Book Review - Vietnam Stories: A Judge's Memoir

• Author: Colonel Fred L. Borch
• Pages: 10

2000] BOOK REVIEWS 291

VIETNAM STORIES: A JUDGE'S MEMOIR1

REVIEWED BY COLONEL FRED L. BORCH2

Vietnam Stories: A Judge's Memoir is the only published first-person account by an Army lawyer about his experiences in Vietnam, and judge advocates should read the book simply for this unique reason. The author, Jack Crouchet, who retired in 1977 as a colonel in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, is to be commended for capturing for future generations a judge's view of courts-martial practice in combat. His narrative, which tells the story of his one-year tour of duty from July 1968 to July 1969, is well written, and certainly entertaining. Additionally, as a firsthand perspective of military justice prior to the revolutionary reforms enacted by the Military Justice Act of 1968, Vietnam Stories offers a view of a court-martial system that no longer exists. Finally, because Crouchet's discussion of specific court-martial cases ultimately is about the role played by law and lawyers in the American Army, judge advocates will find Vietnam Stories to be a thought-provoking read.

Despite these positive features, the book has a number of shortcomings that unfortunately diminish its value. First, Colonel Crouchet never explains fully the purpose and function of military justice in the Army, or the role played by commanders, convening authorities, and lawyers in the legal system. As the military criminal justice system is different from civilian criminal legal systems, and as Vietnam Stories is written primarily for a non-military audience, the author should have addressed these and related issues. Second, in discussing individual court-martial results, Jack Crouchet never addresses the larger question of whether military justice "worked" in the combat environment of Vietnam. As this continues to be a controversial point among Army lawyers who served in Southeast Asia, Colonel Crouchet's view on the matter belongs in his book. Finally, in writing Vietnam Stories, the author altered identities and disguised facts to such an extent that it is virtually impossible to check the accuracy of his narrative. Because the value of Vietnam Stories depends to a great extent upon it being a true account, Jack Crouchet's failure to provide any corroboration for his memoir means that a reader must accept his narrative at face

value. But this will be hard for some to do, especially as parts of the book are about events in which Crouchet never participated. In short, while Vietnam Stories is worth reading, some judge advocates will be disappointed.

Vietnam Stories is written in chronological order; the first pages begin with Colonel Crouchet's arrival in Vietnam in July 1968, and the book ends twelve months later with his Date Eligible to Return from Overseas. Crouchet's assignment was to be one of three general court-martial "law officers" in Vietnam. At this time in history, judge advocates usually participated only in general courts-martial; special courts were the province of non-lawyer "line" officers, who prosecuted and defended the case before a panel of officers (and enlisted members, if an enlisted accused so requested). There was as yet no "military judge" in the military justice system but, at general courts-martial, a senior Army lawyer did act as a "law officer." As the law officer ruled on evidentiary matters, and instructed the jury on...