The Long Gray Line: The American Journey of West Point’s Class of 1966

The West Point class of 1966 straddled a fault line in history. Their class suffered more deaths in Vietnam than any other and they served during a turbulent period in the development of the US Army. This is a superb and atmospheric narrative history that inevitably captures the unique spirit of this revered American institution. But it also sets the personal experiences of a group of young officers in the context of the anarchic 1960s. It is military sociology at its best, while also offering insights into the human factors that contribute to effective leadership and team identity in combat.