Samuel T. Brick

Boots and the Law: a Story of Army Jag Service in Fort Polk and Vietnam Samuel T. Brick

Gregg Thompson doesn't plan on going to war, but that quickly changes when he's drafted and sent to Vietnam. The young private finds that he's a fine soldier, but the military values him even more for his strategic thinking and smarts. He's promoted to captain and becomes a lawyer, defending the innocent and prosecuting war criminals. Thompson becomes a critical player in cases that reflect the social issues and problems affecting not only the military but the entire country including desertion, rape, armed robbery, conscientious objectors and much more. Justice is not always easy to interpret. When two soldiers get in a fight and an onlooker kills one of the fighters, it's up to Thompson to get a murder conviction. Other tough cases include a war hero who goes AWOL in Vietnam, a decorated major accused of selling high-ticket items on the black market and a soldier who disobeys an order that doesn't make much sense in the context of jungle warfare. Victories are not always won on the field of battle. Follow a master lawyer as he seeks justice in Boots and the Law, a portrait of American life during Vietnam.