Customer Reviews

Aftermath: A Soldier's Return from Vietnam

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This and The Killing Zone are highly recommended reading for an understanding of the combat soldier in Vietnam and the trials and tribulations associated with this war and it's aftermaths! This is a tale which should be mandatory reading in college history classes and even high school AP courses. Read the books in order, you'll be pleasantly surprised...but it is NOT a happy tale!

Downs captures and illustrates the aftereffects and recovery experiences of a severely wounded soldier in this gripping account of courage and fortitude. From the horrific wounds on the outside to the desire to live on the inside, no detail is left unmentioned and no emotion is left untold. This book grasps the day to day life of a wounded soldier, the agonizing healing process, and the psychological strength to get through it all: A genuine and formidable finale to the "Killing Zone".

I have read the paperback copy of the book. It provides details of the recovery process and the types of emotions experienced from a wounded veteran's point of view. The pain described is very immense and the book serves as a historical reminder of the horrors of combat during the Vietnam War. It is educational to those who are not from the "Baby Boomer" generation. I am younger and am from "Generation X." These types of events described in the book are very realistic. The scenes described in Denver also are well correlated with the writing approach. I lived in Colorado for four years and am familiar with many of the places he talks about. This book is a good source for those who want to read about the view of a wounded veteran in the historical era of the Vietnam War.