MWSA Book Review

Counterparts

Author:  Jim McDaniel

Publisher:  Writer's Club Press

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

A NOVEL SET IN VIETNAM

Author Jim McDaniel uses the Vietnam War as his backdrop for a good story line in his fictional work called “Counterparts.”  The cultural and historic differences between the American military and their counterparts in the South Vietnamese Army are exposed indirectly in the telling a very good story; one that bridges those differences and keeps the reader engrossed in what is going to happen next.  The author has written a masterpiece of dialog even with the awkward language problems that come with trying to integrate Vietnamese words and phrases.  There is some use of profanities in the book which gives it a realistic feel for the conversations but certainly limits the book to more mature readers.

The book’s story line and the characters all have a ring of realism.  In fact, the book comes off as a realistic and historical peek at what it was like during this period of the war in Vietnam.  This book has it all – love, duty, honor, betrayal, murder, action, heroes and villains and it all comes together to entertain the reader.

Synopsis of the Book:

In Counterparts, the characters interact as in a Shakespeare play, or rather several plays performed simultaneously.  Major Jake Thorpe, the Hamlet-like protagonist, is assigned to Quang Tin Province to investigate a murder; a crime for which, his father figure and former college mentor (Ray Gonzaga, a DOD civilian) has been charged.  Gonzaga has also been charged with treason, an indictment Jake knows from his former close relationship, must be false.

Concurrently, Sgt. Mark Fellogese, playing the naïve, modern Romeo, is ready to become a radio operator in the Province tactical operations center.  The two fly together from Saigon to their new Quang Tin assignments.

LTC Dick King, Thorpe's soon-to-be boss, blatantly exhibits his Richard III type immorality as he cheats at cards, lies to his subordinates, and escapes a poisonous snake while preparing for the newcomers.

The Vietnamese Province Chief, Colonel Biet, a Macbeth-like antagonist, makes decisions based on astrology rather than military tactics, and lines his pockets with contraband profits.  His pitiless wife, who interferes into affairs of state with bloodthirsty abandon, encourages Biet's ruthless drive for power.

Co Li, (Juliet) is the daughter of the Viet Cong Province Sector Chief.  She is also Biet's disloyal secretary.

Thorpe's investigation is tangled and thwarted by LTC King's ruthless ambition, by Biet's dependence upon the stars, by intercultural differences, rampant emotions, the perplexing decisions of war, and, of course, the unseen - unknown enemy. In the course of the story, Jake acquires two Vietnamese "counterparts," LTC Tu, who has been educated in the US, and Major Hai, whose effervescent personality sparks every scene.

Co Li's brother asks her to become involved with a high-ranking American so as to enhance the VC intelligence effort.  However, Co Li accidentally meets Mark Fellogese and the two fall in love.  Because her lover is a lower rank than her brother had expected, he demands information from that innocent source or else she must find another.

U.S. intelligence has uncovered strong information that a major enemy attack may be forthcoming on or about the Chinese New Year, 30 days from the opening curtain.  As the story progresses, the day of the forthcoming battle draws closer.  To emphasize the importance of time, and to add to the overall tension, each chapter-head indicates how many days remain before Tet (Chinese New Year).

The reader discovers that Biet is responsible for the murder Thorpe is investigating, while King and Biet are mutually guilty of blackening Gonzaga's character.  Consequently, King can succeed to the position of Senior Advisor, and Biet can continue his black market profiteering.  Despite their complicity in the Gonzaga frame, and spurred by their mutual racial prejudice, the struggle between them for supremacy in the province often overshadows the war itself.

Through diligence and dedication, Jake uncovers clue after clue, and begins to suspect King.  Jake's counterpart, LTC Tu, chances on information that implicates Biet in the murder, but the two friends feel they must wait for actual proof before they act.  While they delay, Gonzaga dies!  This sends Jake into a tailspin of woe.

Sgt. Fellogese volunteers for a special mission to advise a Vietnamese militia ambush patrol in defense of the Province.  The patrol is successful and Mark kills his first human being. It is Co Li's brother!

Co Li's father is furious, and demands that Co Li murder Fellogese.  She takes a knife, meets her lover in the darkness, but cannot overcome her love.  As she departs, weeping in the shadows, he is unaware of what has just happened.

LTC Tu is killed by enemy action in the far western area of the province.  Jake Thorpe, who is directing a deadly but artistically beautiful air strike from a helicopter, learns of Tu's death, and technically violates Vietnamese custom by landing at the firebase, taking Tu's body on board and bringing it "home" to his family.  He bluffs all witnesses into thinking Tu did not perish until he was within the confines of his home. In this way, according to Vietnamese superstition, Tu's "spirit" benefits, and will forever remain close to his family so as to watch over and protect them.

One day before Tet, Jake and Major Hai (Jake's new counterpart) carefully plan the defense of the city of Tam Ky.  This detailed planning is condemned and ridiculed by LTC King because, "Those God damned Gooks don't have the manpower ta pull off a major attack!"  That evening, Jake learns that his estranged wife has drowned, possibly in an act of depression-induced suicide.

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the VC attack.  Co Li kills Col and Mrs. Biet within the capitol walls.  She then uses another hand grenade to commit suicide rather than be captured.  Mark hears the facts of this action and is plunged into despair even though he must remain at his duty station because of the still pending main attack by the North Vietnamese regulars.

Then, the historic (and factual) "Tet of 68" battle crashes into Tam Ky.  The expected primary attack comes just as Jake accuses King of his evil, and the two are faced off in a tense, weapons-drawn, life or death struggle.  Duty and training prevail, and both men leap to their battle stations.  In the attack, Mark is crippled, Jake is killed, and LTC King earns a medal for valor.  The epilogue reveals that he later achieves the rank of Major General.

Author Biography:

The author is a decorated career Army Infantry Officer who spent two years of combat in Vietnam, including one as the Deputy Province Senior Advisor in Quang Tin Province, the same job as the main protagonist of Counterparts.  He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  In this book, he employs official Pentagon historical documents, many of his personal experiences and extensive research about the Vietnamese culture to ensure realism and credibility as well as the warmth and uniqueness of the Vietnamese people.

The author has an MA in Literature from the University of Oregon.  He was the first to discover that Robert Penn Warren used exactly this same, "four Shakespeare plays being performed simultaneously," concept in All the King's Men, and this became the subject of his scholastically published Master's Thesis.

He was the by-line drama columnist for the Tacoma Washington Times, newspaper for eleven years.  He has several published magazine articles, and is a published poet.