Welcome to Vietnam

Echo Company #1

by Zack Emerson

365—and a wake-up—

To Michael Jennings, Vietnam was just some faraway place where people were killing each other for reasons that weren't very clear. Until he met the rest of the guys in Echo Company.

Snoopy knew the only way to live through the nightmare was to laugh at it.

Sgt. Hanson just wanted to get his guys out alive.

Finnegan was mad that when the Red Sox finally won the pennant, he had to be in Vietnam.

J.D. could only think of Emily, back home.

And then the killing started...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, War, Fiction, Military Fiction, Asia

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Zack Emerson is a pseudonym of Ellen Emerson White.

Reviews

[Hallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, do I ever wish these books would be republished. It's a disadvantage in some ways to have started with The Road Home , as I was so completely won over by Mike, grouchy, maddening SOB as he was at times in that, that I couldn't see him as a just-met character. I also think it might be that there's a bit of inconsistency in his characterization even just in Welcome to Vietnam, with his Attitude which got him the worst kind of posting a bit at odds with a comment that he's the never-worried-about brother. But it's a minor problem if it is one at all, and two things in this book are done amazingly well. The first is the terrifying confusion he experiences when given night watch on his first day out in the jungle. Or "listen" might be better, as they can see nothing from the trench they've dug themselves. Though it's pouring rain, the jungle is very noisy, and the chances of hearing the enemy over all of this are pretty damn slim. The first nighttime attack is also described so vividly that Mike and Snoopy's desperation at not knowing what to do is pretty visceral.

But that's nothing to the shock of the first death of one of his company. It's heart-breaking and graphic and not even a tiny bit manipulative in all that, and it cemented my love for Michael completely.

[Melissa McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really excellent young adult historical fiction about the Vietnam War, told through the eyes of PFC Michael "Meat" Jennings, who is drafted and sent to Vietnam even though he hates the Army ("Fuck the Army," FTA, is a frequent refrain with him). The story is very simple: Michael is assigned to a company and gets to know his squad mates and even to make friends, though he's warned by Viper, one of the experienced soldiers, not to get too close to anyone because death can happen at any time. There are moments of pure terror and moments of hilarity, and Emerson is fantastic at evoking the Vietnamese setting, how hot and wet and miserable it is. There's a constant sense of immediacy that's just great.

I loved Michael, even though he's remarkably unlovable. He's (reasonably) afraid all the time and covers it with bravado, he's hurt because his girlfriend dumped him cruelly, he misses his family and he's convinced he's a coward. And then, when the worst happens, he's the one who steps up and deals with it. He doesn't seem to realize that he's a natural leader, and I think it would take more than one year-long tour of duty to really turn him into that, but the quality is there.

I also loved the other characters, who have their own issues, particularly Sergeant Hanson, and if he dies I will cry big tears of misery because he's so great. Snoopy, Michael's closest friend, would be the Designated Sidekick if his comical actions didn't cover a warm and compassionate heart. The greatest tension in this book comes from knowing that any of them could be killed at any moment, and Viper might as well have been speaking to the reader when he warns Michael about having too good a friend.

I'm honestly surprised that Scholastic picked this series up. It is as profane and violent as you'd expect a story about soldiers to be, with one particularly gruesome scene and a lot of swearing. I predict this will be another of the books I have trouble explaining why it's YA to parents, but it totally is--it's all about becoming a man, about facing the greatest challenge I think anyone can be forced to face and learning who you are as a result. Excellent story, and I can't wait to read the rest.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Once he had all his stuff, the first thing he did was write FTA on the side of his helmet in black ink. Which, of course stood for #*$@ The Army. Might as well let everyone know where he stood.” Nearly nineteen year-old Michael Jennings, a ski instructor from Colorado, is drafted and sent to Vietnam, where he is ordered to Echo Company, in I Corps - stationed in the heat of the action. Mike, or Meat, as his buddy Snoopy christens him, doesn't really understand the war – none of the guys do – but they follow orders, silently humping their way through the stifling heat, booby traps, and dense jungle of South Vietnam day after day.

Emerson presents a glimpse of a young soldier's time in Vietnam in this promising first novel of a projected series. Short bursts of wartime action provide startling realism to the hectic life of a soldier in the field – guys joking about the World Series one minute and cleaning a soldier’s exploded corpse off his best friend the next. These moments are well paired with long, detailed descriptions of the terrifying non-action of Meat's shifts standing guard at night. “A twig snapped. For sure, a twig had snapped. They were out there. Was anyone else awake? Was he the only one who had heard it? Were they coming?” Each character is well defined through short description, and confusion about the real conflict at hand may spark curiosity from readers and interest to learn more about the Vietnam War. Mostly absent from this brief novel are the politics and relentless gore of many war novels, yet the raw characterization, bursts of action, and simple writing are well-crafted. Sure to be compared to Walter Dean Myers’ 1988 novel Fallen Angels, a potentially stronger offering as it grapples with the political and racial issues of the late 1960s.

[Anne Osterlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mom,
It’s kind of hot.
As in plaster-yourself-against-the-asphalt hot.
I’m doing fine.
Passed out from dehydration on day 1.
The guys are cool.
A bunch of teenagers who generally act like they’re twelve (poaching food, arguing about the pennant, & giving each other nicknames). And at other times like they’re fifty. (Giving me tips on how NOT to get killed).
The people are nice.
Half of them are scared we’ll destroy their homes—with good reason. The other half are trying to kill us.
Your son, Michael
Aka “Meat”
Chu Lai, Vietnam
364 days and a wake up left in this hell. If I survive.

Fast-paced. Humorous. And at the same time, deadly serious. Welcome to Vietnam is the first book in a historical fiction series by Zack Emerson, aka Ellen Emerson White. The final/companion book in the series, The Road Home, was published under the author’s real name, and is one my favorite Ellen Emerson White novels. I’ve always wanted to read the series that set up that novel. And I’m so glad to have finally started it. Echo Company #1 far exceeded my expectations. Proof that a great author is always a great author! Michael is a vibrant character. And I must now track down—and splurge—for the other three out-of-print books. Here’s hoping Scholastic re-publishes them (maybe as one novel) in the future!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof. Vietnam. So many things in MY head, reading this. The boys, of course, the boys are the ages of my own boys, more or less. Some of 'em younger, even. And of course I can't help putting them in this scenario and then I get the shakes. Also, so many of my grown friends, old men now, were there, were these very boys. There's vertigo. And then there's Story. And Ellen Emerson White is a storyteller for sure. Even when she's pretending to be Zach Emerson, writing for boys.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Welcome to Vietnam, we meet Private Michael Jennings - 18 years old and fresh off the plane for his year-long tour of duty in Vietnam. Wishing he had done anything to escape being sent there, (gone to college or even gone to Canada) Michael misses his family, good food and most of all his dog Otis. Just his luck, he is assigned to Echo Company, the ones who are currently in the middle of the jungle fighting for their lives. Never one to miss an opportunity to make a slick comeback (what's the worst they'll do? send him to Vietnam?) Michael is surly, irreverent, and more intelligent than he gives himself credit for. He is also scared silly and in way over his head - but hey, so is everyone else. Snoopy, a black kid from New Jersey, is put in charge of showing Michael the ropes which leads to some pretty humorous conversations since Snoopy is also something of a excitable puppy with a smart mouth. But all too soon, Michael and his squad are putting their life on the line while on patrol and during attacks. Holding back nothing, Michael sets down in painful detail the loss of friends and the grisly aftermath.

"The sound of the explosion sent everyone diving to the ground, looking for cover. And, at first, when - stuff - rained down, Michael wasn't sure what it was. Then, he realized who is was. Who it had been."

There's no misunderstanding the horrors of war here. That said, Michael's oh so human reaction to death reminds you that he is only 18 years old. 18! Even though he's sickened, Michael responds with a ingrained sense of loyalty and compassion for the guys around him - showing his make without a second thought. Just wait, it gets better.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Road Home over and over and over in middle and high school (and college and grad school and beyond. I love Rebecca madly). I knew it was a sequel to a series I'd never read, but it stood on its own. I found one of these in my HS library and read it, but until they came out on Kindle, I had no access to the series as a whole.

The Road Home does stand alone, but it means so much more as part of the series. I want to write the most amazing reviews of this series, because after reading them, I spent at least a week half living in the 60s with these characters, unable to shake them loose from my brain. But I can't pull the words together. They're just wonderful, absolute wonderful and heartbreaking accounts of every day grunt life in the war. These characters have been my friends for over 20 years and I finally understand them so much better.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, I never would have picked this book up if it wasn't by Ellen Emerson White, but (also of course) it was very good. I'm not sure what age group it's aimed at--it looks like something for sixth graders, but the content and language seem a little rough for that age (though I don't know why I'm picky about these things; nothing I read ever warped me for life, I don't think--right now my brothers would be responding "then what did?"--I digress). Anyway, one of the scenes in this book has got to be one of the most violent things I've ever read; if your kid is fragile or prone to nightmares, beware; but it's probably also one of those things that seems worse to adults than kids. But yeah, I'll be looking for the rest of these books.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! In the 1990s Scholastic managed to publish a book about the Vietnam War aimed at kids. And they did a wonderful job!

But, before even starting, the Ottumwa, Iowa I read in the book... Was it a nod to my beloved Radar O'Reilly from Ottumwa, Iowa?!

I learned a lot from this little book. I learned that even US soldiers in the 'Nam suffered from trench foot and that it was better not to wear your helmet. The author did an amazing job describing the conditions the soldier lived in.

I also think that Michael is a good representative of your average GI during the war. They were supposed to go in a foreign land to fight a war no one really knew how to explain. Why bothering learning about it when it was your duty to go over there?

About the expletives... I think that's the only way to fight a war: you have to transform your enemies into something not human so that you can kill them more easily, if that's what's needed. Some people tell their soldiers they're going to fight Nazis; other people tell them they're going to fight g**ks. The same old story.

And they did manage to kill someone on screen. To blow him up, to be precise. And Michael is the first one to react, to try to help. Very good scene indeed.

Swearing, expletives, death... Has this book never been banned from schools? I'm surprised.

[Sarah Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start

[Audrey Ettinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met Mike in _The Road Home_, I was pleased to find a used copy of this out of print book. It's a bit hard to read, knowing the endings for most of the characters, but I was impressed with how well White captured [what I imagine to be] the feeling of being in a war zone. The author, of course, is Ellen Emerson White, whose _President's Daughter_ series is one of my all time favorites. My main objection was overuse of military acronyms -- it was distracting to have to keep checking the glossary in the back, and most of the acronyms weren't there.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read The Road Home back in the '90s, then, over the next several years, tracked down the Echo Company books at various libraries in various cities until I'd finally read them all (big Ellen Emerson White fan here). Imagine my delight when I discovered kindle versions of all the EC books on Amazon for, like, $4 apiece. Hooray. Anyway, the first one follows Mike, an 18-year-old draftee who REALLY doesn't want to be in the Army, and especially not in Vietnam.

[SraPanadera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the splurge for battered paperbacks! Echo Company provides a great backstory for The Road Home. Don't be put off by the cover art. These are smart, snappy books and the author doesn't pull too many punches with the details (there is less gore than is probably strictly realistic). Mike "Meat" is great character to read and his humor (on the dark side) offsets the grittiness well.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book that it ended up being not quite as good as I was expecting. I still enjoyed it, though and am now waiting anxiously for the change to get my paws on the rest of the series.

[Beth]

Linking these comments for my own reference, because I know they'll be lost in the Goodreads ether if I don't.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series (and Michael) totally grows on you, to the point where I went to huge amounts of trouble to find the one book I was missing...

[Janssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read. Real and horrifying.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently I'm grading on a curve and am saving my five-star rating for The Road Home. But, oh, how I love this series. Snoopy, man. I love Snoopy.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really gives you an immediate sense of the confusion, the fear, the camaraderie, and the HEAT. Emerson White is an excellent writer.

[Misti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea if this is realistic about the Vietnam war, but it feels like it is as I read it. It's not very long and easy to read and I've already started the next one.

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about an 18-year-old drafted to fight in the Vietnam War when I was a teenager, which was many years ago. I recently remembered the series and recalled being surprised by how much I liked it, so I tracked it down to read again. It really was far outside of the type of books I read back then and is still quite different from my normal preference today. And just like when I was younger, I really liked this book.

The story opens with the MC, Michael Jennings, newly arrived in Vietnam after basic training in the States. He's shuttled through various bases until he ends up with the people with whom he'll be spending most of his time. That's where the story, and series, really begins, as he meets those who have already been near the DMZ for some time and have developed different ways to cope. Michael earns the nickname "Meat" (as in Fresh Meat), which sticks through the rest of the book. I kinda rolled my eyes, though, because it's a trope that annoys me a little that this one new guy out of all the new guys they have gotten happens to keep the new-guy nickname.

Early in the book, I wasn't sure I'd want to continue the series. The narration is often choppy, but it's purposely so. Now and then the author will write a sentence or paragraph as Michael's train of thought, including stopping mid-thought to switch to another one, sometimes several times. It feels very real and is how I think and even talk sometimes, but reading it can be a little frustrating. However, by halfway or so, Michael had really grown on me. Though the book is dark (what book about war, particularly this war, isn't?), it's also a poignant glimpse at a war that isn't written about as much, fought by teenagers who didn't really understand why they were there, and written for teenagers. For those who are wondering, though there is some language in it, it's not nearly as much as I'd imagine adult books about the same subject would have. I don't remember being bothered by that when I was a teenager, even though I was never one to use that kind of language myself. I'm not sure how much of the series I read as a teen, but I'm looking forward to continuing it now.

[Alex Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dunno why every time I go into one of Ellen Emerson White's books, I think this will be the one that's mediocre. I spent the second half of this book crying. It's a war book so a lot of tragic things happen, but less so than you might expect. It's more the small things that are heart breaking, and she's so good at hitting you hard with the small things when you're expecting something dramatic.

To be honest, I was absurdly biased in favor of this book from the first page because her writing style just feels like coming home to me. I adore it. It flows so well and sounds so real. I could probably pick her out of a line up every time because her voice is that familiar to me at this point. She's for sure one of my favorite writers.

The characters are great. I always love the cast she comes up with. They're sarcastic and smart and funny, but always with gravitas. I love them all, even when I hate them. She's just so good at making people likeable.

War time books are not generally my favorite, but she imbues this whole book with such sadness and melancholy that I just want to die. It's so absurdly good. This book made my soul book. I'm not entirely certain how I am meant to be emotionally capable enough to read the next three books in the series.

I love this and I love her as an author. Most underrated YA author I've ever read. If you like realistic YA (historical fiction or contemporary), I truly can't recommend her enough.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that I first read this book when I was about thirteen. It was in the turning display in the YA section of my library, and it was the first of a series. Nothing worse than starting a book and realizing that it is the fourth or fifth book. Just no. The book really gets the fear and minutia of being a military grunt spot on as far as I can tell. It is, however, very one-sided. The Vietnamese cause nor the Vietnamese people are more than sarcastically acknowledged. Michael has NO idea who he is fighting or what he is fighting for so neither does the reader. There are a couple of racial epithets, and once Michael even thinks one although he sort of catches himself. He is more hostile towards the army than the Vietnamese people, though. My favorite part of the book was his friendship with Snoopy, who is one of the most adorable characters ever, the vivid description of what it was like to be a soldier to in the Vietnam War, and Emerson sense of humor. I would not recommend this book on it's own. I paired it with Inside Out and Back Again and Listen Slowly both by Thanhha Lai. Middle School Tara learned two major lessons from this book:
1.) I never wanted to be any kind of a soldier.
2.) My country needs to not invade others.
I haven't changed my position on either point.

[Dena Stockman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Army story for the ages

Mike Jennings would have been happy to stay home, worked the ski lift, and marry the girl from high school.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

Stuck in a war he never wanted to be a part of, Mike learns the jobs no grunt ever wants to in Welcome to Vietnam.

White’s book is an emotion packed story of the struggles of a new grunt who just wants to be home, and helps young people understand the real challenges of war. Fantastic story with underlying truths for the ages.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What are they going to do, send us to Vietnam?” - Michael Jennings

I remember my dad saying that during the few stories I heard about his time in Vietnam. This is a quick story about the first few days of a drafted soldier and how quickly they were thrown into the fray. I am now interested in reading the rest of the series. Not flowery writing, very matter of fact (definitely YA writing apart from the language), but made you feel like you were there.

[Bruce Lintzenich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a new recruit in Vietnam.

Very well written. The recruit "Meat", sounds so real. The story was thrilling and exciting. As a veteran I could imagine what Michael must have been going through. Can't wait to start book #2 to see what happens next.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read The Road Home many years ago and it made such an impression that I knew I had to start the series from the beginning. I even like the cheesy covers. Great read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of 5 books about the Vietnam War was published in 1991, a little over 20 years after the events it recounts. It follows Mike, an 18-year old from Colorado, who is drafted and sent to Vietnam, and later joins up with Rebecca, a nurse from Massachusetts. I never read or heard of these books when I was in the target audience demographic (i.e., right at the time they were published) but picked them up recently when they all came up in the Kindle Unlimited catalog. I had liked Life Without Friends by Ellen Emerson White, the author of this series (originally published under a male pseudonym) so I figured they were worth a try. I was a little skeptical of a YA series about the Vietnam War.

These books were so enjoyable. They struck the right balance between showing the horrors of war, of being sent far away to kill or be killed in a conflict that has nothing to do with you or your family, but also showing the relationships, the breakdown of social, racial, and class barriers. In the end, I felt really invested in the characters and followed the series (which is comprised of short, quite quick-moving books) all the way through.