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Title: Afghanistan: Soviet Vietnam by Vladislav Tamarov, Naomi Marcus, Marianne Clarke Trangen ISBN: 1-56279-021-8 Publisher: Consortium Book Sales & Dist Pub. Date: 01 May, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.82 (49 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Memories of the Future
Comment: Vladislav Tamarov was 19 years old when he learned, firsthand, the meaning of this Article of the Constitution of the Soviet Union: "To serve in the Soviet Army is the honorable duty of Soviet citizens."
Tamarov was drafted and sent to Afghanistan. When he arrived there, a finger pointed to him and said "Aha! I see a minesweeper!" His boot camp was inadequate and useless training as a parachute jumper in the Soviet Airborne Forces. Parachute jumping is useless in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. He had no training as a minesweeper--this was on the job training of the most frightening kind.
Tamarov took pictures (sometimes setting up the camera for friends to photograph himself) and kept a kind of journal of his tour of duty in Aghanistan. When he returned, he was, as he puts it, an old young man. His black and white photographs won contests, but he dropped out of college, determined to write a book based on his personal journal. The book, first published in 1992 was recently republished by Ten Speed Press.
There are two good reasons to read this book. First, the photographs are amazing, not only for their journalistic value, but their artistry as well. They remind me of the Walker Evans photos in "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" or Dorothea Lange's work of the Dust Bowl years. Second, Tamarov writes from the gut, about his fears, the friends who died, the waste of life, the failed mission in Afghanistan, where, the reason for going was "at the request of the Afghan people." Trouble was, nobody could figure out why they were there before plenty of young men who couldn't get into university, bribe an official or break a leg were sent there only to return home again in a zinc box.
The writing is good, but the organization of the book, being a sort of journal, is sometimes choppy. Tamarov only follows a sketchy chronology, sometimes jumping forwards and backwards in time. This can be hard to follow. The translation captures the Russian feel, the Russian wry sense of humor well. You hear the author talking directly to you.
Afghanistan was Russia's Viet Nam. Tamarov quotes Alexander the Great "One can occupy Afghanistan, but no one can vanquish her." Alexander's troops left behind a memorial column when they marched out of Afghanistan. It stands today, and Tamarov's picture of the ancient monument and Alexander's prophetic statement are a chilling reminder of mistakes of the past, and perhaps the future.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rating: 5
Summary: A Soldier's Experience in Words & Photos
Comment: It is a rare book that can describe how a boy-soldier becomes a man in two short years: this is one of those rare books. Cowardice, cunning, courage, selfishness, genorosity, human understanding and compassion: all these experiences are described or touched upon in the book. It is filled with snapshot experiences and recollections of fellow soldiers or the Afghani people that the author encountered. This book should be required reading in a college or university class about world history: it is a valid first-person account of the realities of the Russian experience in Afghanistan in the early 1980s.
The story begins when the author was drafted and selected at random to be a mine-sweeper, a delicate and dangerous job. At the time, the Russian people were being told the soldiers are going to Afghanistan to help build roads and schools. Sadly, the goals of the conflict were not clear and therefore while the bodies of young dead soldiers were returning home: the "big lie" continued ... The author manages to capture in crystal clear terms the incongruities of war. He paints word pictures of events and situations: including friendships and bonds that developed with fellow soldiers. The clear need to be covered for potential snipers when performing the mine-sweeping duties is evident: trust is necessary. The cleverness of a superior to avoid being involved in any fighting where risk of death occurred is described. The selfish motives of a fellow soldier who is a "snitch" is described. The temptation to "take out" a fellow soldier who continually puts his mates lives in danger is mentioned ... The genorosity of Afghani villagers who were asked for fresh baked bread, which they provided, brings to mind that human beings still care and are compassionate toward strangers. The photographs of young soldiers, many of whom died in battle brings the reader face to face with the realities of war. The loss of these innocent lives is a tragedy: sons, brothers, fathers, friends ... from this one can extrapolate the universal message provided by this "first person" account. Fortunately, the author survived, he served his time, but there is an emotional price paid for anyone who lives through such experiences. Essentially, it can only be understood by those who have experienced similar circumstances. Viet Nam Veterans visited the Russian soldiers who had survived the Afghanistan war: they provided an extraordinairy link and bond to help them assimilate the experiences and return to normal lives ... "soldiers helping soldiers". This is a story of innocence, courage, and eventually wisdom ... it is a great book to read! Erika B.
Rating: 5
Summary: A memoir you will NEVER forget!
Comment: Here is a riveting memoir by Vladislav Tamarov. In 1984 men were drafted into the Soviet Army at the age of eighteen. There was no choice. Unless you were in college or disabled, you served. Many men broke their legs to avoid serving. Others, the more wealthy, bribed their way out. Vlad was in college two years when the law changed and he was off to boot camp. Training the men needed, they never received. Training the men did NOT need, they got. (For example, lots of time was spent learning to parachute, even though it was a well known fact that no one used parachutes in Afghanistan.)
Vlad was born January 12, 1965. His "Date of Military Service Application" was April 26, 1984. This memoir really began when an officer walked up to Vlad at a distribution center and asked, "Do you want to serve in the commandos, the Blue Berets?" Vlad kept a tiny calendar where he crossed off his six hundred and twenty-one days, one-at-a-time. Vlad kept detailed records of each mission he participated in. He had his own little code, shown in this memoir. Two hundred and seventeen of those days were spent on combat missions. In addition to Vlad's coded diary, he secretly took many photographs. This book has dozens of the pictures littered throughout, and makes a powerful impact on those who read it.
***** Vlad, a minesweeper, portrays the horrors of war in vivid details. The reader can almost hear the explosions nearby and smell the fear of being shot at. Once you have read THIS book, you will never forget it! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch.
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Title: The Hidden War: A Russian Journalist's Account of the Soviet War in Afghanistan by Artem Borovik, Artyom Borovik ISBN: 080213775X Publisher: Grove Press Pub. Date: 10 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Afghan Guerrilla Warfare: In the Words of the Mujahideen Fighters by Ali Ahmad Jalali, Lester W. Grau, John E. Rhodes ISBN: 0760313229 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: 01 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost by Russia, Lester W. Grau, Michael A. Gress, Russian General Staff ISBN: 070061186X Publisher: University Press of Kansas Pub. Date: 01 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe ISBN: 0385260458 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 01 January, 1989 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: Chickenhawk by Robert Mason ISBN: 0140072187 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 1984 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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