Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran : Silent Victims [Paperback]

Alicia J. Boyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

Alicia and Jack Boyd began their married life as all other young couples do, full of love for each other and hope for the future. Jack was excited when his orders finally came through for training as a helicopter pilot. Becoming a pilot was his life-long dream. Jack was overjoyed, in spite of the possibility of serving a one-year tour in Vietnam.

To Alicia's sadness and confusion, the Jack Boyd that returned from serving his country in Vietnam was not the same eager young soldier that she'd married. Something happened to Jack in that remote Asian war that would forever mar the family.

The Vietnam War has raged on for years, leaving real destruction strewn in its path. During that time, it robbed Jack Boyd's siblings of a brother. It took a son from his father and mother. For years his children lost a dad, the grandchildren lost a grandpa, and Alicia Boyd lost her husband, who was her love and her best friend.

The family fought this war for more than thirty years, scarred in the long struggle by many landmines along the way; and although each member of the family has been wounded in battle, they received no medals, no recognition, no awards, and no rewards. They waited that heart-wrenching year for his return from overseas; and wait still. During all these years, they found themselves walking in the Shadow of a Vietnam Veteran. For now they remain imprisoned in those shadows, becoming the Silent Victims of that war.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alicia J. Boyd was born in the state of Virginia, but her family moved to North Carolina when she was still a young child. At the time of her graduation, she married her high school sweetheart. The young couple had three children before they decided that they couldn't continue their lives together.

She was trained for office practice in school, however at the time the pay for that vocation was minimal so she chose to work in a restaurant. Although her pay was very small, there was an opportunity to receive tips from customers. This helped her to support her children and herself.

It was during her work as a waitress that she met and married her true love, a soldier who was introduced by her brother. They had three additional children in the years that followed. Their marriage led to the adventures and travels that are described in Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran.

She chose to use a pseudonym instead of her real name, and one of the children's name has been changed by request. All other events and facts in this book are true as she remembers them, some from her journal, others from burning memories that have been etched in her heart.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Read excerpts from the book:

I had just departed from the Des Moines, Iowa airport. My wonderful young husband, Jack, was somewhere up in the clouds on his way to Vietnam. Alone, driving north to Ames where the young helicopter pilot and I had bought a home before he left, it was difficult to concentrate on the traffic. A memory of our heartrending goodbye was fresh in my mind, and my heart had been left there with him at the gate.

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Often during that year, a dozen red roses from Jack was delivered to me from Hawaii. Even in combat he had a heart filled with love and compassion for others. We realized how lucky we were to have such a thoughtful and loving husband and father....My dreams were about the wonderful happy times that would be shared following his return from battle.

********

When he came into view, my heart swelled with delight....Then his eyes mirrored the torment inside him. It's hard to explain what was there. All of the horror and grief from the war seemed to be just below the surface, ready to boil over. His deep dark eyes, that had drawn me to him that day long ago, darted from side to side as if he were expecting an enemy to appear. He was seemingly on guard and untrusting of everything and everyone.

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His mood became dark and scary, making it clear to me that problems were brewing. Things could get out of control any moment. Anything could set him off...When we reached our friends' house, he resumed drinking, with the guys sitting up until early morning reminiscing about Vietnam....I buried my head under the pillow to close out the sounds. There had to be something else to talk about, but this seemed to cloud over him and envelop his every thought

Product Details

• Paperback: 153 pages
• Publisher: Truman Publishing Company; 1st edition (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966339363
• ISBN-13: 978-0966339369
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,762,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellant book the whole family will enjoy, February 28, 2001

By 

ricky ayers (NORTH CAROLINA U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran : Silent Victims (Paperback)

this book was the best book I have ever read. when I receive the book I was only going to read a few chapters at a time, but when I started reading it I could not put it down. I never realized the war had put so much stress on the family.I think this book would be good therapy for any one that has had a family member in the vietnam war.It also covers topics of everyday life, and situations that alot of families have to deal with. The book is funny and sad. I laughed some and also cried some.it let me know of how sheltered that my life has been.If anyone has ever questioned their faith in GOD all they have to do is read this book and they will know that GOD does exist and prayer does work. Hats off to the author and her family for they are true survivors.I would recommend this book highly.

4.0 out of 5 stars An amazing but heartwrenching book, January 28, 2004

By 

Noonie Fortin (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran : Silent Victims (Paperback)

Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran: Silent Victims by Alicia J. Boyd is an amazing yet heart-wrenching book. It chronicles the life of a family and their trials and tribulations of dealing with the after effects of the Vietnam War. The author began up front saying she didn't use her real name or one of her children's but that everything else in the book was "true as I remember."

Having been previously married and with three children the author was surprised later on when she met her "true love" soldier. Once married they had three more children and the family blended well together.

The book begins with her new husband departing for Vietnam but then back tracks showing how Jack and Alicia met. Their first couple of duty stations together including a tour overseas. Then it was Jack's training for helicopters to get his wings and warrant officer bars. Shortly thereafter he received his orders "to report to the 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam" in May 1966.

"The year seemed like an eternity." The family waited daily for his letters. When they arrived they were light and airy not delving into what was really happening. Likewise Alicia didn't report everything happening at home to Jack either. The family watched the news every night and worried about his safety knowing his unit was flying in very dangerous conditions.

When Jack arrived back in The World was when their problems began. The man they knew before his tour of duty in Vietnam was not the same man who returned to them. "Alcohol became his protector from the awful memories." At that time according to the author she "was aware of no counseling nor classes that the army offered to these returning soldiers or their families." Although he was now assigned as an instructor pilot he drank more and more. He finally turned to civilian life instead of chancing having to return to Vietnam.

Thus Alicia, Jack and their family began their journey of moving from place to place. They both held various jobs in different places. While there were good times, there seemed to be more bad ones. There were times when they "had no money, no jobs and no work prospects." Jack would go in and out of treatment programs. The children were affected, as was the marriage.

When really important things happened such as when one of their daughters was burned Jack was able to control himself and deal with the situations at hand. He finally got involved with the Post Traumatic Stress Clinic and that seemed to help-when he attended their sessions.

Throughout the book I kept waiting to read where Alicia and/or the children sought help for their own anguish. Unless I missed it, none of them ever went to an AL-ANON meeting. And while they weren't providing Jack with his alcohol they also didn't seem to be doing anything to make him stop other than take him to the VA Hospital occasionally.

This is a book that must be read. I know that many Veterans and their families have gone through similar events. AND sadly most everyone is too proud or afraid to ask for help. This family needed it. Had they gotten it right away perhaps their relationships wouldn't have fallen apart the way they did. I kept wishing that the author used her real name just because I know folks that might be able to help her and her family even now-years after the Vietnam War ended.

2.0 out of 5 stars A story of alcoholism, January 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Shadows of a Vietnam Veteran : Silent Victims (Paperback)

I read this book with great interest as my husband is also a Vietnam vet with PTSD. While Alicia Boyd's husband is certainly a victim of PTSD, he is primarily an alcoholic. I was saddened as I read the account of their life together and her husband's descent into the depths of alcoholism. I found little hope in this book and finished feeling that she needs to go to more alanon meetings and stop enabling his destructive behavior. I hope he finds recovery from the devastating disease of alcoholism.