VIETNAM: A WAR WHERE SURVIVAL BECAME THE TRUE VICTORY

We mainly worked behind enemy lines. Our team wasn’t one to hunt the North Vietnamese — it was an extraction unit. That meant the enemy often outnumbered us, no matter where we went or what we did.

It didn’t take much to do the math. We knew the odds remained stacked against us. But still, we undertook the missions. When things went sour, and the enemy came in force, we followed the old magician’s rule: “At no time will the fingers leave the hand.” In other words, one moment, we were there, and the next, we weren’t. When things went sideways, it was time to leave — yesterday.

I can boast of our skill and precision, for we were the best at what we did. But if I’m honest, running for our lives saved us more than firepower ever did. Still, we accomplished every assignment, sometimes just barely.

Looking back, I can’t explain how we survived. Everything — including the U.S. artillery seemed set on killing us. No mission went smoothly. Protocol dictated high-tailing it out in record speed once our target became secure.

Some called us heroes, and others called us daredevils. But all we did was survive, and that was Vietnam.

Vietnam Uncensored — 365 Days in a Nightmare unearths the depth and emotional weight that caused the Vietnam War and what happened to my squad during the most violent years of the conflict. Readers explain my exploration of our survival, morality, and transformation, which makes for a compelling read. I intended to tell an accurate story, including the forces that negatively challenged the human spirit. You will find the first chapter and the ghost story broadcast by NPR taken from the book at https://vietnamjerry.com. All profits are donated to the Kaufman Fund to help veterans. Thanks.