Gene Basset’s Vietnam Sketchbook: A Cartoonist’s Wartime Perspective

148 Pages·2015·71.141 MB·English

by  Thom Rooke

Gene Basset’s Vietnam Sketchbook

Thom Rooke
Gene Basset’s
Vietnam Sketchbook
A Cartoonist’s Wartime Perspective
Syracuse University Press
Title page: Gene Basset in Vietnam, 1965.
Photography by Koichi Sawada. Courtesy of Gene Basset.
Copyright © 2015 by Syracuse University Press
Syracuse, New York 13244-5290
All Rights Reserved
First Edition 2015
15 16 17 18 19 20 6 5 4 3 2 1
∞ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
For a listing of books published and distributed by Syracuse University Press,
visit www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu.
ISBN: 978-0-8156-3421-8 (cloth) 978-0-8156-1057-1 (paperback)
978-0-8156-5337-0 (e-book)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gene Basset’s Vietnam sketchbook : a cartoonist’s wartime perspective /
Thom Rooke. — First Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8156-3421-8 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8156-1057-1 (pbk.) —
ISBN 978-0-8156-5337-0 (e-book) 1. Basset, Gene, 1927—Notebooks, sketchbooks,
etc. 2. Vietnam War, 1961–1975—Art and the war. I. Rooke, Thom W.,
author. II. Basset, Gene, 1927– Drawings. Selections.
NC1429.B32A4 2015
741.5'69—dc23 2015017970
Manufactured in the United States of America
From the Author
This book is dedicated to
P a u l R e v e r e
Rock legend,
founder of Paul Revere and the Raiders,
entertainer extraordinaire.
Julie and I cherish our friendship with you and Syd.
Your work with veterans of the Vietnam War,
especially the Ride to the Wall Foundation,
is an inspiration to all.
From the Artist
To the Vietnam old hacks,
photogs, and scribes,
who reported from up front,
my admiration and recognition
for a hell-of-a-job!
Contents
List of Illustrations ★ ix
Preface ★ xi
Acknowledgments ★ xxxiii
1. Denial ★ 1
2. Anger ★ 26
3. Bargaining ★ 47
4. Depression ★ 65
5. Acceptance ★ 82
Epilogue: Welcome Home ★ 99
Notes ★ 103
Bibliography ★ 107

Illustrations

1. Pirate at Party ★ xv 19. Time Out for a Cuban

2. Anatomy Lesson of Cigar ★ 16

Dr. Rooke ★ xvi 20. Follow the Leader . . . Green

3. Fisherman / Fish ★ xxi Beret Sgt. ★ 17
4. Fisherman Happy Angry 21. South Viet Gunboat off the 17th

Dejected ★ xxii Parallel ★ 18

5. A Young Draftee’s Journey 22. Untitled ★ 19

through the Kübler-Ross Stages 23. USS Point Welcome ★ 20

of Grief ★ xxv 24. Keeping the Cutter

6. Gene Basset arrives in Saigon, Shipshape ★ 21

September 1965 ★ xxvi 25. Patrol ★ 22

7. Gene pauses to capture an 26. Passing Ships ★ 23

impromptu scene ★ xxvii 27. Protecting Saigon—Called

8. Gene amuses local children the White Mice ★ 24

with his drawings ★ xxviii 28. Minor Wound ★ 25

9. The war comes home ★ xxx 29. Rush Hour ★ 28

10. Rude Interruption ★ 2 30. Cockfi ght ★ 29

11. Cheap Haircut ★ 4 31. Eyes Right! ★ 30

12. “You’re Kidding, This Is Our 32. What a Deal! ★ 32

Relief?” ★ 7 33. Contraband Inspection ★ 33

13. Where the Elite Meet to Eat 34. Junk Search ★ 34

If You Speak French ★ 8 35. Salvo over the 17th

14. Mass Transit ★ 9 Parallel ★ 35

15. Shepherd in the Field ★ 11 36. Clear for a Bombing Run

16. Latest Black Market up North ★ 37

Shipment ★ 12 37. Fatal Fire Fight,

17. Loading Up for Hanoi ★ 13 Version 1 ★ 38
18. Unwinding from a Trip to 38. Fatal Fire Fight,

Hanoi ★ 15 Version 2 ★ 39
ix