FROM RICE PADDIES TO RECKONING: THE COST OF WAR IN VIETNAM

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 every sunrise, some new evil arose to shock and traumatize. How was it possible to understand we were sliding into the abyss of life-long mental illness? 

 It was but another day in Vietnam to live through as 58,000 of my brothers would die, 150,000 return wounded, and another 300,000 suffer the after-effects of Agent Orange, Burn Pits, and PTSD. 

 The Vietnam Uncensored book launch is just weeks away. I invite you to join the Vietnam Jerry community by signing up to receive the first chapter and the NPR broadcast of Corporal Cummings’ ghost story. All net proceeds will go to helping veterans in need through the Kaufman Fund. 

 You will receive a significant discount and authentic giveaways on the launch date. So, please help support our veterans and make Vietnam Uncensored successful. Thanks.