The Price They Paid: Enduring Wounds of War by Michael Putzel

*I received a copy of this book from StrategiesPR.com to review. All opinions are my own. I love these opportunities to read something different and expand my bookshelf!*

I seriously loved this book.

I need to preface this by saying I know nothing about the military. I know nothing about the Vietnam war.
So, how can I love a book that is all about American soldiers in the Vietnam war?

Here’s what Amazon says about the book:

The Price They Paid: Enduring Wounds of War by Michael Putzel is the stunning and dramatic true story of a legendary helicopter commander in Vietnam and the flight crews that followed him into the most intensive helicopter warfare ever—and how that brutal experience has changed their lives in the forty years since the war ended.

Nine million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam era.
2.6 million of them served in Vietnam
Fewer than a million of those saw combat.
In 2015, 58,300 names were listed on The Wall as killed or still missing.
More than 300,000 were wounded.

Reliable statistics aren’t available to tell us how many died later due to exposure to Agent Orange, suicide, traumatic brain injury or other causes probably related but not directly traceable to their combat service. No one knows how many are scarred by PTSD or other mental illness. THE PRICE THEY PAID shares the true story of aviators in one helicopter unit and how their harrowing experiences forever changed their lives.

My Thoughts

The Price They Paid is written by journalist Michael Putzel, so the research and writing style are superb. The book draws you in hook line and sinker – into the lives of these helicopter pilots and airmen.

Most of the chapters detail a different helicopter mission in Vietnam, mostly under the command of Jim Newman.

Although the book includes a lot of characters and military lingo, it made no difference to understanding the story. Although I couldn’t always get the finer details of these missions, nor could I always remember all the soldiers, it did not matter. The stories were of brave, heroic men in terrible times.

The Price They Paid speaks to the missions, the numerous times that they risked their lives to head back into fighting zones to rescue their friends. It is just as much a story of war as it is of friendship.

All true, the book relies on testimonials, records, recordings and first-hand stories of these events.

What I also loved about this book is how each of the soldiers were followed later in life. How did the war affect them? What happened to them? The results are not all that shocking, but through it all, there still survives that strong friendship.

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I was hesitant to read it, as I am not interested in military history, but I am so glad that I did. I have a great appreciation not only for the Vietnam Vets, but for those soldiers coming back from wars in the Middle East and other war-torn areas. How can you go back to a normal life? How everyone suffers, even years later.
I highly recommend you getting a copy of The Price They Paid. Open your mind, learn something new, and be appreciative to those who have gone to battle for us.

Buy it here!