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Our Vietnam Wars #2
Our Vietnam Wars, Volume 2: As Told by More Veterans Who Served
Want to know what Vietnam was really like? 271 Photos. 4.6 Stars!
Real stories and real people, in their own words, caught up in an all too real war. From the Delta to the DMZ, come walk in their boots. This is volume 2 of a 4 volume series, but each one is not simply another war book. They tell the personal stories of 100 veterans, men and women, who served there in their own words, with photos to take you there.
The Vietnam War dominated my generation and affected so many lives in so many different ways. Some of us were drafted. Some enlisted. Some became war heroes, intentional or not, but most of us were just trying to survive. As we all knew, Vietnam was all about luck, good or bad. And there were hundreds of different wars depending on where you were, the year you were there, your service, branch, unit, rank, job, and race. Whether we were truck drivers, helicopter pilots, infantryman, clerk typists, medics, engineers, MPs, sailors out on Yankee station, artillerymen, or cooks, from 1956 to 1976 from the Delta to the DMZ, these stories tell who we were, the jobs we did, our memories of that time and place, how it changed us, and what we did after we came home. That's the diversity of experience you'll find in this book. If you were there, you understand. If you weren't, grab a copy and you will. The stories are like Doritos. Try a few and you won't be able to stop.
They tell who we were, our jobs and memories of the place, and what we did after we came home. From a Marine ambulance driver at Khe Sanh, Special Ops troops fighting a guerrilla war against the VC and NVA, Recon pilots, artillerymen on Christmas Eve, a Navy seaman below decks fighting a catastrophic fire on the USS Oriskany, a New Zealand artillery unit firing round after round to stop an NVA assault, Marine Corpsmen saving the wounded under fire, patrolling the jungle with New Zealand infantry, walking into Khe Sanh with the 1st Cav as they broke the siege, riding in an APC with the armored cav across the hills in I Corps, being shot down in Cambodia with a Huey pilot, plus cooks, clerks, truck drivers, and gunship pilots, combat medics, and Marine grunts and many more -- from the Delta to the DMZ and Thailand to the South China Sea, this book puts you in their boots.
Real stories and real people, in their own words, caught up in an all too real war. From the Delta to the DMZ, come walk in their boots. This is volume 2 of a 4 volume series, but each one is not simply another war book. They tell the personal stories of 100 veterans, men and women, who served there in their own words, with photos to take you there.
The Vietnam War dominated my generation and affected so many lives in so many different ways. Some of us were drafted. Some enlisted. Some became war heroes, intentional or not, but most of us were just trying to survive. As we all knew, Vietnam was all about luck, good or bad. And there were hundreds of different wars depending on where you were, the year you were there, your service, branch, unit, rank, job, and race. Whether we were truck drivers, helicopter pilots, infantryman, clerk typists, medics, engineers, MPs, sailors out on Yankee station, artillerymen, or cooks, from 1956 to 1976 from the Delta to the DMZ, these stories tell who we were, the jobs we did, our memories of that time and place, how it changed us, and what we did after we came home. That's the diversity of experience you'll find in this book. If you were there, you understand. If you weren't, grab a copy and you will. The stories are like Doritos. Try a few and you won't be able to stop.
They tell who we were, our jobs and memories of the place, and what we did after we came home. From a Marine ambulance driver at Khe Sanh, Special Ops troops fighting a guerrilla war against the VC and NVA, Recon pilots, artillerymen on Christmas Eve, a Navy seaman below decks fighting a catastrophic fire on the USS Oriskany, a New Zealand artillery unit firing round after round to stop an NVA assault, Marine Corpsmen saving the wounded under fire, patrolling the jungle with New Zealand infantry, walking into Khe Sanh with the 1st Cav as they broke the siege, riding in an APC with the armored cav across the hills in I Corps, being shot down in Cambodia with a Huey pilot, plus cooks, clerks, truck drivers, and gunship pilots, combat medics, and Marine grunts and many more -- from the Delta to the DMZ and Thailand to the South China Sea, this book puts you in their boots.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2018
278 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
William F. Brown
27 books88 followersI live in Florida. As a Vice President of the real estate subsidiary of a Fortune 500 corporation, I traveled widely in the US and abroad. A native of Chicago, I earned a BA in History and Russian Area Studies and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Illinois. (Go Illini!) I’ve been active in politics (I had the stupidity to run and the misfortune to win a -year seat on a County Board of Supervisors) (more hard time than you’d get for armed robbery, car theft, or embezzlement in most states!) and active in numerous civic organizations. I served in the US Army and was a company commander and drug counselor. (The only two places in the country that teach leadership and organizational management are the Boy Scouts and the Army) When I’m not writing, I like to play golf (usually poorly) paint landscapes in oil or acrylics and running 5Ks. (slower every year) .
My wife and I have traveled extensively in Germany, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Egypt, and Israel.
My wife and I have traveled extensively in Germany, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Egypt, and Israel.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 24, 2018
More testimonies from those who served and survived
Florida author William F. Brown has penned nine suspense novels and four award-winning screenplays. His specialty is thriller stories that step into the arena of espionage – a very popular topic at this particular time. William is a native of Chicago, received undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Russian Area studies and City Planning from The University of Illinois, and served as a Company Commander in the US Army. He then raveled widely in the US and abroad as a Vice President of the real estate subsidiary of a Fortune 500 corporation. William is also a landscape artist.
After the widespread success of William’s initial OUR VIETNAM WARS Volume 1 it was expected that there would be more volumes coming, especially as so many veterans wished to share their experiences. So here is Volume 2, a continuation of the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975 reported in article format by more veterans of that war. The articles are brief but pungent and are accompanied by the photographs of the veterans at present and at the time of service. The result is a survey of all phases of that too long and miscalculated war in Vietnam that drew such negative attention from not only the Vietnamese but also from the global communities – such as France who had just left the Vietnam landscape as we arrived. But even more pungent is the crisis at home – the flowerchild protestors who greeted returning veterans with disrespect, an aspect of returning home to the very people for whom they were protecting that simply compounded the rampant PTSD and Agent Orange illnesses that resulted from serving in Vietnam.
This second book is important to read for the descendants of the veterans and perhaps it will help communicate the too often buried thoughts about the Vietnam conflict. For those of us who served in that war (this reviewer was a Battalion Surgeon assigned to the USMC directly out of Internship during the peak of the war) this book provides a sense of camaraderie – a relief that some are addressing that contentious war from the stance of 60 of those who were directly involved – Navy corpsmen, combat medics, A-6 pilots taking out bridges and SAM sites in North Vietnam, machine gunners in I-Corps, mechanics working on the rolling deck of a big carrier on Yankee Station, squad leaders on infantry sweeps in “the Arizona Territory,” truck convoys under fire, riverine patrol boats in the Delta, Coast Guard “Jolly Green” search and rescue helicopters pulling downed pilots from the jungle, tank platoons in an all-out armor assault, Loach pilots in hunter-killer teams, and many more -- from the Delta to the DMZ.
And as we continue to drudge through the incessant wars in the Middle East (and at home) perhaps Brown’s book will provide some insights into the mental strain and scars that war in general inflicts. As Wilfred Owen stated, ‘My subject is War, and the pity of War, The Poetry is in the pity.’ Recommended reading.
Florida author William F. Brown has penned nine suspense novels and four award-winning screenplays. His specialty is thriller stories that step into the arena of espionage – a very popular topic at this particular time. William is a native of Chicago, received undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Russian Area studies and City Planning from The University of Illinois, and served as a Company Commander in the US Army. He then raveled widely in the US and abroad as a Vice President of the real estate subsidiary of a Fortune 500 corporation. William is also a landscape artist.
After the widespread success of William’s initial OUR VIETNAM WARS Volume 1 it was expected that there would be more volumes coming, especially as so many veterans wished to share their experiences. So here is Volume 2, a continuation of the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975 reported in article format by more veterans of that war. The articles are brief but pungent and are accompanied by the photographs of the veterans at present and at the time of service. The result is a survey of all phases of that too long and miscalculated war in Vietnam that drew such negative attention from not only the Vietnamese but also from the global communities – such as France who had just left the Vietnam landscape as we arrived. But even more pungent is the crisis at home – the flowerchild protestors who greeted returning veterans with disrespect, an aspect of returning home to the very people for whom they were protecting that simply compounded the rampant PTSD and Agent Orange illnesses that resulted from serving in Vietnam.
This second book is important to read for the descendants of the veterans and perhaps it will help communicate the too often buried thoughts about the Vietnam conflict. For those of us who served in that war (this reviewer was a Battalion Surgeon assigned to the USMC directly out of Internship during the peak of the war) this book provides a sense of camaraderie – a relief that some are addressing that contentious war from the stance of 60 of those who were directly involved – Navy corpsmen, combat medics, A-6 pilots taking out bridges and SAM sites in North Vietnam, machine gunners in I-Corps, mechanics working on the rolling deck of a big carrier on Yankee Station, squad leaders on infantry sweeps in “the Arizona Territory,” truck convoys under fire, riverine patrol boats in the Delta, Coast Guard “Jolly Green” search and rescue helicopters pulling downed pilots from the jungle, tank platoons in an all-out armor assault, Loach pilots in hunter-killer teams, and many more -- from the Delta to the DMZ.
And as we continue to drudge through the incessant wars in the Middle East (and at home) perhaps Brown’s book will provide some insights into the mental strain and scars that war in general inflicts. As Wilfred Owen stated, ‘My subject is War, and the pity of War, The Poetry is in the pity.’ Recommended reading.
May 22, 2019
The idea behind this sequel is simple: continue telling stories of the Vietnam War not through discussions of the famous leaders, or of strategy or tactics, but through the words of 60 different people who served. It covers many of the themes familiar to students of the Vietnam War. The general disdain for the tactics imposed from above by the so-called best and brightest. The soldiers still ill or injured as a result of their service. The failure of Americans to welcome the veterans home after their service, as if they had made the decision to be the wrong age at the wrong time and get boxed into fighting a losing war.
These boots-on-the-ground stories are well-written. Each speaker has his or her own distinct voice and storytelling style. Some are funny, others are harrowing, and many feature discussions of PTSD and survivors’ guilt. It is a compelling, fascinating read.
My personal favorite stories:
PETER KUNZ’S WAR
MIKE STOUGHTON’S WAR
DENNIS GRIMES’S WAR
TOM HUCK’S WAR
BRUCE CORBETT’S WAR
JAMES “J. J.” JORDAN’S WAR
TOM ZAMPANO’S WAR
DOUG MONIACI’S WAR
These boots-on-the-ground stories are well-written. Each speaker has his or her own distinct voice and storytelling style. Some are funny, others are harrowing, and many feature discussions of PTSD and survivors’ guilt. It is a compelling, fascinating read.
My personal favorite stories:
PETER KUNZ’S WAR
MIKE STOUGHTON’S WAR
DENNIS GRIMES’S WAR
TOM HUCK’S WAR
BRUCE CORBETT’S WAR
JAMES “J. J.” JORDAN’S WAR
TOM ZAMPANO’S WAR
DOUG MONIACI’S WAR
June 10, 2024
Very, very excellent book. I can’t recommend this series enough.
December 22, 2018
A follow up volume to the first one and full of more stories from those that served in Vietnam. Again makes me thankful that I was there very early and missed out on all the bad stuff that those who came later had to endure and continue to endure. A book that former Vets should read and their families as well. It shows them that they were not alone and lets their families know what they went through during and after when home again. Eye opening! (Two fellow residents of the community where I live are in this one as well. I had my story in the first volume)
March 9, 2019
5 Stars for another great compilation of stories from Vietnam veterans
Bill Brown continues to honor us all by letting the veteran in his own words tell his story. Everybody has a story and it takes courage to put it down on paper and share it with the world. Bill Brown continues to immortalize veterans and their friends, whose names are now on “The Wall”, by putting their stories to print. He should do a 3rd book, he is onto something very special, lest America forgets who our Vietnam vets are. I highly recommend!
Bill Brown continues to honor us all by letting the veteran in his own words tell his story. Everybody has a story and it takes courage to put it down on paper and share it with the world. Bill Brown continues to immortalize veterans and their friends, whose names are now on “The Wall”, by putting their stories to print. He should do a 3rd book, he is onto something very special, lest America forgets who our Vietnam vets are. I highly recommend!
October 30, 2021
En!ightenment
I wanted to know more about the place my friend died. My psych teacher was angry with me because I sat in psych VA hospital and Didn't make guys talk about things they didn't want to talk about. I was going to be an RN soon and I was supposed to write care plans based on diagnosis. PTSD wasn't even an option. We hadn't heard of it in 1975. God bless you and the men who wrote their thoughts.
I wanted to know more about the place my friend died. My psych teacher was angry with me because I sat in psych VA hospital and Didn't make guys talk about things they didn't want to talk about. I was going to be an RN soon and I was supposed to write care plans based on diagnosis. PTSD wasn't even an option. We hadn't heard of it in 1975. God bless you and the men who wrote their thoughts.
January 12, 2019
A fantastic composite of Vietnam War survival stories
As a Vietnam Vet, I enjoyed hearing stories from those that served in areas that I did. It was also enlightening to hear accounts from persons from other services and functions. Also sad to know so many had Agent Orange complications as I did with prostate cancer. Welcome home brothers!
As a Vietnam Vet, I enjoyed hearing stories from those that served in areas that I did. It was also enlightening to hear accounts from persons from other services and functions. Also sad to know so many had Agent Orange complications as I did with prostate cancer. Welcome home brothers!
November 26, 2019
Reluctant brothers
Great collection of stories that,sadly, demonstrate the way everyone tried to cope with the presence of death daily. Most did what they could to follow orders and also to survive. Many selflessly gave their lives trying to save "brothers" they never met. All should be remembered as heroes who did what their country asked, sometimes dying for it.
Great collection of stories that,sadly, demonstrate the way everyone tried to cope with the presence of death daily. Most did what they could to follow orders and also to survive. Many selflessly gave their lives trying to save "brothers" they never met. All should be remembered as heroes who did what their country asked, sometimes dying for it.
June 2, 2019
Excellent this was a great perspective from different views from different branches of the military
Great read i liked the different types of units and their types of tours from funny to boring to deadly
Great read i liked the different types of units and their types of tours from funny to boring to deadly
January 31, 2020
Heart felt and to the point!! Highly recommend for any history buff!!
Loved reading true stories from vets who are willing to share!! You won't be disappointed. So glad we have this written down for the ages!
Loved reading true stories from vets who are willing to share!! You won't be disappointed. So glad we have this written down for the ages!
October 9, 2020
Should be REQUIRED READING
I have read volume 1 and just finished #2. These books should be required reading for all High Schools in the country. They should know who REAL heroes are and how they were treated.
I have read volume 1 and just finished #2. These books should be required reading for all High Schools in the country. They should know who REAL heroes are and how they were treated.
July 9, 2022
A disabled Vietnam vet
I spent time over there with Seal s
Support Team1 and more than a year in the plastic boats. I am glad to be here now and can read some of the other vets journey s and enjoy that I am not the only one with problems. Keep up the good work.
I spent time over there with Seal s
Support Team1 and more than a year in the plastic boats. I am glad to be here now and can read some of the other vets journey s and enjoy that I am not the only one with problems. Keep up the good work.
December 27, 2022
Excellent Book
This book captures the true feelings and emotions of the Vietnam Veteran. If the reader is looking to know about the war in Vietnam from a soldiers view, this is the book to read.
This book captures the true feelings and emotions of the Vietnam Veteran. If the reader is looking to know about the war in Vietnam from a soldiers view, this is the book to read.
June 25, 2023
Remember Them
Real stories, from real people who went where they were sent and did what they were told to do. They deserved far better treatment from their fellow citizens who had the luxury to stay at home and criticise.
Real stories, from real people who went where they were sent and did what they were told to do. They deserved far better treatment from their fellow citizens who had the luxury to stay at home and criticise.
August 3, 2019
Some great stories.
I read volume 1 a couple of years ago and enjoyed it a lot. This one was also very good with all the services covered.
I read volume 1 a couple of years ago and enjoyed it a lot. This one was also very good with all the services covered.
August 14, 2019
Great reads,bought back some good-looking some bad
Thank you,n I'm not the only one✌ we know,we lived it,we hated it,we are all brothers in combat!✌we are going home!!!
Thank you,n I'm not the only one✌ we know,we lived it,we hated it,we are all brothers in combat!✌we are going home!!!
May 23, 2020
GREAT little short story series REMEMBER how bad the boot Lt were in the CORPS!!!
April 16, 2021
Volume2
Well, these are more of the "real deal". I really don't know what to say except THANK YOU for giving these veterans the chance to tell their experiences in their own way.
Well, these are more of the "real deal". I really don't know what to say except THANK YOU for giving these veterans the chance to tell their experiences in their own way.
May 21, 2022
brings back memories
I often wonder where many of the soldiers I served with are today and how their lives have been since then.
I often wonder where many of the soldiers I served with are today and how their lives have been since then.
June 26, 2025
well done
Gripping stories that put the real in the people who were involved in Vietnam. Touching personalization. I highly recommend both volumes. Well written.
Gripping stories that put the real in the people who were involved in Vietnam. Touching personalization. I highly recommend both volumes. Well written.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews