Memoir of a Hard Time: Memories from my Time at War

Book Synopsis: The Viet-Nam War for America began in 1964, and finally ended in 1975. Nearly 59,000 Americans died, over 300,000 were wounded, and in total, almost 3,000,000 served "in-country." Combat was usually short-lived skirmishes, ambushes, and some longer sustained battles such as Dak To, Khe Sanh, and the 1968 Tet Offensive. No matter where you were stationed, there were always potential hazards to be faced. Allied forces faced not only an armed guerrilla population, but many "natural" hazards to one's health. Every American who served in Viet-Nam and came home after the end of their tour brought home something he never planned to keep after time at war: memories. All of us who served brought home memories. Some good, many not so good. Some memories fade over time, while others persist and live with us for the rest of our lives. This writing is a collection of memories from my military service during the Viet-Nam War. It is not intended to be a typical "war story" or in any way intended to create a historical chronology or set of historical facts. It is simply based on my experiences. Some of these memories come back "hard" and are difficult to bear; others had an element of humor to them and are often shared with our brethren who also served and then came home. All of us who served "over there" have memories of that time. For some, the memories are part of their our journey through Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); for some others alcohol or drugs help to blunt the pain, even if only temporarily; while for others they are memories only. Every one of us who went to Viet-Nam came home changed, and our lives were ever-after altered. One of the by-products of that alteration, perhaps even part of the cause, is the memories we have, or the memories we simply cannot forget. These are some of mine.