MWSA Review

Dennis Pregent’s The Boys of St. Joe’s 65 in the Vietnam War is a very personalized account of twelve people from a small school in a small town in Massachusetts. They all did what they did for different reasons, all bonded together by their school and the Vietnam War.

Eleven men and one woman are featured. The eleven men all served; seven in the Army, three in the Marines, and one in the Navy. One was an officer, the rest enlisted. Most saw combat. All were from blue collar families, and every one of their fathers was a World War II veteran.

One of the eleven was killed in action; two were seriously wounded, with one of those paralyzed from the waist down. Most of the rest carry significant scars seen and unseen, including PTSD and Agent Orange exposure. The lone young woman found herself on the opposite side, protesting the war, much to her veteran father’s chagrin. Though she hated the war, she loved her classmates who fought in it, and their wounds hurt her deeply.

The information was gathered after long sessions with each of the survivors, or in some cases their families. The author does a great job of tying the stories together; one section about one of the young men might mention two of the others featured in other parts of the book, tying them together and adding a poignant depth to the book. These were intertwined lives, not numbers on the evening news, and their stories are told in a well-written and very personal manner. I especially liked how the author made a point to highlight the similarities and differences between those featured, both as people and as members of the military. The book includes a glossary of military terms and many clear photos to help further the understanding of those whose stories are told.

Those who served in the Vietnam War, or who are interested in memoirs from that war, will find this book valuable and well worth the read.

Review by Rob Ballister (February 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Eleven high school friends in idyllic North Adams, Massachusetts, enlisted to serve in Vietnam, and one stayed behind to protest the war. All were from patriotic, working class families, all members of the class of 1965 at Saint Joseph's School. Dennis Pregent was one of them. He and his classmates joined up-most right out of school, some before graduating-and endured the war's most vicious years. Seven served in the Army, three in the Marine Corps, and in the Navy. After fighting in a faraway place, they saw the trajectories of their lives dramatically altered. One died in combat, another became paralyzed, and several still suffer from debilitating conditions five decades later. Inspired by his 50th high school reunion, Pregent located lhis classmates, rekindled friendships, and-together, over hours of interviews-they rememberd the war years.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 248

Word Count: 90,000+