"The Vietnam Worm" is a collection of stories based on the actual experiences of the author and the men he served with. The central character is Sergeant Tom Danville, a man fighting not only the Vietcong, but the combat sickness, 'The Worm', that is slowly and secretly invading his brain. From cobras and man-eating tigers, to dealing with incompetent officers and booby traps, the book tells of the daily life of Danville and his men as they strive to survive not only the horrors of war, but the transition of returning home to a country that neither appreciated nor understood the suffering and sacrifices they had made. The Vietnam War is all but forgotten now except by the thousands of men who were called and went, or volunteered because they truly believed it was the right thing to do. Many of these men still suffer now because they saw their duty and did it.
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About the Author
The author was born and raised in Georgia. After High School, he attended Columbus College, majoring in English. While taking a quarter off to work, he received his draft notice and went to Vietnam where he served with the 25th Infantry Division Wolfhounds from April of 1967 until he was wounded by an enemy mine in July of that year. He lost his right leg above the knee. Upon his return, he continued his education and received Associates in Electronics Technology and Accounting. He currently is employed by a grill manufacturer in the Inventory Control Department. He recently underwent examination by the Veteran''''s Administration for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is awaiting the results. The Vietnam Worm is his first book. The author and his wife, Barbara, currently reside in Harris County, Georgia.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
27TH INF WOLFHOUND TELLS IT LIKE IT HAPPENED!,
By
This review is from: The Vietnam Worm (Paperback)
Jimmy Johnson has a hit with his first attempt at writing. He tells the truth with a splash of fiction in a series of short stories. Johnson's book is based on his time in Vietnan and the men he served with. The central character being Sergant Tom Danville who had two enemies: Charlie and Combat Fatigue.
I liked this book because I was there with Jimmy and he has added one more chapter in history to what really happend in Vietnam. Jimmy, has brung to light another reality in the lives of men who gave some and who gave all for fredom and democracy. Jimmy,though he writes in a strictly non-coincidential manner using fictious names has actually put the face to many a forgotten real names and times as memories will be stirred but you won't stop reading. I liked the book not only because I served with Jimmy in the 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds but because the book is easy to read. The stories gives you the feeling of the emotions and the hardships his comrades faced in their day to day lives on the battlefield of Vietnam. I have read it three times already.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MWSA - Reader's Choice Award Winning Book for 2005!,
By W. H. McDonald Jr. "The American Author Assoc... (Elk Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Vietnam Worm (Paperback)
This is a great reading adventure for those who are seeking novels that deal with the Vietnam War in a slightly different fashion. First time author James Johnson, gives us an inside look at the men of that famous unit "The Wolfhounds." He allows the reader to observe the mental and emotional states of these veterans through the eye of a fictional story and characters; however, it runs so close to the author's and his former unit member's actual experiences, that it gives the storyline a very high intensity impact.
This is the best novel about the men who fought the ground war in Vietnam that I have read in the last 5 years. It captures the area, the sights, sounds, smells and feelings like an emotional digital camera. I flew most of my helicopter missions in this same area and time period where this story unfolds, so I had little trouble visualizing where he was at and what it was like. The descriptions and action come off as believable and real. Readers will be taken on an emotional ride. You will be changed in some way after reading this book. It will be difficult to forget some of the people and stories. Johnson uses great word and phrasing skills to capture the emotional and spiritual moments that his cast of characters goes through. "The Worm" refers to that mental process that slowly eats away at these combat veterans--eventually becoming infected with a bad case of PTSD! The book is given the MWSA highest rating. It is recommended reading for all mature age groups. 2005 Reader's Choice Award!
2.0 out of 5 stars
Blame it on the Worm,
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This review is from: The Vietnam Worm (Paperback)
Thirty years ago, Vietnam veterans were reluctant to say they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, it seems to be a real badge of courage. I have PTSD, America. Look what you've done to me. So it is with James Johnson's book: read and see what you've done to him. It's a kind of Humpty Dumpty story of a soldier that fell off the wall and couldn't be put back together again. This novel is not plot-driven, has little character development, and lacks dramatic impact. If you're not a Vietnam veteran or a devoted Wolfhound, you'll find it difficult to read and most likely will not finish it. It makes one wonder whether Johnson meant it that way or was incapable of writing a logical story. Maybe the book is, in a way, a self-fulfilling prophesy. As for the subconscious worm that supposedly motivates the characters in the story, I say nonsense. The author would have been much better off writing a memoir rather than trying to interpret the war by inventing a mythical creature to give it meaning. We've had too much of that with Vietnam. Books and movies about war are vain representations, and authors that do not admit this in their work are not being honest to those that suffered and died in the war. For a really good memoir about Vietnam, read "On Point" by Roger Hayes (also of the 25th Division), or "Traces of a Lost War" by Richard Barone, a frank narrative of heavy combat encountered by the 2d Wolfhounds, 1968-69.
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The Vietnam Worm, The Worm, Tom Danville, Colonel Chen, Duc Hoa, John Brown, Alpha Company, Third Platoon, Second Platoon, First Platoon, Major Patterson, Mai Lin, Tri Lap, United States, Sterling Miller, James Harrison, Sam Lee, The Weather Channel, Charlie Company, Sergeant Danville, King Cobra, Calvin Wilson, The Tet Offensive, After Danville, South Vietnamese Browse Sample Pages:
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The Vietnam Worm, The Worm, Tom Danville, Colonel Chen, Duc Hoa, John Brown, Alpha Company, Third Platoon, Second Platoon, First Platoon, Major Patterson, Mai Lin, Tri Lap, United States, Sterling Miller, James Harrison, Sam Lee, The Weather Channel, Charlie Company, Sergeant Danville, King Cobra, Calvin Wilson, The Tet Offensive, After Danville, South Vietnamese Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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