Below is a small sampling of reviews –
5.0 out of 5 stars Personal stories of Vietnam Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023
This is the fourth volume of a four volume series entitled “Our Vietnam Wars.” The books contain first person accounts by Vietnam veterans of their experiences there and how the war affected them. A few of the accounts are written by others because the veteran is now deceased. All the volumes are excellent, and the editor is himself a Vietnam vet. Whether there will be additional volumes I do not know.
5.0 out of 5 stars Another compelling, fascinating read! Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2020
The idea behind this series is simple: telling stories of the Vietnam War not through discussions of the famous leaders, or of strategy or tactics, but through the words of different people who served. It covers many of the themes familiar to students of the Vietnam War. The general disdain for the tactics imposed from above by the so-called best and brightest. The soldiers still ill or injured as a result of their service. The failure of Americans to welcome the veterans home after their service, as if they had made the decision to be the wrong age at the wrong time and get boxed into fighting a losing war.
These boots-on-the-ground stories are well-written. Each speaker has his or her own distinct voice and storytelling style. But this volume has a different feel than the earlier entries in the series. There is less of a focus on combat stories, and a much greater focus on what these veterans and their families experienced after their service in Vietnam, and how their service impacted the rest of their lives. One is the story of a “casualty escort,” whose job was to accompany the remains of fallen Marines back home. One especially moving but sad story was written as a letter from a psychiatric hospital. Another story was written by the brother of a lieutenant KIA, and discussed some of the effects on the survivors. The final story was about a veteran who committed suicide many years after his service, a tragic yet hardly uncommon outcome for those who served in Vietnam. This concluding volume of the series is another compelling, fascinating read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Vietnam War Forum Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020
I’ve read all 4 volumes. Experiences cover almost the entire spectrum of Vietnam (officers to enlisted), including allies. Very diverse experiences, and outcomes. Vietnam Veterans were unjustly vilified by their own countrymen, for a War they didn’t start. These are important stories. It’s unfortunate that we (the U.S.) never seem to learn from our experiences. Thank you!!!
5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2020
When reading this book, if one sets an expectation for a “war” novel or even a dramatized non-fiction account, disappointment is inevitable. Author William F. Brown makes it clear that his book is not about drama, but about real men and women. So, how is it deserving of a Five-Star review? It is because of one thing–truth. It is the unvarnished and unembellished Vietnam War experience as told by the men who were there. Their stories not only show how they got there but how the war affected their lives afterward. This is important because it humanizes these soldiers as men with lives, families, and experiences outside of their wartime experiences. Brown has done a service for Vietnam War Veterans by freeing them from the one-dimensional characterizations popularized by Hollywood and would-be novelists.
All books can be found on Amazon and are available in Paperback, Hardback, Audible, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited formats. All of my thriller novels are available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and soon in French editions. However, my non-fiction Vietnam books are only available in English.
