Publisher Description

A Story for All Americans: Vietnam, Victims, and Veterans (formerly titled, Touched by the Dragon) details wartime accounts of average servicemen and women – some heroic, some frightening, some amusing, some nearly unbelievable. The work is ahistorical compendium of fascinating and compelling stories woven together in a theme format. What makes this book truly unique, however, is its absence of literary pretentiousness. Relating oral accounts, the veterans speak in a no-nonsense, matter-of-fact way. As seen through the eyes of the veterans, the stories include first-person experiences of infantry soldiers, a flight officer, a medic, a nurse, a combat engineer, an intelligence soldier, and various support personnel. Personalities emerge gradually as the veterans discuss their pre-war days, their training and preparation for Vietnam, and their actual in-country experiences. The stories speak of fear and survival: the paranoia of not knowing who or where the enemy was; the bullets, rockets, and mortars that could mangle a body or snuff out a life in an instant; and going home with a CMH – not the Congressional Medal of Honor, but a Casket with Metal Handles. The veterans also speak of friendships and simple acts of kindness. But more importantly, they speak of healing – both physical and mental.

Author Biography

Frank L. Grzyb was sent to Vietnam in 1970 and assigned to the First Logistical Command (First Log) and later the U.S. Army, Vietnam (USARV), both situated in the coastal city of Qui Nohn in the Central Highlands.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction, by Senator John F. Kerry One: The Transition Two: Your Ass Is Mine! Three: Final Preparations and Departure Four: In-Country Five: The War Six: War Is Not All Bad Seven: Nowhere to Hide Eight: My God, Why Me? Nine: Being Short Ten: The Healing Process Eleven: Our Fallen Heroes Twelve: Years Later Appendixes A Personal Briefs B Residents of Newport County Who Died during the Vietnam War C Glossary D Common Vietnamese Words and Phrases Used by American Soldiers Selected Bibliography

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