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Hogan was an early "boomer.” He was born in the late 1940s to young parents and was one of three siblings. The family's religious backgrounds and beliefs were mixed but were in other ways similar to many middle-class families of that era. Grandparents and cousins were on hand, and security, love, and some diversity in numbers were in abundance. Two "coincidences" had profound impacts on Hogan's early life. First, he felt he should move some boards with protruding nails/spikes in them, so he did. As he fell to the ground later on—right at the place where the boards had been—he reflected on what might have happened had he not obeyed his warning. Another interesting occurrence was his agreeing to a "blind date," which led to his meeting his future wife, Georgia.
The Vietnam War was an education in Hell and exposure to toxic substances. Hogan's and many others' health and quality of life were permanently and increasingly debilitated by the chemicals to which they were exposed. During his tours of service, Hogan experienced more coincidences: more psychic warnings of life and death, horror and healing, as well as a quest for faith and a way to share it. It is significant that each chapter begins with the words "A Time To ...,” which allude to the well-known passage from the biblical book Ecclesiastes.
This relatable autobiography contains the significant life experiences of a man who is a member of a large group of veterans who—because of circumstances over which many were victims as well as participants under order—were ignored, misunderstood, and vilified. The challenges of the Vietnam veterans are a major part of the legacy of the United States’ involvement there, and Hogan’s book effectively reminds readers that these should be remembered and the veterans themselves honored.