Customer Reviews

From 'Nam With Love

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I've never been a big fan of poetry, but I'm a huge fan of Lloyd King and his hard-hitting, vivid honesty! Covering topics from his first day in Vietnam to getting shot in the head to coming home, his work is a violent storm of beauty, emotion, fear, humility, and faith, which paint an honest picture of the ugliness of war and the brotherhood of troops in combat. By reading it, I learned a little about poetry, a little more about Vietnam, and a whole bunch about the poet. I absolutely could not put it down, and think that it is a perfect book for either poetry lovers or combat veterans.

This morning I experienced the War in Vietnam. I spent the entire morning reading "From 'Nam With Love." Mr. King brought me back to the horrors of jungle combat with his words.

I could visualize a young American soldier scrawling his daily emotions into a notebook under the light of the moon. I felt his highs and lows and cried over the loss of his friends. He brought to life the daily struggle of just trying to survive a year in Hell.

His poetic vignettes display the raw emotoins of war. They are just as true today as they were a half-century ago. This book is not just for Vietnam veterans. It is for their families and our latest generation of warriors and their loved ones too.

This is a must read for those who want to understand the trauma of going to war.

My review won't be as eloquent as the other reviews but since it comes from a "Grunt" that spent a year sleeping in the rice paddies of `Nam, I hope it provides an insiders view on the subject. As I read the poems I was struck with two thoughts... first, I found I had shelved a lot of memories of what I went through during my tour and second, I didn't realize there was poetry in the things I saw. My basic memory as an infantryman is comprised of snippets of action that more resembled a montage of photos, pinpointing specific frozen events with nothing leading up to or away from the action taking place. Mr. King's book provides a background that gives movement to the static moments in my mind. Well done.

Emotional and spiritual and hard hitting poetry from the combat experiences of Lloyd King. In his well written book of prose, "From `Nam With Love - An Infantry Soldier's Vietnam" the reader is transformed along with the poet as he lives each day in the Nam. The poems are chronologically composed so that the emotional and spiritual energy grows and changes as the poet's "tour of duty" proceeds though the year. He labels the poems with dates that they represent; and occasionally ends some with a short footnote as to who was killed or if he was awarded some medal.

I have read thousands of Vietnam War poems over the last decade and there is for the most part a certain sameness to them. However, King takes us on new pathways with his thoughts and observations and covers some themes that I have not read else where. One of my favorite poems in his book illustrates this point clearly by going in a more divine and mystical direction. The poem is called "The Vision" and it deals with a strange event that happens to him on Hill 903.

There is much compassion in Kings poems as observed in several of his works of prose, such as the experiencing of his first combat kill. It shows a softer and more human side to this warrior; one that shows he is not some emotionless crazed killing machine as is portrayed in so many books and movies.

Lloyd's personal thoughts and out look on life are reflected throughout his book's prose and also in his wonderful illustrations. This is one of the better books of war poetry written from the Vietnam War. It is a journey of the heart and soul of that war experience for this poet and many others will be able to identify with him.

This book receives the MWSA's TOP BOOK RATING of FIVE STARS!

The MWSA's 2006 Gold Medal Award for "Best Book of Poetry"

I personally give this book my endorsement and highly recommend it to others.

Highly decorated Vietnam Veteran, Lloyd A. King has created art out of sorrow. "From 'Nam With Love" is a series of poetic vignettes, illustrated by the poet himself, presented in chronological order from the day he arrives in country until the day that he leaves. The stories Mr. King tells are harrowing. From the heartbreaking moment of truth described in "First Kill" to the terrifying "Hill 903" to the aching sadness of "Field Morgue", the poetry takes you back to the way it was in Vietnam, 1968. Highly recommended.

I met this author/ military man at his book signing release at the Hilton in Lafayette Louisiana. I was working there at the time
and was assigned to his event to cater to. I was so inspired by listening to his story I decided to purchase his book which
he personalized his autograph to me. Normally when I collect autographed items I refuse for personalization because I collect
things to one day sell later in my life mainly for my daughter when she gets into college. But this time I was so inspired
and touched by his speech I just let him sign it as he wanted. I was very pleased what he wrote and am thankful for his appreciation
for my appreciation for him. I have read this book a dozen times already and will probably read it a dozen more. His poetry is heart touching
and an inspiration for all those who have served in the military no matter what or where they served and also to people like
me who have not served. It gave me a more personal look at an army's daily life in Vietnam which gave me a new type of respect for
these military men. I have always been an anti-war person, especially during the Bush years. Since 9/11 I have done lots of
research in politics and past wars, and although I still do not agree with all the reasons for war, his book has given me a type
of respect I never had before for these men and women who serve and served. When I was at the Restoring Honor Rally on August 28th
I stopped to thank every man or woman who served and if they mentioned a Vietnam tour, I mentioned this wonderful book. A few I met had read
it with even more of having heard about it. So whether you like poetry or not or are against war or not, this is an excellent read
and will give anyone a new outlook at the daily life of what the soldiers of Vietnam went through, or at least one man's experience.
Thank you Mr King for your service and for sharing with me your experiences in the war. And thank you to every man or woman who signs their
life over to protect this wonderful nation. Much Love to all of you and again THANKS!
Shane Cormier
Lafayette Louisiana

With poetic fashion, Lloyd King choppered me into another world with his private depiction of the incredibly emotional and physical fight he, his men, and our enemy had in the jungles of Vietnam. The devil is in the details, and it is hard to imagine how anyone survived the daily attacks on mind body and soul - except to say it took God's hand and a soldier's guts and courage. I didn't want to put this book down and admire how Lloyd served our country as hell broke loose, 24/7. Lloyd's penciled drawings portrayed this war and this warriors experience as an airborne infantryman in a powerful, interesting way. The words added much more.

Every day or situation is almost unbelievable. Lloyd becomes a squad leader after only twelve days in country. He gets shot in the head, bandaged and sent home on emergency leave, but not from his head wound - his brother died the same day - at coincidentally the time Lloyd's wife has a baby. Reality seems far fetched but it's all far too true. Lloyd goes back to join the fight again with the feelings and scars from both sides of the world. A microscopic view of a "tour of duty" gets revealed.

This highly decorated and caring man helped me fully understand what the daily grind was like on a man in the Vietnam jungle. I will read it again and recommend it to anyone that cares to serve their fellow man.