1999: Why We're In Vietnam

[aKINGreader4ever]

Hey All,

I just finished Why We're in Vietnam, last night a great story from the book, by the way. I luved the fact that the story talked about the horrors of Vietnam and the after effects that it had on each of the men that served there. I guess I liked this book so much is because it does talk about the Vietnam war, the effects it had on people both here and those that served there. I have an Uncle that served in that war and Thank God he came home, he doesn't talk about it much and since I was born after the war. I only know what was told in the history books and they don't tell everything, like the conflicts, especally what was taking place over here and how we treated the solders when we came home.

When I was reading this story I was thinking about the things my Uncle would tell me he experienced, both good and bad, the effects it had on his mind as well as his body. he would talk about his buddies especially those that didn't get to come home, this story was like listening to my Uncle's experiences, it was really interesting. The part that really surprised me was how Sulley came to hate Carol, because of her difference in opinion and protests during the war, and especially after. The 1 part that really confused me was the items coming out of the sky? Was it me or did any1 else find this confusing was Sully having some kind of weird LSD-Vietnam flashback because that part really was bizarre. If some1 can explain this to me I will appriciate it.

THX,
-K-

[sknut70]

been a while since i read the book but my recollection is that he was dying.. having heart attack or a stroke or something and he was hallucinating.

again.. been a while since i read it. think maybe a re read would be good

[omm poppa mow mow]

The B-52 carpet-bombing of the interstate is related to the Peter Fonda quote...from Easy Rider was it? We blew it. Yes they did. I'm not sure it matters if it is hallucination or reality--the things that are falling, that are described--what does that tell the reader?
Well, how many have died when the doors open the day after Thanksgiving and the salmon rush through the aisles begins?

But the Chinese are building Christian churches in Africa, so maybe it'll all come out in the wash.

[GNTLGNT]

My Uncle was also In "The Nam"...8 years Air Force, and yeah-what little he's said-jibes with King's writing quite well...

[aKINGreader4ever]

Hey All,

I want to thank u all, 4 the explanation of the ending, I read @ night and sometimes his descriptions of a certain scene or explanation of what is going on in the story can confuse me sometimes. To GNTLGNT, my uncle was in the Army and what he tells me of his experiences R scary, sad, and down right on the edge. He described Vietnam as an unnecessary war, but he told family if his neighbor was going so was he. I thought KING did an excellent job describing the Vietnam war, and the 60's, even though it was B4 my time, the stories my family members tell me R 2 the T as King described them. I wish my Uncle would read this book, but I don't know if he would, watching some movies about "NAM" can be disturbing 2 him also.
-Kris-