A Story for All Americans: Vietnam, Victims, and Veterans

Authors

Frank L. Grzyb
John F. Kerry

Files

Page Count

328

Language

English

Description

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 a historical 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 physically and mentally.

ISBN

9781612491325

Publication Date

Summer 6-1-2000

Publisher

Purdue University Press

City

West Lafayette, IN

Keywords

Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 Veterans United States--Interviews, Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 Rhode Island, Newport Interviews

Disciplines

American Politics | Asian Studies | International Relations

Recommended Citation

Grzyb, Frank L. and Kerry, John F., "A Story for All Americans: Vietnam, Victims, and Veterans" (2000). Purdue University Press Books. 17.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/purduepress_ebooks/17