GIBSON : The perfect war (előszó)
Have you seen the light? The white light? The great
light? The Guiding Light? Do you have the vision?
—Marine Drill Instructor in Gustov
Hasford's Short-Timers
METAPHORS of light and darkness abound in Vietnam War literature. For years American war-managers talked about finding the "light at the end of the tunnel," a way to victory and an end to the war. The years of research and writing were my darkness; this book stands as what light I could generate from the fragmented ruins of American defeat.
Helpful comments on various drafts of the manuscript came from Professor Wendell Bell of Yale University, Professor Kurt Wolff of Brandeis, Professor Jeffrey Alexander of UCLA, Professor Douglas Kellner of the University of Texas at Austin, and Mr. John Stockwell, formerly with the CIA and now an author.
Special thanks to Ms. Carol Lynn Mithers for careful editing of early drafts, substantial help in writing clearly, and great emotional support. Ms. Joyce Johnson of the Atlantic Monthly Press did an excellent job with the final manuscript. Ms. Roberta Pryor, my literary representative, served me well.
Ms. Carol Bernstein Ferry and Mr. W. H. Ferry helped me at one point with a grant. Professor Robert Horwitz of the University of California at San Diego and Mr. John Earl Frazier also helped me financially at crucial times. And my parents, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Gibson, gave the most.
Let me end with a word or two on the names of countries. The Americanized spelling of Viet Nam – Vietnam – is used throughout the book except when quotations use the original name. Other American names, such as "North Vietnam" for the People's Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, and "South Vietnam" for the Republic of Viet Nam, are used interchangeably with the full names. Such usage is not intended to signify political positions, to affirm or contest the legitimacy of any government. The political connotations of "North" and "South" are discussed where appropriate. Finally, all emphases in quotations come from me, not the original authors.
|
|
|
| KATALÓGUS | TARTALOM |
 |
 |
|
 |