam War combat veteran. Nor did I know he had risked his life hundreds of times in ground and air missions where he functioned as a forward observer tasked with calling in artillery strikes. Nor did I know he twice risked being court-martialed for refusing direct orders he knew were either stupid or grossly immoral. Nor that he had been awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and numerous other medals. Nor that on his return from Vietnam, he joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War and marched down Broadway in New York City with thousands of other vets protesting the war. Norm’s memoir is a well-told, first-person account of the futility of the Vietnam War. Over and over again, it made me think, “Thank God, I wasn’t there.” It also made me appreciate how the 25 year old 1st Lieutenant who somehow managed to survive that combat has evolved into the fearless, relentless advocate for death row inmate Kevin Cooper.”
—J. Patrick O’Connor, author of Scapegoat: The Chino Hills Murders and the Framing of Kevin Cooper
Keeping Each Other Alive is an engrossing soldier’s memoir about experiences during the Vietnam War.
Norman Hile’s memoir Keeping Each Other Alive covers his tour of duty in Vietnam.
Hile was a soldier during Vietnam; his book expresses cynicism about the US’s motives in war, as well as about military culture and leadership in general, all while teasing out its political and historical themes. Hile, who was drafted from law school after student deferments were cancelled in 1970, reveals that he entered the war already skeptical of the US’s involvement, though—and his experiences only reinforced that distrust. He also discusses tough experiences in a compelling manner, like the first time he saw a dead body, and being hit by a bullet.
With its bold descriptions of combat and of the Vietnam countryside, this detailed and empathetic account follows Hile from the moment he took his first step onto the tarmac in country. Its entry into his wartime experiences is immediate, and it covers everyday activities alongside accounts of unexpected terrors. Some anecdotes, as of a fellow soldier who suffered an emotional breakdown and fired his rifle into the camp, result in tension; that was one of many incidents in which threats came from unexpected directions.
Thorough when it comes to details as of the equipment used by Hile’s artillery unit, the roles of different soldiers, and the items that went into soldiers’ pack, this is educational work. For Hile, it’s not enough to mention that there was only one non-commissioned officer in the field: the book explains why that was the case, while also providing relevant background on the military and cultural situations that lead to so many non-commissioned officers being far away from the front lines to begin with.
Still, this attention to detail leads to a somewhat repetitive narrative: as the soldiers in Hile’s company rotate between headquarters and the field, a sense of routine sets in. This is interrupted by reflections on life during war, like the culture of smoking and the nature of c-rations, but the book as a whole still seems episodic, and its transitions between incidents are abrupt.
Evocative photographs complement the story, while an appendix tracks that letters that the book was based on. The glossary covering military terms, acronyms, and slang is also useful, helping to make Keeping Each Other Alive an engrossing soldier’s memoir about experiences during the Vietnam War.
—Clarion Review
In this gritty boots-on-the-ground memoir, Vietnam combat veteran Norman Hile details his 1970-1971 tour of duty in South Vietnam.
With his law school draft deferment classification lost and the war effort escalating, the author enlists in 1968, hopeful that Nixon’s “secret plan” will end the war during his year of training. But by summer 1970, the new artillery lieutenant finds himself on the front lines at Firebase 411, west of Quang Ngai City, one of the hottest areas of operation.
Based on letters written home, Hile vividly describes his challenging year in combat, first as an infantry “grunt” and field artillery officer planning weapons operations in support of infantry missions for the poorly staffed Charlie Company. “…if I was going to be in this horrible assignment for six months,” he writes, “I would either die of malaria or lack of sleep. I had no idea, however, how much worse it was going to get.” Later, as an aerial observer, he flies dangerous support missions in search of enemy artillery operations.
Hile writes with clarity and purpose. Chapters are short, chronological vignettes that keep the narrative moving, and technical descriptions of missions are well crafted. Hile’s reflections questioning clumsy military protocol add narrative depth. The author often refused to comply with wrong-headed orders, flirting with court martial more than once. He also recalls being informed in his final week that he would be awarded 15 air Medals, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. But after witnessing his less-than-admirable captain simply apply for and receive a Silver Star of Valor, Hile, disillusioned, realizes how meaningless such honors are.
An Appendix of small photocopies of his handwritten letters and fuzzy snapshots of daily combat life add little to the presentation. Still, this is a convincing tale of a poorly fought, un-winnable war. Hile delivers colorful personalities, impactful tales of soldiering, and more. Intriguing for general readers, this memoir will also enlighten students of the Vietnam conflict.
Blueink Review
