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Word of Honor
He is a good man, a brilliant corporate executive, an honest, handsome family man admired by men and desired by women. But a lifetime ago Ben Tyson was a lieutenant in Vietnam.There the men under his command committed a murderous atrocity and together swore never to tell the world what they had done.
Now the press, army justice, and the events he tried to forget have caught up with Ben Tyson. His family, his career, and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. And only one woman can reveal the truth of his past and set him free."
Now the press, army justice, and the events he tried to forget have caught up with Ben Tyson. His family, his career, and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. And only one woman can reveal the truth of his past and set him free."
880 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
1681 people are currently reading
3592 people want to read
About the author
Nelson DeMille
259 books7,357 followersNelson Richard DeMille was an American author of action adventure and suspense novels. His novels include Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General's Daughter. DeMille also wrote under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt Ladner, Ellen Kay and Brad Matthews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
March 21, 2024
Nelson DeMille tends to produce long books (this one is nearly 900 pages), and that can feel a little intimidating. Yet once into the narrative, I always feel the same: amused by a wise-cracking lead character, enthralled by a compelling storyline and, in due course, wishing the book were even longer. Yes, he can sometimes provide a little too much detail, but this minor niggle is more than compensated for by his ability to truly bring his characters to life, deliver brilliant dialogue and to unerringly serve up an interesting, and often thought provoking, tale.
Having served as a platoon leader in Vietnam, he is well placed to present this story of Ben Tyson, a New York based WASP and former serving lieutenant in the self same war. Commuting to work one day an acquaintance brings to his attention a reference in a new non-fiction book concerning an atrocity committed some 18 years ago. A hospital building was destroyed, and a hundred or more doctors nurses and patients were killed. Tyson is named as the officer leading the party who committed the act.
Much time is spent in explaining the legal position concerning civilians who once served in the army and what legal remedies are available to address alleged war crimes long after the event. But the major focus is on the mental impacts on Tyson as he recalls the event and struggles with his own feelings about it, as well as the growing pressures on him resulting from the disclosure. Also, the impacts on his family, his job, and the reactions of the people he knows and of strangers who become aware of the event.
As the story unfolds, we gradually gain more insight into what happened on that fateful day. We learn of the pressures facing a group of soldiers and of the interactions Tyson has with individuals as the tragic event grows ever closer. What DeMille does so well here is mix humour with the inevitable horror of the events. Tyson reminded me a lot of another of the author’s characters, John Sutter, who features in The Gold Coast and The Gate House. I can't help thinking they are both, to some extent, a reflection of DeMille himself.
What results is a gripping legal thriller that presents what feels like a fair minded appraisal of the awful consequences that can transpire when a highly stressed, battle weary group of soldiers are suddenly presented with the right (or wrong!) set of circumstances. I rooted for Tyson throughout, but it wouldn't be fair to disclose his fate – you’ll just have to read the book yourself. And if it sounds like your kind of story, then trust me and don't be put off by the imposing length of the tale.
Having served as a platoon leader in Vietnam, he is well placed to present this story of Ben Tyson, a New York based WASP and former serving lieutenant in the self same war. Commuting to work one day an acquaintance brings to his attention a reference in a new non-fiction book concerning an atrocity committed some 18 years ago. A hospital building was destroyed, and a hundred or more doctors nurses and patients were killed. Tyson is named as the officer leading the party who committed the act.
Much time is spent in explaining the legal position concerning civilians who once served in the army and what legal remedies are available to address alleged war crimes long after the event. But the major focus is on the mental impacts on Tyson as he recalls the event and struggles with his own feelings about it, as well as the growing pressures on him resulting from the disclosure. Also, the impacts on his family, his job, and the reactions of the people he knows and of strangers who become aware of the event.
As the story unfolds, we gradually gain more insight into what happened on that fateful day. We learn of the pressures facing a group of soldiers and of the interactions Tyson has with individuals as the tragic event grows ever closer. What DeMille does so well here is mix humour with the inevitable horror of the events. Tyson reminded me a lot of another of the author’s characters, John Sutter, who features in The Gold Coast and The Gate House. I can't help thinking they are both, to some extent, a reflection of DeMille himself.
What results is a gripping legal thriller that presents what feels like a fair minded appraisal of the awful consequences that can transpire when a highly stressed, battle weary group of soldiers are suddenly presented with the right (or wrong!) set of circumstances. I rooted for Tyson throughout, but it wouldn't be fair to disclose his fate – you’ll just have to read the book yourself. And if it sounds like your kind of story, then trust me and don't be put off by the imposing length of the tale.
December 14, 2020
A smattering of other DeMille novels led me to expect a fast-paced thriller. Far from it, and far better. This book is not for everyone. It is at least 300,000 words long, and though it could have been shorter, every scene and every character is vibrant and vivid, so I can't point to anything I wish I'd skipped. The subject matter, war atrocities, is not for the sensitive. This story portrays war as it must be, a slow-motion horror show with real agony, ruining the lives of everyone involved.
The other theme/subject of the book is the army, with its traditions, rules, and bizarre relationships. From this story we see the problems and futility of asymmetric warfare, where the technology- and weapon-heavy American army is nibbled to death by insurgents who blend with the civilian population.
These wars are unwinnable, in the sense of the defeated side stops fighting and allows America and its puppets to remake the society. Vietnam proved this quite clearly, sending the army bureaucracy into decades of planning for future conflicts. What if we arm trusted indigenous tribes? Tried it. What if we target enemy leaders with drones? Tried it. What if we interdict Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Iranian weapons? Tried it. What if we build schools and power plants? Tried it. Here's the broad plan for America's army: fight an unwinnable war. Study the failure for ten years, then repeat with five new shiny ideas that are sure to work this time. See Iraq and Afghanistan. But I digress; it's not the army's fault, except in the sense that they persuade the current president that their new shiny ideas are sure to work this time. Five minutes in, when the ideas are NOT working, the continuing carnage becomes the fault of the president.
DeMille, in this book, gives me a crystal-clear view of the ordinary soldier's frustration at being sent to kill and die in a futile struggle for no achievable goal.
What happened here? DeMille published 'The Rivers of Babylon' in 1978, a fast-paced, ridiculously contrived thriller with sloppy writing, pointless characters, and Mission-Impossible grade action. Seven years later, 'Word of Honor', is character-driven, thoughtful, intense, and deeply satisfying. It feels like the author's true passion turned loose; it feels like a stab at a Pulitzer or similar literary acclaim. Sorry, once you make money from snappy genre fiction, nobody is allowed to take you seriously.
But I do. This book is as engaging as Scott Turow's work, though Turow's imaginative prose is a step above. I think DeMille still deserves five stars for 'Word of Honor.' Perhaps Turow deserves six.
The other theme/subject of the book is the army, with its traditions, rules, and bizarre relationships. From this story we see the problems and futility of asymmetric warfare, where the technology- and weapon-heavy American army is nibbled to death by insurgents who blend with the civilian population.
These wars are unwinnable, in the sense of the defeated side stops fighting and allows America and its puppets to remake the society. Vietnam proved this quite clearly, sending the army bureaucracy into decades of planning for future conflicts. What if we arm trusted indigenous tribes? Tried it. What if we target enemy leaders with drones? Tried it. What if we interdict Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Iranian weapons? Tried it. What if we build schools and power plants? Tried it. Here's the broad plan for America's army: fight an unwinnable war. Study the failure for ten years, then repeat with five new shiny ideas that are sure to work this time. See Iraq and Afghanistan. But I digress; it's not the army's fault, except in the sense that they persuade the current president that their new shiny ideas are sure to work this time. Five minutes in, when the ideas are NOT working, the continuing carnage becomes the fault of the president.
DeMille, in this book, gives me a crystal-clear view of the ordinary soldier's frustration at being sent to kill and die in a futile struggle for no achievable goal.
What happened here? DeMille published 'The Rivers of Babylon' in 1978, a fast-paced, ridiculously contrived thriller with sloppy writing, pointless characters, and Mission-Impossible grade action. Seven years later, 'Word of Honor', is character-driven, thoughtful, intense, and deeply satisfying. It feels like the author's true passion turned loose; it feels like a stab at a Pulitzer or similar literary acclaim. Sorry, once you make money from snappy genre fiction, nobody is allowed to take you seriously.
But I do. This book is as engaging as Scott Turow's work, though Turow's imaginative prose is a step above. I think DeMille still deserves five stars for 'Word of Honor.' Perhaps Turow deserves six.
July 31, 2008
I am a HUGE Nelson DeMille fan and this book is up there with my favorites. Once again in DeMille style, he touches down close to home for me in Garden City and Sag Harbor, two towns on Long Island I know quite well. Being that I was born in 1982, I never really knew much about Vietnam. My dad was too young to be drafted and it was only after the draft ended that he turned 18 and went to college instead of enlisting. But, my friend's fathers who fought in that war usually have the same response to questions -- they don't talk about it because they are too scarred, or simply can't talk about it because of activities they were engaged in-- two of my friends fathers were Green Berets, so I can only imagine. I thought they wouldn't discuss it because they saw so many of their friends die. That's part of it, sure, but now I know it's just the tip of the iceberg. They had their pain of loss, and they had their monstrous rage in return, and this book examines how and why one could possibly justify mass crimes of passion.
I understand now why they just can't talk about it. Everyone has their secrets and I have a better understanding of the time and the place and the grisly effects of war on youth and humanity as a whole. Before reading this book, sadly, most of my knowledge of Vietnam has come from Forrest Gump - no kidding. I am really into history, but this was just a war era I didn't have prior exposure to and I am glad I read this and know more. Word of Honor is a story of brotherhood and betrayal. This book is provacative, a thrilling page-turner, completely twisted, and I honestly didn't know what to expect for the outcome until the final page. READ IT.
I understand now why they just can't talk about it. Everyone has their secrets and I have a better understanding of the time and the place and the grisly effects of war on youth and humanity as a whole. Before reading this book, sadly, most of my knowledge of Vietnam has come from Forrest Gump - no kidding. I am really into history, but this was just a war era I didn't have prior exposure to and I am glad I read this and know more. Word of Honor is a story of brotherhood and betrayal. This book is provacative, a thrilling page-turner, completely twisted, and I honestly didn't know what to expect for the outcome until the final page. READ IT.
January 5, 2025
Pride, comradeship, human kindness, nonsense, ugliness and relativity of war, affectivity, little facts in life, all of them in a magnificent story.
The first part is rich in substance dialogues, between Ben and, one by one, Marcy, Karen and Corva. The second one, including the trial, is more technical, the final is ok. A book I warmly recommend...
The first part is rich in substance dialogues, between Ben and, one by one, Marcy, Karen and Corva. The second one, including the trial, is more technical, the final is ok. A book I warmly recommend...
May 2, 2015
Ben Tyson thought that Viet Nam and all it's death and destruction was left far behind. He did his time and managed to come home in one piece. He built a good life with all the requisite trappings of success. And then it all comes tumbling down around him. A book is published that outlines a massacre involving the inhabitants of a Vietnamese hospital including women,children and medical staff. And the book points the finger at Ben Tyson and the squad he led.
In a short amount of time, Ben finds himself without a job, his marriage on shaky ground and pariah in his country club society.Someone has to pay for the atrocities committed in war time. And that's Ben. To his credit, Ben knows that there is a price to be paid for his actions and inaction in Viet Nam. And his inner struggle along with his legal war is clearly brought out.
There are no heroes or innocents in this book. Everything and everyone is painted in varying shades of gray.That was the Viet Nam war.Right and wrong comingled every second of every day we were there. And some men left too long in the miasma of war with at best muddled leadership could and did snap like twigs. The author does a great job shining a light in the dark corners of those minds that fought and led the Viet Nam war. I found the darkest and most culpable minds were those of the Army generals and members of Congress who never did and never would take responsibility for that war.
In a short amount of time, Ben finds himself without a job, his marriage on shaky ground and pariah in his country club society.Someone has to pay for the atrocities committed in war time. And that's Ben. To his credit, Ben knows that there is a price to be paid for his actions and inaction in Viet Nam. And his inner struggle along with his legal war is clearly brought out.
There are no heroes or innocents in this book. Everything and everyone is painted in varying shades of gray.That was the Viet Nam war.Right and wrong comingled every second of every day we were there. And some men left too long in the miasma of war with at best muddled leadership could and did snap like twigs. The author does a great job shining a light in the dark corners of those minds that fought and led the Viet Nam war. I found the darkest and most culpable minds were those of the Army generals and members of Congress who never did and never would take responsibility for that war.
February 20, 2018
WORD OF HONOR reads like The Caine Mutiny as a Vietnam story. Ben Tyson is accused of murder for a massacre occurring in a hospital during the Tet offensive, February 1968, eighteen years after it happened. As an officer Tyson is the only member of the platoon--Alpha Company of the 7th Cavalry--that can be tried for the crime and the US Army opens a court-martial for murder. DeMille reveals the massacre details slowly, ratcheting the tension tighter and tighter. The outcome is little surprise, but it ends exactly how it should and even more importantly the novel says something about humanity and war, and America's Vietnam War.
May 5, 2009
This is my all time favorite Nelson DeMille book, which is saying a lot because a) I really like DeMille and b) I am a huge fan of a numbeirr of his books. So saying this is my fave of his is high praise indeed.
Written and set in the mid 80s, the book follows uthe fortunes of Ben Tyson, a successful executive in the aerospace industry who is married, has a nearly grown son, and has put the Vietnam War behind him. However, a book has appeared that allages that the platoon he commanded in Hue in 1968 is responsible for a brutal atrocity--the killing of over 100 civilians.
As the only officer accused of being present at the killings, he is the only member of the platoon who can be brought back on active duty (the Army can't lay a hand on a discharged enlisted man). And so much time has passed that the only crime Ben can be charged with is capital murder, the only crime for which there is no statute of limitations. And Ben is the only person mentioned by name in the book, even though he is not accused of directly participating in the killing himself. But miltary officers are legally responsible for the actions of their men, so, if there was murder, he is legally responsible in the eyes of military justice.
A number of mysteries unfold. What happened in Hue? Who is out to get Ben? What has happened to the eyewitnesses? Does the government want them found.
As the story unfolds, two things become clear. One, regardless of the outcome of the trial, Ben's life will never be the same again. And two, it becomes clear that Ben is not trying to avoid trouble or shirk any resposibility--he has kept his word of honor, and will continue to do so, though the cost be high.
Great book. I've read it twice and have reread the last several chapters more often than that.
Written and set in the mid 80s, the book follows uthe fortunes of Ben Tyson, a successful executive in the aerospace industry who is married, has a nearly grown son, and has put the Vietnam War behind him. However, a book has appeared that allages that the platoon he commanded in Hue in 1968 is responsible for a brutal atrocity--the killing of over 100 civilians.
As the only officer accused of being present at the killings, he is the only member of the platoon who can be brought back on active duty (the Army can't lay a hand on a discharged enlisted man). And so much time has passed that the only crime Ben can be charged with is capital murder, the only crime for which there is no statute of limitations. And Ben is the only person mentioned by name in the book, even though he is not accused of directly participating in the killing himself. But miltary officers are legally responsible for the actions of their men, so, if there was murder, he is legally responsible in the eyes of military justice.
A number of mysteries unfold. What happened in Hue? Who is out to get Ben? What has happened to the eyewitnesses? Does the government want them found.
As the story unfolds, two things become clear. One, regardless of the outcome of the trial, Ben's life will never be the same again. And two, it becomes clear that Ben is not trying to avoid trouble or shirk any resposibility--he has kept his word of honor, and will continue to do so, though the cost be high.
Great book. I've read it twice and have reread the last several chapters more often than that.
May 5, 2024
I am back to read another of the early Nelson DeMille novels, in which the plot and storytelling prove to be the strongest part of the reading experience. DeMille showcases some humour, but this comes second to his attention to detail and touches on the complex issue of US military actions in Vietnam that may have been less than honourable. A well-developed piece that keeps the reader engaged and following some of the more troubling aspects of soldier decisions during the struggle to stay in control. DeMille impressed me once more.
Ben Tyson has made a name for himself in the 1980s. He’s a corporate executive with brilliant skills that have helped him rise to the top. He loves his family and has a true connection to them. However, he has a secret, one from his time as a lieutenant in the US Army while serving in Vietnam. The men under Tyson’s command committed a horrible atrocity in a hospital, where many were left slaughtered. The men swore that they would never talk of it again, with one another or anyone on the outside. Until now.
As the secrets were kept under wraps for years, they have all come out in a newly published book by an author with a penchant for intense detail. As the book gains notoriety, many begin to wonder if the truths in the book could have been covered-up and whether Ben Tyson could be held responsible for the massacre in that small Vietnamese town. While the US Government begins to ponder its options, Ben Tyson becomes a pariah and has to fight for him dignity. He is left to clean up the mess by being re-enlisted in the US Army to face a court-martial and brought to justice for his leadership decisions. While Tyson wants to be honest, he cannot wrap his head around the fact that he is being made a whipping boy twenty years later.
With his family in shatters and his personal life destroyed, Ben Tyson is forced to go through a court-martial to deal with his actions. He is forced to wander through military justice and hope that the independent nature of his men will not taint his career or his leadership choices. Nothing is off limits in this court-martial, though the final result could change the direction of Ben Tyson’s life and future. A chilling story that has all the elements of a great piece of historical fiction with a powerful undertone of a courtroom thriller.
I have been reading some of the older Nelson DeMille novels of late, getting a better perspective on the man whose wit has always been to my liking. DeMille has an agenda and commentary in this early novel, using the narrative to express it all clearly. The story moves through a number of phases of the situation, both past and present, gaining momentum throughout as the court-martial becomes more a reality than simply an option. The political and social implications drip from each chapter, which helps tell a story the reader may not properly understand the Vietnam sentiment felt by those within and outside the military. Characters pepper the piece effectively and offer up a stunning set of ideas that will force the reader to synthesise the troubling tale.
Plot points are key to this story’s intensity, which offers a tense theme. DeMille uses his strong writing skills to depict the themes effectively and uses plot points to keep things surprising and well worth the invested time the reader might invest. Political events that may not be currently savvy become highly intriguing once more with DeMille’s book. I will keep reading some of the earlier novels, which exemplify great writing above sharp wit.
Kudos Mr. DeMille, for this awkward piece of historical fiction.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Ben Tyson has made a name for himself in the 1980s. He’s a corporate executive with brilliant skills that have helped him rise to the top. He loves his family and has a true connection to them. However, he has a secret, one from his time as a lieutenant in the US Army while serving in Vietnam. The men under Tyson’s command committed a horrible atrocity in a hospital, where many were left slaughtered. The men swore that they would never talk of it again, with one another or anyone on the outside. Until now.
As the secrets were kept under wraps for years, they have all come out in a newly published book by an author with a penchant for intense detail. As the book gains notoriety, many begin to wonder if the truths in the book could have been covered-up and whether Ben Tyson could be held responsible for the massacre in that small Vietnamese town. While the US Government begins to ponder its options, Ben Tyson becomes a pariah and has to fight for him dignity. He is left to clean up the mess by being re-enlisted in the US Army to face a court-martial and brought to justice for his leadership decisions. While Tyson wants to be honest, he cannot wrap his head around the fact that he is being made a whipping boy twenty years later.
With his family in shatters and his personal life destroyed, Ben Tyson is forced to go through a court-martial to deal with his actions. He is forced to wander through military justice and hope that the independent nature of his men will not taint his career or his leadership choices. Nothing is off limits in this court-martial, though the final result could change the direction of Ben Tyson’s life and future. A chilling story that has all the elements of a great piece of historical fiction with a powerful undertone of a courtroom thriller.
I have been reading some of the older Nelson DeMille novels of late, getting a better perspective on the man whose wit has always been to my liking. DeMille has an agenda and commentary in this early novel, using the narrative to express it all clearly. The story moves through a number of phases of the situation, both past and present, gaining momentum throughout as the court-martial becomes more a reality than simply an option. The political and social implications drip from each chapter, which helps tell a story the reader may not properly understand the Vietnam sentiment felt by those within and outside the military. Characters pepper the piece effectively and offer up a stunning set of ideas that will force the reader to synthesise the troubling tale.
Plot points are key to this story’s intensity, which offers a tense theme. DeMille uses his strong writing skills to depict the themes effectively and uses plot points to keep things surprising and well worth the invested time the reader might invest. Political events that may not be currently savvy become highly intriguing once more with DeMille’s book. I will keep reading some of the earlier novels, which exemplify great writing above sharp wit.
Kudos Mr. DeMille, for this awkward piece of historical fiction.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 20, 2017
I've been a HUGE FAN of Nelson DeMille and his books since being introduced to the John Corey series, and since reading those I've read his stand-alones, and I think Word of Honor is his BEST one YET!!! I was compelled right on the first page and right to the last page I was just nervously biting my nails waiting for the climax! By the end I was physically drained, HAHA!
Word of Honor introduces us to Ben Tyson, a former Lieutenant Soldier in Vietnam, who, 20 years later is living a normal day-to-day life, married to his beautiful wife Marcy, with his son David. Until one day, Tyson's past has come back to haunt him, a day he swore to forget and to never repeat to anyone, not even his family. A day in Vietnam when men under Tyson's command committed a murderous crime, then they covered it up and never spoke of it again. Now years later the press, and the army have caught up with Tyson. Now Tyson's family, career and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. Tyson is put on trial by the Military who believe he is guilty and want him held accountable, so Tyson hires defense attorney Vincent Corva to defend him in the trial.
I loved how the 3rd quarter of the book took place in a courtroom, to me it felt like I was watching the film A Few Good Men, one of my favorite films, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
And I love how the story, even though it doesn't fully focus on the conflict of Vietnam it does focus a lot on the crime that Tyson's men committed during the conflict. And fun fact, I read on the back of my copy of the book that DeMille is a former US Army Lieutenant who served in Vietnam, which I'm guessing gave him the idea for this book. And I've seen many of the Vietnam Motion Pictures, such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, The Deer Hunter, We Were Soldiers, and many others!
A great book by a great writer, great story, and great characters!!
Word of Honor introduces us to Ben Tyson, a former Lieutenant Soldier in Vietnam, who, 20 years later is living a normal day-to-day life, married to his beautiful wife Marcy, with his son David. Until one day, Tyson's past has come back to haunt him, a day he swore to forget and to never repeat to anyone, not even his family. A day in Vietnam when men under Tyson's command committed a murderous crime, then they covered it up and never spoke of it again. Now years later the press, and the army have caught up with Tyson. Now Tyson's family, career and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. Tyson is put on trial by the Military who believe he is guilty and want him held accountable, so Tyson hires defense attorney Vincent Corva to defend him in the trial.
I loved how the 3rd quarter of the book took place in a courtroom, to me it felt like I was watching the film A Few Good Men, one of my favorite films, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
And I love how the story, even though it doesn't fully focus on the conflict of Vietnam it does focus a lot on the crime that Tyson's men committed during the conflict. And fun fact, I read on the back of my copy of the book that DeMille is a former US Army Lieutenant who served in Vietnam, which I'm guessing gave him the idea for this book. And I've seen many of the Vietnam Motion Pictures, such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, The Deer Hunter, We Were Soldiers, and many others!
A great book by a great writer, great story, and great characters!!
September 12, 2011
Word of Honor
I have had this audio book since 2009 and finally made myself listen to it. I now ask myself why I waited so long. DeMille has always been a favorite author, my favorite (until now) was The General’s Daughter.
This is no short listen .. some 28 hours of which I had a hard time putting it down. The story take place some 18 years after Ben Tyson has returned from Vietnam, a man with a comfortable job in NY, a family out in the 'burbs and a sense of honor. Someone has written a bestselling book about the carnage at Hue. The author's two witnesses have made Ben Tyson the guilty party of allowing his platoon to massacre all in a French hospital during the war – now the government plans to make him their scape goat. DeMille slowly builds the anxiety with Tyson’s wife, his lawyer, his reunions with his men, the author and finally the court-martial trial.
As far as narration – Scott Brick does a superb job.
I have had this audio book since 2009 and finally made myself listen to it. I now ask myself why I waited so long. DeMille has always been a favorite author, my favorite (until now) was The General’s Daughter.
This is no short listen .. some 28 hours of which I had a hard time putting it down. The story take place some 18 years after Ben Tyson has returned from Vietnam, a man with a comfortable job in NY, a family out in the 'burbs and a sense of honor. Someone has written a bestselling book about the carnage at Hue. The author's two witnesses have made Ben Tyson the guilty party of allowing his platoon to massacre all in a French hospital during the war – now the government plans to make him their scape goat. DeMille slowly builds the anxiety with Tyson’s wife, his lawyer, his reunions with his men, the author and finally the court-martial trial.
As far as narration – Scott Brick does a superb job.
March 5, 2017
This is a good definition of a pointless story. 0 of 10 stars
August 24, 2009
I like Nelson DeMille. He writes the way I fix things around the house -- methodically -- takes his time -- and doesn't have to repeat himself.
This book is a reflection on Vietnam, as written by a Vietnam Vet himself.
It's a retrospective look, so it's set in semi-modern era (80's maybe? Folks still smoke indoors)... and looks back at things that happened in the past -- doing so in an intelligent and interesting way.
It's really two stories wrapped around each other. The retelling of Vietnam, and the character development of the main protagonist.
I like this book. If you want to read about Vietnam, through the eyes of someone who was there, but without dramatic levels of blood and guts -- this is a good book for you.
This book is a reflection on Vietnam, as written by a Vietnam Vet himself.
It's a retrospective look, so it's set in semi-modern era (80's maybe? Folks still smoke indoors)... and looks back at things that happened in the past -- doing so in an intelligent and interesting way.
It's really two stories wrapped around each other. The retelling of Vietnam, and the character development of the main protagonist.
I like this book. If you want to read about Vietnam, through the eyes of someone who was there, but without dramatic levels of blood and guts -- this is a good book for you.
November 17, 2009
HOLY CRAP!! I didn't expect this book to make me bawl like a baby, but it did!
Nelson DeMille produced his magnum opus his first time out. This story is every bit as relevant today as it was when it was first published. How I wish that were not so. But war will always be with us, and the ethical questions that accompany it will always plague us. :(
Nelson DeMille produced his magnum opus his first time out. This story is every bit as relevant today as it was when it was first published. How I wish that were not so. But war will always be with us, and the ethical questions that accompany it will always plague us. :(
January 10, 2023
A powerful story that drew me forward through sheer force of will. So much goes so wrong in wartime that our humanity is called into question on every level. Trying to live with that reality after the end of a war is over is a never-ending process. Well written with great insight but so sad on so many levels.
March 26, 2023
This book is about the Vietnam War - yet it isn't. It's about what a good man does in the face of evil - and how we judge any soldier when they go to war. Nelson de Mille's first, and his best. Absorbing, brilliant.
September 4, 2016
Possibly my favorite courtroom drama of all time.
February 1, 2009
Finished. Totally excellent.
I'm about half way through and I have to say I suspect this may be the best DeMille I have read. I believe that DeMille was an infantry Lt. in Vietnam and it shows. I've read a lot of Vietnam books and I think this one captures the impact on the soldiers and the internal conflicts many of them suffered as well or better than any of the others. The scene where Tyson "confronts" the author of the book that reveals the details of the massacre is a classic. The inner turmoil of both men is apparent. I'll never look at Calley and My Lai in quite the same way again. DeMille novelistically raises many important issues with regard to war crimes and the assignment of blame.
UPDATE: The issue of command culpability has intrigued me for years and is certainly of paramount importance given our history with the Nuremberg trials, Vietnam, and now Iraq. It was our moral position at Nuremberg that the higher command had to be accountable for their orders and actions. We went after the top guys. We executed top commanders even though, in many cases, they were totally unaware of the specific actions of those under their command. (Check out who got the axe for Abu Ghraib.) Japan was castigated for failures to follow the Geneva Convention even though they were not signatories. (The Emperor had indicated , however, they no longer needed to be bound by the Hague Convention in the treatment of Chinese prisoners.) Similarly, Bush's AG wrote an opinion with the concurrence of Cheney that the Geneva Convention did not apply in the case of the the prisoners at Gitmo. I'm not arguing the validity of these decisions (although you can guess where I stand, those idiots) but given our positions at Nuremberg and public posturing we need to be very careful.
Of course, it's the winner of every war who writes history and makes the rules. We need to be mindful of how those rules may be applied in the future as we may not always be the winner and we may not always be innocent, regardless of how we may view our own actions.
I'm about half way through and I have to say I suspect this may be the best DeMille I have read. I believe that DeMille was an infantry Lt. in Vietnam and it shows. I've read a lot of Vietnam books and I think this one captures the impact on the soldiers and the internal conflicts many of them suffered as well or better than any of the others. The scene where Tyson "confronts" the author of the book that reveals the details of the massacre is a classic. The inner turmoil of both men is apparent. I'll never look at Calley and My Lai in quite the same way again. DeMille novelistically raises many important issues with regard to war crimes and the assignment of blame.
UPDATE: The issue of command culpability has intrigued me for years and is certainly of paramount importance given our history with the Nuremberg trials, Vietnam, and now Iraq. It was our moral position at Nuremberg that the higher command had to be accountable for their orders and actions. We went after the top guys. We executed top commanders even though, in many cases, they were totally unaware of the specific actions of those under their command. (Check out who got the axe for Abu Ghraib.) Japan was castigated for failures to follow the Geneva Convention even though they were not signatories. (The Emperor had indicated , however, they no longer needed to be bound by the Hague Convention in the treatment of Chinese prisoners.) Similarly, Bush's AG wrote an opinion with the concurrence of Cheney that the Geneva Convention did not apply in the case of the the prisoners at Gitmo. I'm not arguing the validity of these decisions (although you can guess where I stand, those idiots) but given our positions at Nuremberg and public posturing we need to be very careful.
Of course, it's the winner of every war who writes history and makes the rules. We need to be mindful of how those rules may be applied in the future as we may not always be the winner and we may not always be innocent, regardless of how we may view our own actions.
December 12, 2021
The story follows former army Lieutenant Ben Tyson as, 20 years after the Vietnam war, a book comes out claiming that he ordered men under his command to commit a massacre of Vietnamese civilians and foreign medical staff in a Vietnamese hospital. The army rapidly moves to recall Ben to active duty so they can begin court martial proceedings against him.
I love books that dive into the details, and this book is rich with military action, legal procedure, and the psychology of soldiers during war. I can understand why the various characters reveal or hide details about the events that occurred, and side characters have realistic and varied feelings about the war and the trial. DeMille paints Tyson as a kind of arrogant but principled man, and does an excellent job of it.
I absolutely loved this book! The subject matter and level of detail really won it for me, every page was often confronting, but always interesting and engaging.
I love books that dive into the details, and this book is rich with military action, legal procedure, and the psychology of soldiers during war. I can understand why the various characters reveal or hide details about the events that occurred, and side characters have realistic and varied feelings about the war and the trial. DeMille paints Tyson as a kind of arrogant but principled man, and does an excellent job of it.
I absolutely loved this book! The subject matter and level of detail really won it for me, every page was often confronting, but always interesting and engaging.
October 10, 2014
DeMille can certainly string a few sentences together. Having an interest in the wider culpability issues raised by My Lai and similar instances, I found his treatment thorough and provocative. He creates very genuine and consistent characters and some of the action sequences are second to none. (Not many authors in my opinion are able to combine the 750-pages-in-2-days style readability with deeper issues that you find yourself thinking about for days/weeks after.) I think his novels wouldn't lose anything though if some of the more base scenes were removed. They seem almost like a later addition to tick a romance box that would be fine left unticked!
May 22, 2017
This was my favorite of all of Nelson's books. It resonated strongly with me because I too served near Hue, but two years after the timeline of his story. In this book, Nelson revealed stories that were true, but are best forgotten. War is an ugly affair. The average participant on the American side was twenty years old. Some bad things were done by stressed out kids on occasions, but by and large, the cruel things the soldier (kids) had to process were the things done to civilians by the enemy. This book is a cathartic experience for any Vietnam combat veteran who reads it:
June 29, 2019
First - the narration by Scott Brick. Not bad but there were times when it wasn't clear who was speaking.
Second - the book. When I can skip entire chapters without getting lost or confused, it is not a good sign. This novel did not need to be 900 pages long. I took off a star for that reason.
I understood early on that these characters would not be entirely as they seemed but I thought the pacing would have been improved if there had been fewer tantrums from Tyson, the protagonist. After about half the book, every time Tyson started in, I hit the fast forward button. Once we got to the latter third, there was less reason to skip ahead and I finally got to the meat of the story - the trial.
That said, I liked this examination of the war's aftermath. War is hell and DeMille shows us that wars are full of right, wrong, and some very gray areas. That is as valid a point today as it was for Viet Nam. We saw it with Abu Ghraib.
Second - the book. When I can skip entire chapters without getting lost or confused, it is not a good sign. This novel did not need to be 900 pages long. I took off a star for that reason.
I understood early on that these characters would not be entirely as they seemed but I thought the pacing would have been improved if there had been fewer tantrums from Tyson, the protagonist. After about half the book, every time Tyson started in, I hit the fast forward button. Once we got to the latter third, there was less reason to skip ahead and I finally got to the meat of the story - the trial.
That said, I liked this examination of the war's aftermath. War is hell and DeMille shows us that wars are full of right, wrong, and some very gray areas. That is as valid a point today as it was for Viet Nam. We saw it with Abu Ghraib.
November 19, 2025
While the battle scenes were thrilling, the vast majority of the book was about military law which was boring.
December 26, 2023
Gritty and tense, but a worthwhile investment of time. Tyson kept reminding me of Edward Baldwin from For All Mankind. Tough guy to love, but you’ve generally got to respect him.
February 20, 2024
This is the first time I’ve done a reread of a book that I had already reviewed. It was on my nightstand to revisit because I remember really liking it the first time through, which was probably thirty years ago (!) and I was curious to see if it was as good as I once thought. I went through a Nelson DeMille phase at one point back then and, after enjoying The General's Daughter and The Charm School, I recall seeking out some earlier works.
My previous review could not have been a contemporary one, since there was no Goodreads in the 90s. I’m guessing I wrote the following when I first joined the website:
Having read the book again today, I wouldn’t change any of that. Before I started this second go-round, my recollection was that the story was a fictionalized retelling of real events. I had forgotten that the terrible and real My Lai massacre and its cover-up happened in the world of the book as well, and it is driving the Army’s action against Ben Tyson. They are practically tripping over themselves to publicly investigate and prosecute Tyson.
The story has some depth, as it’s hard to miss the macro criticisms of the Vietnam War overall through Tyson’s reflection on his actions and the behavior of his platoon back in 1968. Those sequences, told in flashback, are also noteworthy; DeMille creates a believable and vivid 60s’ Vietnam.
Character development can be an afterthought in the thriller game, and while DeMille himself often trots out the stock, two-dimensional, ‘sarcastic smart-ass’ in some of his later work (a few of his series leads seem indistinguishable one from the other), that isn’t an issue here, as his protagonist Ben Tyson is fully formed, with flaws, internal conflict, and an unreliable moral compass.
The only complaint I can levy is that this is one of those “what really happened?” thrillers in which there would be no book, or at least no suspense, if the central character simply came right out and said everything that he knows early on. The character’s rationale for remaining silent is pretty thin.
Aside from that, I think this held up really well, and is still an entertaining read.
My previous review could not have been a contemporary one, since there was no Goodreads in the 90s. I’m guessing I wrote the following when I first joined the website:
This is one of my favorite Nelson DeMille novels, and in my opinion, one of his most literary.
Set in the early- to-mid- 1980s, Vietnam War vet Ben Tyson is a successful and seemingly respectable corporate middle-management type who is suddenly ‘outed’ in a tell-all book as the officer responsible for a My Lai-type atrocity. Up until this point, this war crime had been covered up, and no one had ever been held accountable. Tyson’s life is thrown into chaos as the U. S. government reactivates his military commission solely for the purpose of court-martialing him.
The narrative follows Tyson’s court-martial and the events surrounding it, and much of the action takes place via flashback. Well written, with good dialogue, solid, believable characters and plausible situs.
Having read the book again today, I wouldn’t change any of that. Before I started this second go-round, my recollection was that the story was a fictionalized retelling of real events. I had forgotten that the terrible and real My Lai massacre and its cover-up happened in the world of the book as well, and it is driving the Army’s action against Ben Tyson. They are practically tripping over themselves to publicly investigate and prosecute Tyson.
The story has some depth, as it’s hard to miss the macro criticisms of the Vietnam War overall through Tyson’s reflection on his actions and the behavior of his platoon back in 1968. Those sequences, told in flashback, are also noteworthy; DeMille creates a believable and vivid 60s’ Vietnam.
Character development can be an afterthought in the thriller game, and while DeMille himself often trots out the stock, two-dimensional, ‘sarcastic smart-ass’ in some of his later work (a few of his series leads seem indistinguishable one from the other), that isn’t an issue here, as his protagonist Ben Tyson is fully formed, with flaws, internal conflict, and an unreliable moral compass.
The only complaint I can levy is that this is one of those “what really happened?” thrillers in which there would be no book, or at least no suspense, if the central character simply came right out and said everything that he knows early on. The character’s rationale for remaining silent is pretty thin.
Aside from that, I think this held up really well, and is still an entertaining read.
April 19, 2020
The author takes a man whose life is going well for him at the time being. Job, wife, kids, house everything seems to be moving along just as they should. Then one day that is all changed when he hears about a book while commuting to work. The book which the person is telling him about is talking about an atrocity that happened 18 years ago where a hospital was destroyed and patients, doctors, and nurses were killed.
Ben Tyson the man sitting was the platoon leader that day in Vietnam 18 years ago. Now the author takes you on a journey back in time through his time back in Vietnam along with his platoon, as well as the legal aspects concerning him and the Army as far as war crimes. The affects this all has on Ben and his family, his job co-works and then the men from his platoon. You get a look at all of this from the author as he takes you on a journey of what happened and what you would have done and then finally what the outcome is at the end. I myself having and uncle in Vietnam as a platoon leader could understand his plight, and also growing up in a military home understood the emotions from all of the different sides. A very good book for any time and worth the read more than once.
Ben Tyson the man sitting was the platoon leader that day in Vietnam 18 years ago. Now the author takes you on a journey back in time through his time back in Vietnam along with his platoon, as well as the legal aspects concerning him and the Army as far as war crimes. The affects this all has on Ben and his family, his job co-works and then the men from his platoon. You get a look at all of this from the author as he takes you on a journey of what happened and what you would have done and then finally what the outcome is at the end. I myself having and uncle in Vietnam as a platoon leader could understand his plight, and also growing up in a military home understood the emotions from all of the different sides. A very good book for any time and worth the read more than once.
March 21, 2012
Reading the other reviews of Word of Honor I see that most people who did not go to Vietnam as a serviceman conclude that most of those who did go experienced the very worst of that chapter of our history, the period after 1968 or so when the people back home had turned against the war and against those who were fighting it, and when drugs and cynicism among the troops was rampant. It's a skewed perspective. Most of the people who spent time in VN in the service don't talk much about it because very few people are interested enough to hear about a war experience that doesn't conform to their "Apocalypse Now" , "Platoon", or "Forest Gump" influenced rendition.
Demille sticks to a calm, detached narrative that reveals the truth about the massacre in Hue. He clearly enjoys the intricasies of civilian and military law, sometimes to excess. Veterans could quibble about some details. But, Word of Honor captures the ambiguity and sense of failure that surrounds the Vietnam War.
Demille sticks to a calm, detached narrative that reveals the truth about the massacre in Hue. He clearly enjoys the intricasies of civilian and military law, sometimes to excess. Veterans could quibble about some details. But, Word of Honor captures the ambiguity and sense of failure that surrounds the Vietnam War.
April 12, 2012
Completely and utterly exhausted and exhilarated after completing Word of Honour at 2am but it's definitely been worth it. I started this lengthy novel struggling but it picks you up and smashes you into a gritty military legal battle that fills you with anger, disbelief and bewilderment at the shocking situations Lt Tyson endures.
At times you question and battle with the morality and human scars created by warfare during the Vietnam war, the strangulation, resentment and love experienced in his family life and the strict code of conduct of the US Army justice system.
It's a big bad rollercoaster ride that thrills and scares you one minute that then fills you with warming and human emotion that enlightens and saddens you the next. It also educates and teaches valuable lessons about a difficult modern war environment and the impacts it has on society.
I could go on but just find a copy and read it for yourself..
I
At times you question and battle with the morality and human scars created by warfare during the Vietnam war, the strangulation, resentment and love experienced in his family life and the strict code of conduct of the US Army justice system.
It's a big bad rollercoaster ride that thrills and scares you one minute that then fills you with warming and human emotion that enlightens and saddens you the next. It also educates and teaches valuable lessons about a difficult modern war environment and the impacts it has on society.
I could go on but just find a copy and read it for yourself..
I
April 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It works on many levels: great dialogue, complex characters, fascinating story and a great climax. Gives the reader a palpable sense of what it was like to be an American soldier in the Vietnam war in which they never really knew who might turn out to be the enemy or where they might turn up.
The relentless tension this creates amongst the Americans leads them to commit a tragic act that doesn't become public knowledge until 17 years after the war. The book is about the court martial that results, but also about the incident itself, the events that lead to it and the relationship between the man on trial, Ben Tyson, and his men, his family, his lawyer and one of the prosecutors.
The book borrows liberally from the play/movie Rashomon, to the extent that it is cited by one of the characters in the book, but the device used in Rashomon really works here. This is a powerful, moving book.
The relentless tension this creates amongst the Americans leads them to commit a tragic act that doesn't become public knowledge until 17 years after the war. The book is about the court martial that results, but also about the incident itself, the events that lead to it and the relationship between the man on trial, Ben Tyson, and his men, his family, his lawyer and one of the prosecutors.
The book borrows liberally from the play/movie Rashomon, to the extent that it is cited by one of the characters in the book, but the device used in Rashomon really works here. This is a powerful, moving book.
May 23, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this stirring read about a riveting atrocities trial of an US Army lieutenant who served in Vietnam. The development of all of the character is well done and believable.
I was introduced to the complexities of the Universal Code of Military Justice while in training at Bainbridge Air force Base in Georgia. While a newly married with a infant girl and living In Tacoma, Washington, I was inconveniently assigned to a distant reserve unit North of Seattle. I fortunately obtained a transfer to a unit at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma where I was working as a civilian. During that Cuba Missile Incident, my former unit was called into active duty and I narrowly missed a similar inconvenience as the Lieutenant in this novel - though I certainly would have not had any of the extensive turmoil as detailed by DeMille!
I was introduced to the complexities of the Universal Code of Military Justice while in training at Bainbridge Air force Base in Georgia. While a newly married with a infant girl and living In Tacoma, Washington, I was inconveniently assigned to a distant reserve unit North of Seattle. I fortunately obtained a transfer to a unit at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma where I was working as a civilian. During that Cuba Missile Incident, my former unit was called into active duty and I narrowly missed a similar inconvenience as the Lieutenant in this novel - though I certainly would have not had any of the extensive turmoil as detailed by DeMille!
July 30, 2008
My scale is
1 - didn't like
2 - Ok
3 - Enjoyed
4 - Would see the movie
5 - would read again.
This book got a 2. I thought the ending was somewhat anticlimactic. It took a long time to tell the story and I'm not sure the characters are any better off than they were before the events of the book. That was probably the intent that nobody wins at war, but it lead me to believe that the lead character has something up his sleeve to reveal about his nemeses. What he revealed had been foretold and it was a bad secret but one you already assumed.
If you like military stories about the atrocities of Vietnam, this wasn't a bad one. Not really my cup of tea. I picked it up because I was interested in the Author. I'll read something else of his (not all are war stories)
1 - didn't like
2 - Ok
3 - Enjoyed
4 - Would see the movie
5 - would read again.
This book got a 2. I thought the ending was somewhat anticlimactic. It took a long time to tell the story and I'm not sure the characters are any better off than they were before the events of the book. That was probably the intent that nobody wins at war, but it lead me to believe that the lead character has something up his sleeve to reveal about his nemeses. What he revealed had been foretold and it was a bad secret but one you already assumed.
If you like military stories about the atrocities of Vietnam, this wasn't a bad one. Not really my cup of tea. I picked it up because I was interested in the Author. I'll read something else of his (not all are war stories)
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