Some readers will be upset by the use of racial references, some will be upset by the vulgar language, some by the stark brutality, some by the sexual references. I can sanitize my manuscript and give the reader a false sense of how war reduces the humanity of an individual. Not only that, but sanitizing the past distorts history and lulls a person into a nonchalant manner of behavior in determining courses of action. The end result is that I would defeat the purpose that compelled me to write my book in the first place. So what is the point? I hope that you understand what I am trying to achieve. As I put this book together over the years, I constantly questioned my ability and skill to compose my manuscript in a cohesive manner and even my right to do it, but here it is. I think the main problems were that I couldn't look at it objectively and that I tried to write it as an 18-19 year-old. I wanted to present the naiveté and immaturity, which had awesome power and control over life and death. At the same time, naiveté and immaturity could strangle you. The title, The Mailman Went UA, came from our little song and dance routine that we performed when we didn't receive any mail. It reflected the utter desolation of aloneness and heartbreak that extended beyond the lack of mail to who you were as a human being, and that impact is impossible to shake. The mail was our only touch with any degree of normalcy. It was more than a connection with the "World." It was the essential element in preserving our sanity. We were surrounded by death and destruction and became unfazed by them, but we were always hit hard when we didn't receive any mail.
About the Author: This work has taken far too many years to put into a cohesive format and has meant dealing with feelings and emotions I'd rather forget. I continue to struggle with issues from my tour of duty in Nam. I have never sought nor do I want any thank you for having served my Country. The ones who deserve our gratitude are the ones who gave their lives, and it is to them that I dedicate this book. After Vietnam, I graduated from California State University Fresno with a degree in Health Science. I own a successful business, am financially secure, and I am married and I am okay. Follow up - Gary Price made it back, and he owns his own business in Covington, Georgia. I met up with Tex back in 1987 and he was still struggling with his running out on the patrol. The last I heard is that Tex died alone in a hospital in Texas. Captain Van Riper became the Commanding General at Quantico. Dennis Bacon was the only member of his squad to survive the ambush. He was shot three times in the back and left for dead. We met up after he came home but we never talked about Vietnam. Shortly thereafter, we went our separate ways and we haven't had contact with one another ever since.