“Stand To…A Journey to Manhood”
E. Franklin Evans
260 pages/IUniverse
 

Reviewed by Jim Stewart

“Stand To…A Journey to Manhood” is not just another Vietnam War book filled with clichés about this most misunderstood war. I can almost recite some of the stereotypes about the war that I have read in other books/memoirs. This is fresh, this is new. A memoir of a young Lt. Frank Evan, infantry officer, who started as a grunt officer and ended his tour of duty with the Special Forces at the battle of Ben Het. This battle was the only battle between American forces where enemy tanks also took part.

But, what made me really like this book? The humor that the author was able to inject into the story. His knife fight with a Christmas turkey, fighting Viet Cong elephants, and an elusive VC chicken, all made this otherwise serious look at the daily grind and terror that the average infantryman went through  an enjoyable diversion. But, when the author needed to take you into the heat of the battle, especially Ben Het, he did so with great detail.

The book is 260 pages with 34 very much appreciated  short chapters, and has many personal photos that the author was able to bring home. This is an outstanding book.
Deserves the highest rating from MWSA.