This story starts with my induction onto the U.S. Army basic training of Fort Knox, Kentucky to jungle warfare training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, more jungle warfare training at Fort Polk, Louisiana... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Mr. Troyer went to Vietnam in 1967 as an ordinary grunt carrying a rifle. He was assigned to an area where it seemed that nothing changed during the year he was there. They would go out into the boonies, look for trails where the VC or NVA had left signs and come back in the evening to set up an ambush. At the beginning of his tour it seems that there were a lot of opportunities to do this. At the end of his tour it seems that there were a lot of opportunities to do this. Inbetween not much seems to have happened except that a lot of people got hurt or killed. There are no big strategic stories here. No real heros or villans. Just ordinary young men doing their best to survive one year in hell. Mr. Troyer writes that his whole life came down to trying to live just a little bit longer. In the morning he would make the decision to try to live till noon. At noon he would begin trying to live til evening. Then through the night. Other people I have met have told me the same thing. Mr. Troyer says that 36 years later he learned that he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Perhaps the survival attitude he developed caused or helped to cause the PTSD. But how else could you have survived in that environment? I wonder if a welcoming band, the support and recognition of what they did for us would have helped. I wonder if the situation in Iraq is the same, endless patrols over deadly streets that are as dangerous at the end of your tour as it was at the beginning. I see more signs that the returning vets are getting better treatment, perhaps we are all ashamed of the way the Viet vets were treated. A disturbing but highly recommended book that leaves you with a lot to think about.
At last, a book from the front lines of the Vietnam War
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Do not miss this book! It is absolutely riveting. The author, drafted into Vietnam in 1967 at age 19, gives the facts of his Vietnam experience - no politics, no whining, no glorification, no condemnation, no manipulating your feelings, no bragging. He just tells what it was actually like for him, with pictures taken during his Vietnam tour, plus copies of some of his letters home, which are also very factual. It is written in the language of real people and easy to read. Set aside a whole evening, though, because you will not want to put it down. This would make a GREAT gift for anyone, especially someone who is a veteran or has worked with veterans or likes history. It should be read by EVERY person who reports on the military, so that reporters gain some perspective of what it is like for those on the firing line. It is also quite suitable for those who are headed off to military action, as the author certainly saw plenty of it himself and returned to live a productive life. Don't miss this book!!!!! DO NOT MISS IT!!!!!
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