I Served [Paperback]

Don C. Hall (Author), Annette R. Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2006

Unceremoniously dumped in the orphanage by their drunken, war-traumatized father, Don and his brother Mike learn the harsh realities of life. We can feel the fear of the tormented child and smell the antiseptic dormitory. Not all is bad there, for it is during this time that the young Donald sees his true love, Annette, for the first time. Her brunette hair, twinkling eyes and heart-melting smile are what help sustain the warrior's sanity and focus during some of his darkest moments, which are yet to come.

Don was a 'malcontent renegade' in the eyes of the nuns, because he fought for his dignity and that of his brother. Recalcitrant, yet gregarious, Don is dismissed from the orphanage with his brother, and returned to the father who had abandoned them. No hope for the future leads the seventeen-year-old boy, old beyond his years, to a recruiter's office and the Army.

In August 1967, after a tour in Alaska and six months in Germany, the young paratrooper volunteers for duty in the Republic of Vietnam and is initially assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade. Then, he hears a call for volunteers and joins a new long range patrol unit being formed, with the motto "I Serve," and the charter of taking the war to the enemy. Expertly weaving heart-thumping moments as enemy soldiers walk past within mere feet of patrols, the cacophony of battle and copper-taste of adrenaline during contacts, and the stark contrasts of the war, Don Hall takes us on his tour with the Lurps. We feel the anguish of losing teammates, and share the love for comrades. We see the oblivious eyes of the enemy walking toward an ambush, and the handmade wooden cross prepared by a soldier for a dead enemy tossed from a helicopter. We hear the cries of the wounded and the soft strains of songs on the radio. We feel the hurt and anger of the young boy, and the power and control of the soldier as he serves.

I Served takes us on a journey we cannot stop once the first page is turned. In the end, it is the simple understatement of service and quiet professionalism which makes this story different. We should all pause to reflect that we have much for which to be thankful, provided by the sacrifices of those who served.
-book description written by Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger

Editorial Reviews

Review

Don Hall tells the story of Company F before, during, and after Tet in intimate details. -- Keith William Nolan, author of The Battle for Saigon: Tet 1968

From a turbulent childhood, to a warrior's role, to a special love - riveting and true. -- Dennis Foley, author of Long Range Patrol

From a turbulent childhood, to a warrior's role, to a special love -riveting and true. -- Dennis Foley, author of Long Range Patro

Honest, gritty, passionate - I Served greatly adds to the personal narrative history of LRRPs in America's longest war -- Lt. Col. Michael Lee Lanning (USA, retired), author of Inside the LRRPs: Rangers in Vietnam

I think I SERVED is a great contribution to the overall story of the Vietnam experience. -- General Fred C. Weyand, U.S. Army, ret.

Oliver Twist, Romeo and Juliet, and All Quiet On The Western Front all rolled into one. An extraordinary literary achievement. -- Jim Morris, author of War Story

From the Author

I SERVED was written differently from most other Vietnam memoirs. Instead of being a chronological recitation of my experiences growing up in the orphanage and then going to Vietnam and serving with Co. F, 51st Long Range Patrol (Airborne) Infantry, I made its focus be the characters in the story. That is its greatest strength and what makes it such a good read. Because I focused so closely on character, you really get to care about the person Don Hall because you know what makes him tick, what is important to him, and what drives him. You are also engaged by the other people you meet in the story because they are so clearly drawn. You don't have to be a military buff to enjoy the book.

I SERVED is a factual story backed up by official U.S. Army records. Col. William C. Maus, the man who formed F/51st LRP, told me where to find that documentation. I also have copies of handouts we received when we went to Recondo School. Before he died, he told me how much he enjoyed reading the book. He praised me for having written such a great story about a unit he was proud to have commanded. He was a visionary who knew our unit was the vanguard for future U.S. Army military strategy and tactics. I remember his telling me at the time that F/51st LRP was making history. Being just a naïve 19-year-old staff sergeant, I didn't understand the significance of that statement. I do now.

We hope readers are so intrigued that they will order a copy of I SERVED when its available. The paperback version is a reprint of the original 1994 hardbound edition, with a revised preface and afterword, a new War Stories section (with stories from other men with whom I served), and new photographs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (July 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552124894
• ISBN-13: 978-1552124895
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,436,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable events revealed, September 13, 2002

By 

Robert Gonzaga (Bakersfield, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Served (Paperback)

I Served relates to the reader the very essence of what happened. His descriptions of what he saw were to a "T" what I saw . No one is given any more importance than the other, and only Don's experiences are recorded. He tells of his youth in a Catholic Orphanage. About his brutal treatment and his coming of age in one of the longest battles of our generation. Many things that have been left unwritten, feelings have been repressed, emotions that nobody really understands, have gone unacknowleged, gratitude and understanding is only now being expressed. It was like we fought battles for so many who would never appreciate the freedom they so freely take for granted. As we look back on the years of our youth, students with college deferments became the most educated people ever for fear of being drafted. Many didn't even want to go to college.
Don Hall has captured in print what I have wanted to tell others about for over thirty years. Many people have looked at me with , unbelieving looks in their eyes, or "is this guy for real" eyes as I recounted many of the truly unbelievable events that actually took place. Don and I were team leaders in different platoons of "F" Company 51st LRP (Airborne) Infantry. We both served with the 173rd at Dakto . All of what Don experienced after arriving in country is exactly what I felt being with the herd until the 51st was formed. The mosquitoes, spiders, snakes, leaches, climbing the mountains with 160# rucksacks, not batheing for over 50 days, uniforms ripped to shreds by "wait a minute" vines. We both encountered similar and different experiences. We sprung ambushes against bigger elements because we were compromised. Logically speaking we would never have done a lot of the things that we had to do. We jumped out of Helicopters 10-15 feet in the air that couldn't set down in our primary or secondary LZ's. We counted over 250 NVA less than 100 feet away in broad daylight. We were in their area of operation, we were a six man team walking parallel to them going in the same direction. We were a top secret operation, very little was known about our unit, but CHARLIE knew about us. Sometimes, Nothing sounds so far from the truth than the truth itself.
We were in the prime of our youth, we were given a job to do and we did it to the best of our ability. We were not glory hunters, we were survivors, and survive we did. We accomplished what others have only dreamed of doing and Don is telling his account of "F" Company 51st LRP (Airborne) Infantry. I served tells it like it was. I would highly recommend this book as part of anybodies history class on the Vietnam Conflict.

54 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Grit, July 6, 2000

By 

D.A.Brinkley (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Served (Hardcover)

I have read other books about VietNam, but none comes close to the power of this one. The power of this story comes from the simple, straightforward manner in which it is told. The style is personal, not grandiose. There is no attempt to "glorify," consequently, the events, simply stated, become huge, heartfelt and inspirational. How he survived the decade from 1958 to 1968 is nothing short of a miracle and is a testament to his tremendous courage. The story of F Company, 51st LRP is not well known to most Americans. It should be. Hopefully, Don and Anette's book will make it so. I remember after seeing "Born on the Fourth of July," saying to myself that Oliver Stone's voice should be heard by all Americans. I have read "I Served" four times and I believe that Don and Annette's voices are just as important. This book is an astonishing achievement. It is an important American work.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Read, August 20, 2002

By 

J. McNeill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Served (Paperback)

I am the fortunate owner of a signed first edition of the 1994 limited edition and I am thrilled to see it in print again. I cannot recommend it too highly as a valuable addition to the LRRP genre. I have many many books in my collection of 490 books on the Vietnam War which cover LRRPS, rangers etc and this is one of the best. It gives a much fuller account of the man and his experiences than many others in this field. The endorsement of such luminaries as Michael Lanning, Jim Morris and Keith Nolan all of whom produced standout works should be enough for any reader. When you have enjoyed the book check out the video.