Back from War: Finding Hope and Understanding in Life After Combat

by Lee Alley

Book Overview

Back From War: True Accounts told by American Soldiers and their Families is the harrowing narrative of 1st Lt. Lee Alley and his year in the horrors of combat in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976732947
• ISBN13: 9780976732945
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Exceptional Pub
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Personal testimonies are penetrating in their honesty

I have read almost all the Vietnam books, even authored one myself. Gun Totin' Chaplain However, this book is unique for its personal testimonies. I can just imagine the tenacity expended in collecting them. Great kudos to the author. Most of us Vietnam combat vets have similar experiences and we all have our war stories. For a long time, nobody wanted to hear them. They now do. And, if as Vietnam vets, we have any legacy, it is the fact that we have paved the way for present day warriors. They will not have to be so shabbily treated as us because most Americans who care don't want it to happen again. For this we can be proud. Back From War is a classic. Recently, a psychologist, working with returning Iraq combat vets wanted to discuss Vietnam and Iraq. I immediately suggested she order Back From War. The testimonies are textbooks. I appereciate more than I can convey the immense effort that then Lieutenant Alley made in giving us this book. I will cherish mine given to me by a frined. I would have been honored to serve with Lt. Alley and his platoon and those who've written these incredibly useful testimonies.

A Must Read for Every American

I am the wife of a veteran. This book opened my eyes about the emotions by husband has fought so hard to supress. We have been married for 36 years, and until he wrote this book, I never know the pain he carried. This should be given to every veteran of every war, and every person who knows a veteran should read it.

Back from War: A Quest for life after Death

The book offers a first-hand account from Lee Alley and his men about the war and how it has affected them since. After reading the book, I decided to use the book as a basis for my high school students' study of Vietnam and as a means of working within the schools content reading goal. The results were powerful. The kids were totally engrossed in Lee's book. There were times when their scheduled reading time was up and they would beg me to let them keep reading!" Lee is a moving storyteller and the kids hung on every word." The written histories and reactions really demonstrated the impact of the book and summed up its value in helping kids (and anyone for that matter) understand the Vietnam war and why we must care about those who have worn a soldier's uniform, regardless of the conflict. One student wrote, "I had always thought that most if not all men in war only cared about their own lives until I met and read about Lee. I have always thought of war as fighting and killing, but the real war is with us everyday and the decisions we make. I thank Lee for teaching me these life lessons." Another student added "I guess you never know how someone is going to act when they come back from war because its one of those gray areas you never get to hear about in school but I look at veterans a different way now because of what Lee went through. The real hero is made when the soldier returns from war and tries to become a better person. Lee is that hero and not only that but a role model for people around the nation." And finally, another student summed up the importance of the activity. "Although Vietnam wasn't the noblest endeavor in American history, it wasn't the worst, even though it is often portrayed as such. These men defended freedom...and that is why we must learn about it, and the sacrifices they made, or we can never truly appreciate what they did." A great read for anyone.

An Uplifting and Helpful book about Healing for all Veterans and their Families!

This book isn't entirely about Lee Alley and his Vietnam experiences, but it easily could of been. His experiences of Nam are no different then the countless other experiences that have been shared over the years. However, what makes this book such an interesting, helpful and uplifting read is the other stories. The stories about the families trying to heal, looking for any information about their lost loved ones. The stories about the Veterans struggling with the loss of their comrades and the continual nightmares they carry around as never easy to lose luggage. The book is filled with stories of hope and how some vererans eventually find some piece of mind. The last part of the book is filled with resource information for Veterans. How to file a VA claim, where to go to find information on line, a list of do's & don'ts for returning Veterans, even a SOP for setting up reunions. This is a book that should be given to every service man and woman, along with their DD-214. If you know of any Veteran from any war struggling with the transition back to civilian life, get this book for them!

Welcome Home

I am not a combat veteran, but I found that this book helped me understand some of the emotions of my friends and family members who have defended our country in combat. My father died when I was young and I was never able to discuss WWII with him. I am finally able to understand some of his pain and the wounds that will never heal for any of our brave combat veterans. I also think that all who read this book will know that we can never treat our combat veterans with anything but respect and thanks to all of them for their service. Thank you Lt Alley for helping us all and Welcome Home. Dick Thompson