Word Of Honor Ebook
He is a good man, a brilliant corporate executive, an honest, handsome family man admired by men and desired by women. But sixteen years ago Ben Tyson was a lieutenant in Vietnam.There, in 1968, the men beneath his command consecrated a murderous atrocity-and together swore never to tell the world what they had done. Not 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 may disclose the truth of his past-and set him free.
From Publishers WeeklyIf fiction may assuage the lingering moral pain of the Vietnam War, it’s through the kind of driving honestness coupled with knowledgeability that DeMille (By the Rivers of Babylon) employs here, in a story which, as riveting as The Caine Mutiny but with wider implications, probes the conflicting conceptions of honor, obligation and dedication as they relate to an event of the My Lai varietyand assesses blame. Prompted by a just-published book that holds ex-lieutenant Ben Tyson accountable for a hushed-up massacre committed by his platoon in a Hue hospital 18 years before, the army recalls Tyson to stand trial for murder. Tyson, confronted by an army authority anxious to save it is own face, an embarrassed federal government (which has it is own “deal” to propose) and a threatened marriage, and entangled, furthermore, in his own past lives and present sense of guilt, must call on all his lawyer’s cleverness and his own inner toughness to fight his case. The flashbacks to Hue, the pre-trial investigation (involving an beautiful female major), the court-martial proceedings, the emotions of the indispensable characters and the soul-sickness wrought by war (which is the story’s effective subtext)all are depicted with marvelous vividness. 50,000 original printing; $50,000 ad/promo. Foreign rights: Jack Ellison. November 11
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library JournalThis huge and merciless account follows an standard corporate man, Ben Tyson, as his Army commission is reactivated so that he may be court-martialed on charges of murder. The events go back 15 years to a hospital in Vietnam where his platoon took heavy action and a great deal of civilians died. Did he wantonly kill enemy and civilian alike? The investigation, intended to restore military honor after My Lai, gives no quarter. All the hostile witnesses are called up while friendly witnesses are lost or silent. Tyson’s own sense of honor lets him give only tiny scraps of info even to his attorney. The courtroom sequences are so powerful that most of the other action is like filler. The dialog rings true and shows a gift for wit and timing. Apart from it is unfortunate length and a somewhat over-drawn hero, this succeeds as a mature and compassionate statement in regards to Americans at war in Vietnam. Barbara Conaty, Medical Coll. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful client reviews
71 of 72 people found the following review helpful.
 A Phenomenal Book…Maybe Demille’s Best
By A
I have read all of Demille’s books. I have enjoyed all of his books. I do not think that any may compete with Word of Honor. First of all, he genuinely allows the reader to perceive the central character, Benjamin Tyson. I would catch myself on galore occasions, understanding in sure situations precisely how he felt. His reputation development is flawless and the reader genuinely gets to know the characters.
The plot itself was fabulously interesting with the Vietnam war backdrop versus a innovative family in Long Island. In addition, a military courtroom drama is an not common trait in progressed fiction. In reality, the last one I read was the Caine Mutiny.
I could not put this book down, and it’s finelooking long. I think I read it in just two sittings (not bad for 700+ pages). Demille veritably engages the reader, unflods the plot in little steps, and keeps the reader on his toes. In addition, the detail of all distinct elements is incredible. I would commend this book to every one and have genuinely purchased it twice because when I lost it I could not live without it.
47 of 47 persons found the following review helpful.
Best of DeMille
By Peter Lorenzi
Nelson DeMille may be rather dark. Spencerville, The General’s Daughter, and even Plum Island come to mind. The more books he writes, the darker he becomes, it seems.
I have been a fan since Charm School. I worked my way through Gold Coast, Cathedral, Rivers of Babylon and even Mayday, one of his earlier, co-authored, often times overlooked books. Mayday shows the signs of his greatness.
DeMille works best for me when he maximizes the humor (often irony) and tension while minimizing graphic viloence or the dark side of humane nature. Often his villains are driven but not inherent evil. His heroes are always flawed and normally amusive in the worst situations.
Word of Honor balances all of these features and the result is one of DeMille’s best, if not THE best. Vietnam has been cathartic for a great deal of Americans. Unlike World War II, where good and evil seem clear (and the basis for more heroic fiction than any other event in the world), Vietnam is subtle differences in meaning or opinion or attitude and conflicted lives. DeMille uses these to fine tune his humor and his hero.
This one is well worth checking out.
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
 DeMille Delivers
By A
Nelson DeMille knows of what he writes. As a Lt. in the service in Nam and a keen humane observer–we are given over 700 pages that draw us into a world we Americans most times do not like to revisit.
The central character, Ben Tyson, is a progressed day commuter with a cushy occupation in NY, a family out in the ‘burbs and a sense of honor that is when it comes to to be tested to the inth degree. Somone has written a well merchandising book in regards to the atrocities at Hue. The author’s two witnesses have made Ben Tyson culpable for his unit’s macabre killing conduct at a French hospital for the duration of the war. And now the government plans to make him their scape goat.
After 20 years of living with the past, the truth starts to come out. Slowly, in stages, as DeMille builds the tension with sequences amidst Tyson’s wife, his lawyer, his reunion with his men, the author who revealed his secrets, and a cout-martial trial.
I always be grateful for DeMille’s well researched novels. Mixing actual events with fiction using humor and pathos is his baliwick. Characters you want to recognise and dialog that snaps.
A moving read of war, adventure, and trust.
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