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Lepers and Lunacy: An American in Vietnam

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This is not only an interesting reading experience, it is an enlightening one as well. Author Kenneth Herrmann takes us on a spiritual journey looking for our collective soul--back to where he lost it many decades before. This time, he has a mission of peace and what he finds and how he is treated makes for some most gripping stories.

His book, "Lepers and Lunacy an American in Vietnam Today," begins with him preparing himself for this self-discovery trip back to Nam. He tells of an experience in Bogotá, Colombia where he visits with prisoners in the jails. He was asked by a young woman in prison who had given birth to a baby boy to be the godfather. They went to the prison cathedral for the baptism. Later on he learns that this young girl's baby was taken away and shot, as a way to get others to talk. This is just one of many personal stories that prepare him for what he will face going back to Nam.

In Nam he runs into troubles even with his fellow American veterans who do not understand why he is there helping out and being a part of a healing ceremony at a graveyard.

This whole book shows the compassionate side of this veteran as he struggles at times, trying to bring aid and comfort to his former enemies. He has to face opposition and hurdles from both sides including paying bribes to officials to bring in needed supplies for their own citizens.

There is a book about finding and discovering who you really are as a person. I think the author shows us a huge part of his heart and soul with his true story of his adventure back to Nam and of his eventually creating a non-profit organization to help children.

Advocate for human rights - Read article about Author

[...]

Kenneth J. Herrman's semi-autobiographical first person account of an American's experience in modern central Vietnam in both intriguing and educational. A war veteran's return to Vietnam, to make peace with a himself, inadvertently leads to his making peace with the country he once helped destroy. In the process of building personal relationships in Vietnam, Mr. Herrman ends up creating a university program at the college he teaches social work at, in Western New York, that fosters an understanding between two countries that were once at odds. In the process of telling this unique story, Mr. Herrman describes the cultural differences, social codes, and business ethics of Vietnam, a country that is so commonly misunderstood. This book is perfect for anyone who is either considering studying in Vietnam, or intends to do business there.