Book Description

This is the story of my short military service including my perspective of the Vietnam War from the start, and it follows America's descent into chaos until the final days in 1975. I was drafted several times and eventually was inducted into the Army on April 20, 1967, and then was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky for Basic Training. Afterwards, I was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Combat Engineering Training where I headed a squad of 16 people. In October, I was sent to Vietnam as a Combat Engineer; but, through fortuitous circumstances, I became a Finance Specialist with the 1st Infantry Division, better known as the Big Red One. I witnessed the treacherous deceit of the 1968 Tet Offensive and the escalation of hostilities that followed from a bunker on our basecamp's perimeter. I honestly do know how it feels to be shot at and missed; but, in fact, I only felt the real impact of the war whenever I had to close a file for someone killed in action. When I was in Vietnam, the world was a completely different place. We still have many of the same social challenges, but the economic, technical, scientific, and medical advances have all been amazing. Unfortunately, in too many ways, nothing has changed. Our planet is still at war, inhumanity is all too frequently the headline, and religious exploitation and racial strife shackle any hope for world peace. Perhaps this book, in some small way, will help us avoid the mistakes of the past. My term of duty ended on November 21, 1968 and I returned physically unscathed but somewhat morally affected. I am very proud of my service and the fact that I chose to serve my country during perilous times. I have offered my insights with high hopes for our country and to honor all those who have served in the military and given so much of themselves to help preserve our nation's freedoms and defend the rights we hold so dear. It took almost five decades, half a century, for me to reflect and then write this book, but I seriously doubt I could have completed it any sooner. God bless America. Neal Morgan