A Diamond on the Wall
Written and Narrated By: Lawrence T. Vosen
Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
Setting the record straight, decades later, never forgotten
And make no mistake, if any man can set a record straight, more than 40 years after events take place, it’ll be Lawrence T. Vosen. This affable man, who it turns out, is a fine author, makes it completely clear that his memory is one in a million: He forgets NOTHING. Considering that back during his time in Vietnam he was the youngest Green Beret, but a pup? Nothing short of stellar.
Vosen describes himself at that time as just an all-American kid, a milk-guzzling, cookie-scarfing boy… and then he goes on to describe just how many cigarettes he sucked down, and how his Bourbon-swilling tastes were famous. Sooooo, what we have with the writing here in A Diamond on the Wall is a rather funny man, certainly one who can laugh at himself.
The humor in the book is disarming—It’s not gallows humor as one often finds, rather this is a memoir of a kid’s life during a crazy time, at a crazy place. All of Vosen’s memories are filtered through the eyes of the kid he’d been when he enlisted Regular Army in 1965. As with all kids, his sense of mortality wasn’t fine honed, so things, all things, were awfully funny to him. Blasting a water buffalo to kingdom come since he thought it was NVA (North Vietnamese Army) is just hilarious to him and those around him. A rocket attack during Tet that leaves him covered in heavy debris, fast asleep in bed, sooo dead to the world in his sleep that he’s counted as KIA is amusing to him, especially considering it was the best sleep he’d ever had. And, by the way? Did he also mention that his nickname was Lucky?
Even though this is a book to chronicle the events that led him and a couple other Green Berets (Along with a strike force of Montagnards) to gather the remains of a downed chopper pilot by the name of James G. Zeimet, a pilot whose consistent actions as he fulfilled his duties makes him a hero to Vosen, what you’ll find in this audiobook is mostly the life of a very young man in the early years of the Vietnam War. There are scenes of wild chaos, yes; but mostly it’s of Vosen playing poker so well he was able to send his pay home to his family even as he bought up luxury items at available stores (Note: Whilst doing heavy-duty listening of Vietnam audiobooks for Vietnam War Remembrance Day, it was really rather amusing to see that Vosen is NOT the only individual who waxes poetic about the deals they got on incredible stereo sound systems).
But, yes, the BEST parts of the audiobook come when Vosen details the trip and struggles the men encountered on the way to the chopper’s crash site. That they were indeed able to get Zeimet’s body is astounding given what they went through, and it’s a somber and reflective moment when they come upon Zeimet, dead with a hole in his head. Vosen would like it known to Zeimet’s family that this bullet hole suggests the man’s suffering was short-lived; this book is, after all, an attempt to set the record straight, to ease the pain of those left behind.
It also does indeed set the record straight about what was/is the controversy regarding gathering Zeimet’s remains. It turns out that a rank Major flew in after all was secure, and he gave the Press a vastly different and highly mendacious account of how HE was the one who was the hero—he almost single-handedly achieved all, and he dismissed others as not being there.
There are differing accounts on record and Vosen, with his incredible memory, has come forward to see that the proper people get credit. He does it respectfully, this is no name-basher of a story. But mostly what I came away with was that some really incredible individuals sacrificed much, not for glory, but so a comrade in the horrific conflict could be sent Home.
It’s a suPREMEly touching moment when, much later, Vosen visits the Vietnam Memorial and finds Zeimet’s name with a Diamond next to it—meaning missing until confirmed dead. Several tourists see him in his contemplations, and they ask him his story. Free at last to unleash all he’s been holding inside, he shares the stories of what it was like to be a young kid, about what it was like to follow a good and brave Lieutenant, of what it was like to fight alongside noble and fearless Montagnards, all to bring a man Home. And I’m not ashamed to say that I wept as one tourist, moved by the entirety of the tale, says: Why, you then are responsible for this Diamond being on the Wall—You brought him Home!
It was as though this was the first Vosen might have ever considered this, that he had a huge role in bringing a patriot back to the man’s family and loved ones. It’s a devastating moment as he feels pride for the first time, even amidst the personal devastation (Tho’, make no mistake, Vosen NEVER complains of the hardships. He is of the: Get On With It school of life).
A good little book, won’t take ya but a few hours and, even tho’ the narration is a bit uneven (Vosen obviously reading lines rather than reciting from his heart), it’s a nice slice of life of days and nights as a youngster during a confusing time. Don’t expect grit; do expect a kid’s running here and there, all with a joy of life even as he learns things the hard way (As in: That lovely Vietnamese girl was actually a suicide bomber).
And that he brought a hero home? Kinda sorta makes him a hero right there too, doncha think?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.