From Classrooms to Claymores: A Teacher at War in Vietnam [Mass Market Paperback]

Ches Schneider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 1999

"Vietnam was a fantasy life of gunfire, blood,
heat, and superhuman toil."        

By late 1969, the end of the war was just over the horizon. But for Ches Schneider, a drafted schoolteacher turned infantry grunt in the deadly Central Highlands, it was just beginning. This story of a Missouri boy, told with grit and honesty, describes the stark transition from the normalcy of schooldays to the life-and-death drama endured daily in Vietnam's bloody jungles.

As a soldier in the 1st Infantry Division, Schneider went out on twelve-man search-and-destroy combat missions, never knowing whether the next moment would bring an ambush, a firefight, or eternal oblivion. Later, when the Big Red One rotated back to the U.S., he was transferred to the 1st Cav and fought it out with the NVA in the steamy jungles of Phuoc Long Province near the Cambodian border. As an ordinary man in extraordinary times, Schneider realistically captures the pain, loss, sacrifice, and courage of the men who fought for their lives even as the war wound down . . . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Vietnam was a fantasy life of gunfire, blood,
heat, and superhuman toil."        

By late 1969, the end of the war was just over the horizon. But for Ches Schneider, a drafted schoolteacher turned infantry grunt in the deadly Central Highlands, it was just beginning. This story of a Missouri boy, told with grit and honesty, describes the stark transition from the normalcy of schooldays to the life-and-death drama endured daily in Vietnam's bloody jungles.

As a soldier in the 1st Infantry Division, Schneider went out on twelve-man search-and-destroy combat missions, never knowing whether the next moment would bring an ambush, a firefight, or eternal oblivion. Later, when the Big Red One rotated back to the U.S., he was transferred to the 1st Cav and fought it out with the NVA in the steamy jungles of Phuoc Long Province near the Cambodian border. As an ordinary man in extraordinary times, Schneider realistically captures the pain, loss, sacrifice, and courage of the men who fought for their lives even as the war wound down . . . .

About the Author

Ches Schneider has been teaching English and history since 1966. During 1969 and 1970, he served in two combat units, the First Infantry Division and the First Air Cavalry, in the Republic of Vietnam. His military awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Army Commendation Medal, an Air Medal for twenty-five combat assaults, and various Vietnamese citations. After serving in Vietnam, Ches returned to the Parkway School District and, in addition to his teaching responsibilities, has been the Department Chair of Unified Studies (a combination of English and history) for twenty-five years. He has coached track and football for seventeen years and is currently active in student-teacher development for various universities in the St. Louis area. As an educational consultant for the Reading Across Disciplines (RAD) program, Schneider has given seminars nationwide.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (March 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080411871X
• ISBN-13: 978-0804118712
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.7 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Vietnam War

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author's comments, March 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From Classrooms to Claymores: A Teacher at War in Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

Since FROM CLASSROOMS TO CLAYMORES is my first book, I 'm very excited to see it in print. I am pleased that Amazon.com will distribute it. There are several corrections that should be made to the Synopsis. When I was drafted at the age of 26, not 21, I was much older than most of the other men in my unit. (I was drafted 30 days before my 26th birthday. Had I made the age of 26, I would have been draft exempt and this book wouldn't have been written). Also, I served in the 1st Air Cavalry, not the 1st Air Vietnam. While I did behave myself most of the time and did get a Good Conduct Medal, I actually received the Air Medal for 25 plus combat assaults into enemy territory. I believe everyone who reads my story will enjoy it. Readers will find it different from the typical Vietnam type book. While I do tell a few shoot-em up stories (What war vet wouldn't?), about 50% of the book is humor and tales of daily survival in the jungle and on Fire Support bases.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Vietnam story for Everyone!, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: From Classrooms to Claymores: A Teacher at War in Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

Intrigued after hearing the author share some anecdotes recently, I read From Classrooms to Claymores. As a female reader, I never would have imagined picking up (let alone enjoying) a Vietnam-related story. I am not even a big fan of pop-culture war movies! However, being a teacher myself, it was interesting to get a glimpse into the persona of this fantastic storyteller and teacher. His sense of humor and realism hit home and make Vietnam not so much a glorified box office hit, but a story more young people should read. Thank you for your stories Mr. Schneider!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enlightened By the Misunderstood War, August 4, 2000

By 

Tammy Buehler (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Classrooms to Claymores: A Teacher at War in Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought the book after attending a 2-day workshop that the author had put on to a few fellow teachers. He had mentioned his book and said that he was a Vietnam vet. Looking for some light summer reading, I was a bit intrigued to read about a confusing time in our country's history. After taking a few history courses over my years of "academia", this book quite simply spelled out a unique viewpoint of the war which I clearly understood, as well as, "felt." Mr. Schneider wrote the book with the "everyday Joe" in mind -- one day enjoying his MidWestern life as an everyday American citizen and then suddenly on the combat lines in Vietnam. He had had no previous experience with military. He was a school teacher; not quite the ideal tough field "grunt" that runs through the typical American mind when one envisions Vietnam. He does an outstanding job of even putting a "Glossary of Terms" in the back of the book to use for the readers to constantly refer to for some military and war terms used throughout the book. Mr. Schneider uses an excellent mix of reality, humor, and emotions in his book to keep the reader intrigued. What originally was intended for some light reading wound up being an excellent, heart-felt history lesson. Thank you, Mr. Schneider, for putting your story into a book so this confusing time in American history can better be understood.