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La Sala's book is a collection of 58 firsthand accounts of the war in Vietnam, written by veterans of the conflict. The text is not an academic of formal historical study of the war, but a visceral, subjective retelling, providing the personal history of the men and women who fought the war and wrestled with its legacy when they returned to civilized life. La Sala writes only a brief introduction, which touches on the need for these veterans to have their voices heard and their stories told. This rings true, as Vietnam veterans are prolific writers, and many of the contributors to this volume have written poetry or other narratives.
Many of the writers, joined because of a family tradition of military service, while others imagined the depiction of World War II in the movies. Many, of course, were simply drafted. Most startling is how common Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, or PTSD, exists among veterans. Nearly every writer mentions dealing with some its effects. Almost as common are the lingering disabilities caused by exposure to Agent Orange and the shock that the nation has still not helped these wounded veterans. These short narratives often act like moments in a talking cure and attempts at healing and coping as much as tales of combat. Another common thread was attempting to manage their anger and deal with trauma once back in civilian life. Many share the relief of visiting the wall memorial in Washington D.C.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review