A Rumor of War

A Rumor of War is a 1977 autobiography/ war memoir by Philip Caputo about his service in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in the early years of American involvement in the Vietnam War. In the foreword, the author states his purpose for writing this book. As he clearly states, this is not a history book, nor is it a historical accusation. The author states that his book is a story about war, based on a personal experience. The book is divided into three parts. The first section, "The Splendid Little War", describes Lieutenant Philip Caputo's personal reasons for joining the USMC, the training that followed, and his eventual arrival to Vietnam. Lt. Caputo was a member of the 9th Expeditionary Brigade of the USMC, the first American...