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I’m beyond excited to finally share the big reveal book launch of Vietnam Uncensored, my personal memoir, that will launch soon! 🎉 Sign up here to stay in the loop and get access to the special book launch price and giveaways: https://vietnamjerry.com.This isn’t just another war story. Vietnam Uncensored takes you deep into the raw, emotional experiences of young American soldiers who were thrust into the heart of the Vietnam War — facing unimaginable challenges and forging unbreakable bonds of brotherhood. This is the real story, no Hollywood filter.But here’s what makes this launch even more special: All net proceeds from the book will be donated to The Kaufman Fund, a charity d...

In Vietnam, the truth became clear. The future was not ours. It belonged to the children in schools, the kids of the powerful who twisted the rules. They evaded the draft, attended fine universities, and lived in safety. They went to Canada or found favor in their faith. The future slipped away from those of us who did not remain in high school. It was not for the kids who left to work, struggling earn a living. It did not belong to the working-class who could not afford college.For those of us who answered the call, whether drafted or not, we stood firm. We held to our oaths, believing our leaders had honor. In the end, we learned they did not. I'm excited to share the launch...

In a moment of clarity, I came to think about the measurement of our success against the backdrop of the incredulous death and destruction of the war. I began to pick on the small things to figure out some kind of guide. For instance, did it matter how far we marched or climbed to reach the target? Was there some number representing these achievements? Of course, numerous missions and enemy confrontations existed. Although we succeeded in each assignment, our lives often rested on narrow escapes. Was there some number that would foretell the outcome, or was achievement the only guide? Perhaps we would rise one morning to find the war had ended as we slept? After all, Vietnam’s ni...

I often wondered whether our unit made a difference on Vietnam’s battlefields. After all, when we were there, troop levels had risen to 550,000, Westmorland broadcasted the war would soon end, and Chicken Little ran around crying, “The sky is falling!”   It became clear the only difference we could uphold was our survival.  But each day, a new set of existential circumstances appeared. Regardless of the preparation, the only constant represented a fierce and fearless enemy that awoke with the same mindset of killing as many Americans as possible. And still, we moved into that tangle of rice paddies, mountains, jungle, impossible, heat and humidity.  With e...

I remember that November in Vietnam. The team was inside the Cambodian jungle on the way to our target. The heavy rain created mud pools wherever we slept. The insect bites quickly became infected, and we taped our broken and swollen fingers together. But we continued until exhaustion overtook us, and even then, we briefly rested and continued.  Any delay could increase the odds of an enemy encounter, so it was best to get the mission over with, regardless of the challenges. As the dawn broke and light shafted through dense jungle vegetation, I thought of that mythical place eight thousand miles away called America; people were sitting down for a meal, working at an office desk, or...

My buddies and I were never much to boast about our achievements on the battlefields of Vietnam. As many others, we did our duty by following the orders of our superiors. We stood to our oaths and protected those with whom we served with the mindset of sacrificing all in a war-torn country where our lives became challenged by an enemy intent on our destruction.In civilian life, we did not wear patches, caps, or tee shirts announcing our military service to a civilian population. After all, it was sufficient that we knew what we did. We entered Vietnam with the thought of hoping to return home alive and uninjured.We did not know the residual effects the war would have on our future lives. It ...

There was no good or evil on the battlefields. As Drill Sergeant Greeley often said, “The only unfair fight is the one you lose!” All manner of showering the enemy with as much damage as possible was always the objective. But it didn’t work that way. Occasionally, we became the prey by walking into an ambush or losing a firefight. More than once, we encountered a greater enemy force. After all, everything in Vietnam was out to kill us, even doing nothing.Friendly artillery fire was inaccurate, and air support would not reach us in time. Every field unit was on its own, and we depended on our commanders to find the strategy to win and survive. Unfortunately, the enemy could care le...

Vietnam Uncensored is not just a memoir; it’s a powerful, accurate exploration of life after combat. Jerry’s poignant narrative reveals how the relentless echoes of Vietnam persist in his everyday life, from the roar of jet engines to the harsh sunlight that stirs fears of snipers. The book captures the essence of trauma that lingers long after the battlefield has faded from sight. Each page unveils a raw, vivid recounting of narrow escapes, the relentless grind of survival, and the struggles of adapting to civilian life after years of internal and external conflict.In this deeply personal account, Jerry shares how he buried his pain under layers of alcohol, drugs, and anger, only to fin...

Some equate military service with heroes and warriors of incredible strength, skill, and meaningful objectives. They view Marines, Navy Seals, Airborne, and Special Forces units as the ultimate U.S. fighting soldiers. It is one thing to watch actors perform death-defying feats, become injured, and die on film. However, they will rise from the wounded and dead following the scene. In combat, every part of the human body and mind comes under attack without regard to the outcome. The mission succeeds if the line remains unbroken, and injury and death remain acceptably low. I have often considered the answer to the question, “Would you trade the good life for serving your country?”...

If only the Vietnam War were a Shakespearian comedy written by a practiced and experienced hand instead of the arrogant and incompetent politicians running our country during successive presidential administrations ending with Nixon and his morally wrong advisor, Kissinger. Instead of every event in the script leading to brilliant success, the leading protagonists in our drama made incredible errors. Some instructions from superiors brought injury and death without any sense of victory.  The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were everywhere except in the North. U.S. military leaders did not understand why the enemy did not get the message to say put in their neck of the country.&...