//bibliography//
This text is a partial bibliography of the resources I have used in development of the story ideas behind the unfinished work: Killing Jane Fonda. The list is not all encompassing as I have not included works of fiction I have studied to improve and develop on my writing skill and voice nor have I included books where I've studied limited text. Some of the listings include either reader reviews or paraphrased editorial reviews posted on Amazon.com. On some of the reviews, I have added my own comments to reader postings on Amazon. I urge you to read the complete review and reader comments for each text on the Amazon. To realize the POW experience during Vietnam, one cannot limit themselves to one text. The books listed on this page are ones I felt essential to learning about the POWs ersatz my story development. Sadly, I was forced to read Fonda's fantasy autobiography for objectivity.
Adams, M. (2004). Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel. Augusta, Georgia: Harbor House.
Anderson, C. (1990). Citizen Jane—The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Charen, M. (2003). Useful Idiots. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing.
Coffee, G. (1990). Beyond Survival. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Hirsh, J. (2004). Two Souls Indivisible. Boston-New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Holzer, M. (2002). Aid and Comfort-Jane Fonda in North Vietnam. North Carolina: McFarland&Company, Inc.
Kiley, F. & Rochester, S. I. (1998). Honor Bound—American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
McConnell, M. (2004). Into the Mouth of the Cat. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Michel, M. (2002). The 11 Days of Christmas. San Francisco: Encounter Books.
Nichols, J.B.&Tillman, B. (1987). On Yankee Station. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute.
Nixon, R. (1985). No More Vietnams. New York: Arbor House.
Smith, J.T. (1998). The Linebacker Raids. London: Wellington House.
Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel: Dr. Adams writes a regular column for the conservative website Townhall.com I've followed almost all of his articles and looked forward to his eye-opening book. Essentially it is a "collection" of stories of his battles with the kooks in the university system. His book gives a true account of the goings-on while highlighting absurdities elsewhere. Adams, a criminal justice professor at UNC-Wilmington, writes from a conservative viewpoint. Only liberals would accept kookiness as normal. It is a scary read; scary considering the kook infestation at UNC-Wilmington is not isolated to that university system alone. It’s nationwide—these people are supposed to mold and shape the minds of the future. If they succeed, kiss the country good-bye.
Citizen Jane--The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda: The review for the book, written in 1990 by Thomas Wiener, describes the work as having a, “promising start” only to fall short when the author begins detailing Fonda’s political awakening. The reviewer shirks it as unimportant; an opinion that ignores the way Fonda defined herself with her activism. If one is to read her autobiographical fantasy, My Life So Far, one must read this one for balance as an outsider attempt to understand her leanings.
Regurgitating a script for a camera, words written by someone other than the actor, does not automatically apply integrity, intelligence, or credibility to a person, no matter how many awards the motion picture garners. Hollywood actors are oblivious to that fact; some of America too.
The reviewer continues, “The second half of the book veers off into a political tract in which Andersen seems intent on bringing to the reader's attention to every intemperate remark and foolish deed committed by Fonda during the late 1960s and early 1970s.” Well it happened didn’t it? In a country where the left digs into the mire for anything to meet their political needs, the author’s investigation into Fonda was justified. Jane Fonda lacks her own identity, she defines herself by her men, and her men have defined her state-of-mind—which she has never preserved for individuality. She proves Anderson right, justifying Anderson's 'bias' with her sugar-coated autobiography. It's true she is the whipping girl for Veteran’s, but she earned it, and she doesn’t have the sense to be ashamed.
I’m certain Mr. Weiner has not served in the military. He trivializes the damage done by her antiwar activity. I dare him to look a former POW in the eye and ask him how much forgiveness he has for Fonda. I doubt Mr. Thomas has endured torture as these men have, nor ever lifted a finger for this nation.
He writes further excuses for Fonda, “Furthermore, the author exhibits a lack of understanding of cultural and social movements of the period, which undercuts his case against Fonda,” Does a cultural and social movement justify sedition? Being a traitor? Betraying, face to face, an American held in captivity away from home and country? Betraying soldiers in the field, telling them their country isn’t worth fighting for? Telling them they are wrong? It’s equal to murder, I feel, and if ‘social movements’ justify such then I’d better get my gun.
Useful Idiots: A descent read. Review the Amazon.com comments for more opinion on Charen's book. It is an in depth look into the thinking of the left.
Beyond Survival: Beyond survival is a fine text, written from the heart and less like a scholarly text book as some others are written. Here is a description from his website:
"When life loses its meaning, when suddenly the world is turned upside down, when there's nothing left that resembles life as we've known it, where do we find the strength and sustenance to go on? For naval aviator Jerry Coffee and others who were held as prisoners of war in
Two Souls Indivisible: Hundreds of men were held prisoner by the North Vietnamese during the war and Fred Cherry, an F-104 fighter-pilot and Porter Halyburton, a Naval Aviator were two of them. There are dozens of stories of friendship and survival made possible by men depending on each other. This story is a compelling one and illustrates the lack of color lines between these two imprisoned men, while at home the nation was racially divided. Halyburton is a white Southerner and Fred Cherry an African American. This story is about their bond, their survival, their friendship. More details are in the reviews on Amazon.com. This was good research for understanding friendships in captiviety and painted a picture of the terrible living conditions, like the pestilent afflictions Fred Cherry survived, a result from the horrid operations performed on him by the North Vietnamese. Cherry’s condition, friendship with Halyburton, and his reaction to Jane Fonda’s anti-war broadcasts, replayed on the camp PA to harass the prisoners, was important to my work.
Among the other reviews, one writer calls to light the difference of color with this statement, “This reader winced, however, at the description of Halyburton's overcoming his segregationist upbringing as being the moment when "Cherry had ceased being black." (p.133) It's not clear if this is Halyburton's or Hirsch's expression. Perhaps the words didn't come out right. Still, it would have been more satisfying in this reader's mind to hear Halyburton exclaim that he, Halyburton, had ceased being white…” Whatever the writer’s intention, I do, in my own experience agree with the way the author put it. The author, I believe, tried to explain it the best he could and the reader simply misunderstood. I serve in the military with some fine Air Force aviators of African American heritage and I tell you, we (I) simply do not see each other in color. I’d give my life for those guys.
Aid and comfort--Jane Fond in North Vietnam: This is the comprehensive text of Jane Fonda’s visit to Hanoi in July, 1972. It is written from a lawyer’s perspective and is factual, based on precedent definitions of sedition and treason. Being a traitor is shameful enough—looking a captive American square in the eye, an American subjected to years of mistreatment, malnourishment and torture—and berating them…form your opinion. You disagree? You’re wrong. Period-dot, please leave my country.
An unidentified editorial reviewer writes, “Her propaganda broadcasts directed toward American troops, angered many Americans. In their eyes, she was guilty of treason, but she was never charged by the American legal system…” True. She wasn’t because the antiwar crowd succeeded in emasculated the leadership to a point they washed their hands of
The reviewer continues, "She wasn’t charged." So what she did is ok? I’ve written previously, “ask a POW.” Others urge, “…that was thirty years ago, people should just get over it.” Well, that’s easy to say from a lounge chair. Such simpletons should try starving themselves to malnourishment, sleep chained to a slab of concrete, apply rusted- manacles built for smaller Asian frames to their ankles and wrist 'till they cut to the bone, contract dysentery, and balance themselves on a small, sharp edged bucket to explosively vacate their bowels. Add excessive heat with no ventilation in the summer, excessive cold with no blanket in the winter and sadistic chaps to come and beat the hell out of them, dislocate joints and pull their arms from their sockets—last, add luxurious Hollywood entertainment broadcast on the camp PA of an American actress telling them what worthless pieces of shit they are for serving their country. Sure—the POWs should get over it…after all, she apologized didn’t she? No, she did not. She regrets her poor decision making in having taken a picture sitting in the antiaircraft gun. A decision which was poor PR. Apologies are meaningless without it being from the heart.
The reviewer continues, “she has remained an honored American icon.”
Another reader of the book comments on the “she has apologized excuse” and adds, “If we are all going to be held accountable for stupid things we've done when we were younger…” At what point does a person develop mature common sense? Fonda was over thirty. In the liberal mind, when is a person an adult?
“The vets who continue to "blame" Jane Fonda for what happened to them in Vietnam,” she writes and urges the vets to simply, “move on.” Re-read above.
Aid and Comfort is written by a lawyer. It is a dry read. However, Holzer presents facts backed by precedent and public record. Read comments on Amazon.
Honor Bound--American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia: Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, USN, Ret. Honor Bound is a monumental achievement, not only in its depth and breadth of treatment but in its honesty and accuracy. This is the definitive book on the POW experience--and a beautifully written one.
Eugene V. Rostow, Distinguished Professor of Law and Diplomacy, National Defense University. The book is a masterpiece. . . . It will be a monument and a living resource for many years to come: an eloquent tribute to the brave men who endured quite extraordinary tribulation with their pride and sense of honor intact. . . . An epic story, told with epic simplicity.
I couldn't say it better myself. God bless Admiral Stockdale who recently passed away…May he find comfort with God, free from the pain he suffered as a result of his torture by those brutal communist bastards in North Vietnam.
Into the Mouth of the Cat: A true American hero--perseverance in adversity, even unto death. This is story of Lance Sijan. Please read the Amazon.com reviews.
The 11 days of Christmas: A must read for B-52 aviators...”The American B-52 bombing campaign (popularly known as the "Christmas Bombing") of 1972 remains one of the most debated topics of this highly controversial conflict. Begun by Richard Nixon over the protest of the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command, the bombing was opposed by a large majority of Congress and by the antiwar movement. Despite unforseen losses, the B-52 bombing was instrumental in forcing the North Vietnamese back to the negotiating table. While emotional and ill-informed opinions from both Left and Right dominate discussions of American air strategy in Vietnam, Michel (a retired F-4 pilot and author of Clashes: Air Combat Over North Vietnam, 1965-72) offers a cogent and superbly researched scholarly examination that is remarkably free of bias. Drawing from both Vietnamese and American primary and secondary sources, Michel has also utilized a substantial number of dramatic first-person accounts of participants from both sides. His day-by-day analysis of the strategy and tactics of the U.S. bomber squadrons and their North Vietnamese opponents will capture and hold the attention of readers. The author's critique of U.S. Air Force leadership is certain to attract the notice of scholars. A first-rate contribution; essential for academic collections.” -- John R. Vallely, Siena Coll. Lib., Loudonville, NY Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
On Yankee Station (I have read this book twice and thouroughly enjoyed it each time. This was a valuable resource for my work). Foreword by Stephen Coonts. Combining vivid personal narrative with historical and operational analyses, this book takes a candid look at U.S. naval airpower in the Vietnam War. Coauthors John Nichols, a fighter pilot in the war, and Barrett Tillman, an award-winning aviation historian, make full use of their extensive knowledge of the subject to detail the ways in which airpower was employed in the years prior to the fall of Saigon. Confronting the conventional belief that airpower failed in Vietnam, they show that when applied correctly, airpower was effective, but because it was often misunderstood and misapplied, the end results were catastrophic. Their book offers a compelling view of what it was like to fly from Yankee Station between 1964 and 1973 and important lessons for future conflicts. At the same time, it adds important facts to the permanent war record. Following an analysis of the state of carrier aviation in 1964 and a definition of the rules of engagement, it describes the tactics used in strike warfare, the airborne and surface threats, electronic countermeasures, and search and rescue. It also examines the influence of political decisions on the conduct of the war and the changing nature of the Communist opposition. Appendixes provide useful statistical data on carrier deployments, combat sorties, and aircraft losses. This paperback edition of a book first published in 1987 includes a new foreword by Stephen Coonts.
No more Vietnams: Reviewes by Publishers Weekly in 1986, they write, "Former president Nixon's overriding concern about the Vietnam War is mainly that we lost. While he offers admirably idealistic closing arguments here for fighting the Soviets in the Third World , he also shows a reflexive leaning toward military solutions. "Quintessential Nixon," PW stated.
"Military solutions" are, and should be a last resort following failed diplomacy. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and it offerred me much insight into the Vietnam War. It is a historical must read, like Nixon or not.
The Linebacker Raids: An unidentified editorial reviewer writes, "More bombs fell on North Vietnam from May to December of 1972 than were absorbed by any other country in history. "Linebacker I" dropped 150,000 tons of bombs from May to October, while "Linebacker II" delivered 20,000 tons during eleven days in December. Yet the bombings did not bring the North Vietnamese to their knees. In riveting detail and masterful scope, an expert in air history shows how the bombings were successful by conventional tactical standards, but undermined by the failures of political and military planners, the South Vietnamese government--and an enemy capable of surviving with its infrastructure in a shambles."
I have a differing opinion. North Vietnam was on their knees, terrified by the B-52, they were to the point of incapability in defending against B-52 bombing raids. With this historical work, one must also read "The 11 Days of Christmas" included in this list. This reviewer, I believe, is right...the failure of political and military planners undermined ultimate victory. Success was not maintained, resulting in the fall of Vietnam in 1975.