Vietnam as They Knew It: A Tribute in Verse to All Brave Men and Women Who Served There

The Vietnam War evoked many wide-ranging emotions, depending on who you talked to. Some opposed it for political reasons while others supported it based on different values or beliefs. Many initially supported the war to defend South Vietnam from Communist incursion from the north. After a while though, it became apparent that the ruler in the south was as corrupt as the Communist regime in Hanoi. The conduct of the war was also quite different from our prior military experiences. It was the first time we faced an enemy we couldn't see, using Guerilla tactics we couldn't defend against, in a land where we couldn't tell friend from foe.

This book of poetic verse relates some of the real stories and experiences of the young men and women who served in Vietnam, and honors their service. It's meant to enlighten all people who weren't there, about our most controversial war. While not a comprehensive history of the war, it provides a glimpse of some of the unique experiences faced by American troops in what may have been the most challenging war our country has ever fought. This book provides a catharsis, in a small way, for those who suffered from wounds to "body, spirit, and mind," so all can continue to heal, put this awful war behind us, and finally move on in peace. Each war has its own unique challenges, but our experiences in Vietnam were much different than most of us expected going in. At the very least, our war certainly wasn't anything like our fathers' or grandfathers' wars.

A portion of all royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to selected veterans' organizations to continue to help all Vietnam veterans.