From boot camp hustles to combat-zone truths-one veteran's journey, as it really happened. "Some can't talk about it, some can't stop."Those words from Vietnam veteran and musician Sarge Lintecum perfectly capture the lasting impact of war. I fall into the second category-I can't stop talking about it.
This book began with a single day in Vietnam burned into my memory, minute by minute. Over time, I realized that my entire enlistment-though relatively short-was filled with moments that were anything but typical. From making a full month's salary before even starting Basic Training, to spending a night on a British merchant ship in Panama, to unofficial promotions and selling booze in the barracks, these stories reflect the real, unfiltered experience of a Vietnam-era soldier.
Told with honesty and clarity, this memoir doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths. It offers a raw, personal view into the life of an Army enlistee shaped by war, by bureaucracy, and by the unpredictable chaos in between.
These memories have stayed with me for a lifetime. In fact, my diagnosed PTSD has made it nearly impossible to forget them. Sharing them with you, is my way of making sense of it all-and honoring those who lived it alongside me.
