A Story for All Americans: Vietnam, Victims, and VeteransFrank L. Grzyb Purdue University Press, 2000 - 328 páginas 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 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 physical and mental.
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Contenido
3 | |
YOUR ASS IS MINE | 19 |
FINAL PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE | 35 |
Saying Goodbye | 43 |
The Friendly Sendoffs | 49 |
INCOUNTRY | 63 |
WAR IS NOT ALL | 125 |
NOWHERE TO HIDE | 157 |
MY GOD WHY | 183 |
BEING SHORT | 213 |
THE HEALING PROCESS | 243 |
THE | 249 |
OUR FALLEN HEROES | 255 |