Let me introduce you to Lina

                                                                                                                      (Pronounced:  Leena)       

...... I could hear clearly the colorful knee slapping laughter of Lina’s lovely melodious almost sing song voice.  Its magical modulations filling the cab as we began to roll emanating outward above the groan of the gears and tired grumble of the aging engine, unhappy to have been awakened from its unanticipated rest, into the farms, hamlets and small villages off the road. 

 

     The desultory wizened eye of an old water buffalo casting a furtive glance as we rumbled by.  Lina still laughing.  Just another day in the countryside. 

 

     And she was laughing in Vietnamese. 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

                                                     

            The picture of this little girl is a favorite of mine.  You can see that she is looking at me

     as I snapped her picture.  If you look closely you can see a little smile on her face and in her eyes.     

 

REVIEW:

"Riveting read – I highly recommend it."

  http://users3.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g35-49207-12

FEEDBACK:

Dan Raymond (MACV-Vietnamese Airborne Division) January 17, 2010

Did you enjoy reading the first chapter?

     This is a masterful piece of writing. I was immediately taken back to the nights I spent in a firebase in      Vietnam in 1968. I could identify with every word. Very discriptive. Very graphic. I was disapointed when it ended at page 11. I want to read more. Congratulations. You have a fine writing style.

Does reading this chapter entice you to want to read more?

     Yes.

Do you have any comments regarding this book?

     I like what I read. I can only imagine the book getting better.

 ~ Thanks for the comments Trooper and thanks for your service!  "MACV Vietnamese Airborne" - WOW!!!  Would I love to meet these guys... (the Author)

 ...  and this from a fellow Marine:

 WLS - Sgt USMC 1968-1971 March 29, 2009

Did you enjoy reading the first chapter?

 

     Very much so. Well written.

 

Does reading this chapter entice you to want to read more?

 

     Absolutely. Both the subject matter and the quality of the writing make me want to hear what happened next - and what you have to say about it.

 

Do you have any comments regarding this book?

 

     I was in country myself in 1969 - briefly and not nearly so intimately. You display wonderful writing skills, and I look forward to reading more about your experiences. 
 
     Semper Fi

 

 ~ Thanks for the comments Sarg and thanks for your service!  Semper Fi right back at you.  (the Author)

 

Here's one from my Guestbook:

 

Date:    6/17/2009, 1:15 pm, CDT

Name:  Jim Beckman

 

     Although I never served in Vietnam, a number of my High School friends did and my best friend lost his life over there. Reading this book brought me closer to what they had to deal with on a daily basis and the sacrifices that went unnoticed. I am not a book reader, but I couldn't put your book down. More than once I found tears in my eyes. Thank you Bob for sharing your experiences.

 

Thanks Jim, more than I can express.  This comment alone makes it all worth while.  (the Author) 

 

NEWS FLASH!!! - 20 April 2010  

 

   ~ A few months back I was successful at placing my book "Everything Happened In Vietnam:  The Year of the Rat" in the Minneapolis, MN, Veteran's Hospital "Canteen" gift shop.  This was no easy achievement and required much back-and-forth emailing, personal visits, etc.  The sales of the book proved to be very successful and consequently,  with a little prompting (well, maybe a lot) from the book's author-publisher (myself), although the nationwide VA Hospital gift shops have not stocked books previously, the local buyer - distributor here in Minnesota has managed, with the cooperation of the national Veteran's Administration hospital system, to begin a Nationwide stocking of books (Including mine) in the very near future. 

 

    A gathering of the National VA Hospital gift shop managers will commence sometime in the May - June 2010 timeframe (approx 176 VA hospitals in all) and set up the new book sales system.  Of course, for a small-time author-publisher like me, this is a great opportunity.  These kinds of things just do not happen naturally or easily.  Although I am not rolling in profits, in fact operating at a loss, the sales possible within the VA hospital system gift shops (private) will go a long way toward making up for some of the expenses of producing my book.  I am especially gratified to have my book available to the Families & Friends of our sick or wounded Veterans.  It was a long term goal of mine to get this book placed in the Minneapolis and Saint Cloud (MN) hospital gift shops.  Having my book there and now going NATIONWIDE is a tremendous honor and privilege and one for which I am humbly grateful.   The book business is a tough one and it is things like this, but especially your personal comments, that make it all worth while.  

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT IN MY GUESTBOOK:  http://users3.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g35-49207-12  - IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK, PLEASE COME BACK AND SAY HELLO!!!  

 

I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK, WERE YOU AFFECTED BY WHAT YOU READ, FAVORITE PASSAGES, ETC.  JUST ANYTHING AT ALL.  I PUT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, EFFORT, BLOOD, SWEAT AND YES, SOME TEARS INTO THIS WORK.  IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, IN FACT, AS A SMALL TIME INDIE, SO FAR THERE IS NONE.  BUT IT IS WORTH IT TO ME TO GET THIS STORY TOLD....THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.  THANKS!   

 

   ~ The Author - sorry about the long rant - Doh! 

 

 

Comment by the Author - May 14, 2009 8:46 AM