Gardens of Stone

Through an American standpoint, the Vietnam War is not very well understood. While it was a factor of American life for some fifteen years, there is no unanimity to its rationale or outcome. Some found that it was a gaffe causing 47,355 American casualties in addition to costing billions of tax dollars; others deemed the war a magnanimous obligation. Like the public view of the war, Gardens of Stone presents assorted interpretations of the Vietnam War through the views of the characters. Jack Willow, a young recruit, believes that it is his duty to support the war and fight for his country in Vietnam while Sargent Clell Hazard and Sargent Major "Goody" Nelson feel that the war is unwinnable due to the lack of strategy provided by the United States Government and that they should withdraw at once. Samantha Davis, a journalist who is also Hazard's girlfriend, is also against the Vietnam War along with Rachel Ferd, Wilson's former girlfriend. Although the majority of the characters are unfavorable of the war, Jack Willow provides an extremely persuasive perspective on supporting the Vietnam War.

A brief look at the war exposes that it began relatively benevolent by sending American advisors to aid the South Vietnamese train its growing army. The objective was to allow the South Vietnamese Army to withstand offensive from the North and to sustain their democratic sovereignty. Time elapsed and the United States' administration changed resulting in an American led and funded warfare. During President Johnson's term, a United States ship was fired upon leading to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which allowed military troops to be sent to South Vietnam. The number of American combat troops significantly increased and a massive air war was implemented to preclude the allocation of North Vietnamese divisions in the South. These tactics suggested that the United States was "in it to win it" just as Jack Willow was. He exceled in the military by being promoted to the rank of Sergeant before attending the Officer's Candidate School, which he completes and advances