The War Before The War: A Vietnam War Novel (The Airmen Series Book 2)

I am a huge history buff and like to understand why wars happened. This book is a companion to the series which I could not bring myself to watch., The book covers the French occupation of Indochina before the Americans became involved , the reason for the war, at least to the ground troops was never really a clear one. They spent the day trekking the jungles and at night the fighting would start, hence lack of sleep.Read it for yourself to appreciate the suffering on both sides for no good reason.

Corley intersperses battles between the French and the Communist Viet Minh, with a Kennedy fact-finding trip to Vietnam.As a Congressman, John Kennedy, accompanied by brother Bobby and sister Pat, probes in 1951 to find out if the French could win in Vietnam and if their war was thus worth further American assistance.Kennedy must look beyond the “dog-and-pony shows” the French general presented him with - reviewing crack troops, military bands, spit and polish, visits to safely-behind-the-lines facilities - to get at the real truths. The French have heavier arms, air support, and better soldiers, but not enough of the lasat. France forbids sending more French nationals there; elite paratroopers are supplemented primarily by colonial troops and the French Foreign Legion.The Vietnamese hate them and want them out. It will take, Kennedy concludes, a “Third Force”, anti-Communist, anti-colonial and representing the people’s national aspirations, to hold the country against the insurgency.The Kennedys are accompanied by the experienced Rene Granier, the former OSS operative who fought with Ho Chi Minh in the closing days of World War II, and with the French briefly against Ho after that. He understands Vietnam and can protect them in the beautiful but deadly land. Now a CIA trainer, Granier is happy for the break and a return to the site of many haunting memories. (Clicking around, I’m guessing the fictional Granier is based on one of the original OSS team, or perhaps is a composite character.)Corley does a wonderful job at multiple levels here. He brings the landscape of Vietnam, in the north near Hanoi and in the south near Saigon, to life. He depicts key battles in vivid detail lay readers can easily understand. He shows the strategies of the opposing generals, Giap and De Lattre, and the tactics of talented junior officers beneath them.And most importantly, he makes the politics and life of that era’s Vietnam, three-dimensional. This is not a white-hats, black-hats telling. The Viet Minh are a liberating force but frequently resort to brutal killing of civilians. The French want to restore an empire they can no longer afford, but what civilization they’ve brought is tempered by their having kept a lot of native peoples in poverty.The Americans, ignorant of Vietnam, are torn between wanting to repel Communism but neither wanting to restore a colonial empire, nor getting bogged down there themselves. The opposing generals are both bold and resourceful. Vietnam is intoxicating but scary, a place where an idyllic setting can erupt into violence at any moment.I also thought his depiction of the Kennedys, particularly John and Bobby, very good. It sounds like them, refreshing and irreverent and taking on this task with “vigah”. JFK comes across with a tough-minded skepticism and probing in the faraway nation that would haunt him and the entire US in later years.I can find online confirmation that the Kennedy trip happened, and that he then made a radio address decrying French colonialism and prescribing a better path. But I find few details. I assume Corley has tracked down more to flesh his account out accurately, including how the future president falls ill there and, returning to Hanoi to be taken to a hospital, nearly loses his life when his party is attacked by the Viet Minh. Earlier, they narrowly avoid a devastating car bomb attack seemingly aimed at them. Also fascinating is an account of Pat Kennedy’s day spent with the knowledgeable but cynical author Graham Greene in Saigon, and late in the evening following him into an opium den.Corley does a service in bringing this trip to life. It says so much about the quagmire the US would later become involved in.

This book was well written, for all to understand. A lot of authors use fancy words to describe things that really are entirely not needed. I’m not sure why they use big words when regular words explain it just as well. I guess the reason they use unnecessary big words is to let us know that they know a lot of big words. When I read a book about the history of our country especially our Military history, I know that during all the military operations Men in combat, men fighting for the cause of freedom, at most all levels use regular words, not fancy words. Don’t get me wrong there are a lot of authors that use big words that I like. I’m just so glad that ebooks like kindle you can press on the word you don’t understand and it gives you the definition. I think I’ve written 20 words LOL

I served in Vietnam , and I really appreciate all the history you shared. I never was aware that President Kennedy was there in 1951.

Having lived through the Viet Nam era, I was very surprised to learn about how early we became involved with the whole situation. This book has spured my interest in learning more about it. I feel we had conflicting reasons for getting so involved. To loose over 50,000 lives and not solve anything doesn't make any sense to me. Having a friend be one of those casualties adds to the frustration. I am looking forward to read more from David and other people who know more about what went on there.

Historical novels like this one and his series capture another side if the story of viet nam. Truman was involved, kennedy visited the area and ho chi min sought support if US but was ignored. This all occurred in the 1950's. We were friends and supporters of ho's fight against the Japanese during ww2. Excellent story within historically accurate content.

The author depicted the Dien Bien Phi batlle as a conflict between two forces, the Viet Mien and the French, without portraying either side as right or wrong. The historical facts were accurate.

Good series gives you great inside into the start of Americas entrance into the war in Vietnam. This is a good series for someone who likes military stories. Mr. Corley writes well researched books and keeps the reader turning page after page.