Looking for a Hero: Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper and the Vietnam War

The book arrived on time and in good condition.

This is a masterfully researched and written account of the Vietnam War era which makes use of the life of Joe Hooper to illustrate that period of time and the conflict. The formidible team of Maslowski and Winslow are a pair of guides who take you through the jungles of Southeast Asia, the tumultuous politics and social upheavals of America during the 60s and early 70s, and the world of the combat soldier. They periodically stop the narrative to explore such crucial topics as the psychology of human bravery and motivation under the extreme duress of combat, the volatility and subjectivity of memory, and the Cold War mindset of the 1960s. Against this backdrop is woven the checkered life of Joe Hooper: a valiant warrior, womanizer, drinker--a man who could never quite adjust to normal human society. For any student of the Vietnam War era, this book should be essential reading. Maslowski examines the policies and motivations of the three American presidents, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, who pursued the Vietnam debacle; they are each excoriated for the cock-sure macho attitude of their era, their misguided policies, their isolation from and neglect of intelligent voices that could have significantly altered the course of what ultimately became the first big military disaster in American history. Simply put, Maslowski and Winslow--to use a turn of phrase prevalent in the Vietnam Era--tell it like it is.

I served in the same unit with Sgt. Hooper in Panama prior to his (and my) deployment to Viet Nam and found it interesting to follow his experiences leading up to his earning the MOH. Because we served in different sectors of VN, I could not directly relate to his experiences. However, I was disappointed that the authors worked so diligently to expose Hooper's human frailties. It seemed they wanted to disqualify him as not being really worthy of acclaim. I also wasn't pleased with the writers' studious "disdain" for the way in which the war was "prosecuted." I well remember the war as being highly controversial during (and after) that time, but I feel that disdain should have recorded in a separate publication and not "merged" with an account of one man's trials and victories.

I knew Joe Hooper, and I was there that day (C company). Although I did not agree with the political slant, his life story needed to be told. In the haze of battle, some get too much recognition and some get too little, but Joe was certainly capable of doing everything he was given credit for. He was not a hero just for this action, but for many others almost on a daily basis. I wish he had received more recognition during his life.Gary Bridges, former 1st platoon leader, C/2501st ABN

This is a great book, I also say this with prejudice. I have two reasons the first is that Joe Hooper is my great uncle on my mothers side. Though he died before my time I grew up hearing about him when I was a kid. I knew he was in the Army and in Nam but I never really thought much more of it until I read this book. The second reason is I have spent 17 years in the Army reserves and have been achieved the rank of SFC then after commissioning CPT I even spent time in the 104th like he did. I was a SSG when I first read the book and was blown away to discover his exsperiances during the war, and the hardship he endured afterwords. Joe was a true leader, one who lead from the front. Tragically PTSD and alcoholism took its toll on Joe after the war. This is a great read for a greater insight into the life of an extraordinary soldier of the Vietnam Era. To all the Vets out there from Vietnam thank you, your sacrifices will be remembered.

Honestly, have read only small part at this point.

The authors clearly had several axes to grind. A critical examination of an era and a man, and little else.

Looking for a Hero: Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper and the Vietnam War is not a biography about Joe Ronnie Hooper and the Medal of Honor he was awarded in the Vietnam War. Joe Hooper's life is only about 30% of the book, and that portion was a thorough investigation of Hooper's background and reportage on all of his many flaws and shortcomings. His award of the Medal of Honor was discredited. The authors spent the rest of the book's 640 pages denigrating people that looked up to Audie Murphy and John Wayne while criticizing, second guessing, & challenging every wartime decision that GEN Westmoreland made. Conservatives and President Nixon received special negative attention from these two authors too. President Johnson's & McNamara's mismanagement and incompetence in running the war were largely not mentioned. Basically, this was an effort to criticize the Vietnam War, and glorify the accomplishments and strategy of the North Vietnamese leaders. Along with other inaccuracies in the book the authors kept telling us that Joe Hooper was the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War. He was not. COL (Ret) Robert Howard, over a period of 54 months in Vietnam, was wounded 14 times with 8 Purple Hearts; was put in for the MOH 3 times awarded once; 2 Distinguished Service Crosses; Silver Star; 4 Bronze Stars with V; 1 Air Medal with V; 4 Army Commendation Medals with V. Also SFC Jorge Barreto ranks high in valorous honors with 38 war decorations including 5 Purple Hearts; 2 Silver Stars, 1 Bronze Star with V. If you want to learn about a man's character flaws, his lifetime of mistakes, and how horrible the Vietnam War was - then this book is for you.