Mr. Halberstam,
Your writing is a true gift. I cannot recall how many times professors would talk about your work and the impact of your writing. The highlight for me was also one of my favorite classes in college: The Vietnam War. This class was taught by one of my favorite professors Dr. Charles Debenedetti. Our class text was Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow and Dispatches by Michael Herr. I also read A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan.
War in a Time of Peace was an enjoyable read for me and foreshadows the US war in Iraq. For some reason I cannot explain why it took me so long to start The Best and the Brightest. Last night I stopped at page 44 and awoke to hear of your tragic passing. I was stunned and saddened.
Thank you for being a great writer. Writers are heroes.
Tags: Halberstam, Vietnam, The Best and the Brightest, Charles Debenedetti