Don's Nam (Paperback)

~ (Author), Leonard Martin (Author), Gilda M. Agacer (Author) "I was born on February 10, 1945 at the U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Bowie, Texas (Fort Brownwood)..." (more)
Key Phrases: crying ass pity, library hootch, convoy briefing, Long Binh, Quan Loi, Dong Tam (more...)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Don Rast was born in Brownwood, Texas and is a graduate of Louisiana State University. While attending LSU, he was commander of the Army Bengal Raiders, which emphasized training in counter-guerilla tactics and special warfare techniques. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and holder of numerous art awards. His seven years in the military resulted in a variety of interesting assignments such as those written about the "Orient Express" in this book. He was a convoy commander in the 534th and 379th Transportation Companies, 7th Transportation Battalion in Vietnam; a battery commander with the 8/17th (SP155) Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; project officer for "Operation Red Hat," (the removal of toxic chemical/nerve munitions from Okinawa to Johnson Island). Created and implemented a fifty-man Bureau of customs contraband detachment while stationed at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan; and served as a company commander of a transportation unit at Fort Eust! is, Virginia. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm. Mr. Rast resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and owns a home improvement company, while continuing to write. His sequel book to this one is "Ghosts In The Wire," about his, and other Vietnam veterans feelings when they returned home from the war. A third book, "Bayou Samurai," is his current writing project, regarding his additional experiences in Asia with the military and Bureau of Customs. His hobbies are painting, studying Oriental religion and customs, and gardening. Married to Delia Berras of the Philippines, he has two sons from a previous marriage, who now reside in Japan, and two step-sons. His equivocal approach to ontology is, to say the least-esoterically and portentously that of a Universalist. Professor Gilda M. Agacer, Monmouth University, New Jersey

Product Details

• Paperback: 399 pages
• Publisher: Universal Publishers; 1 edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581128495
• ISBN-13: 978-1581128499
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,369,888 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic of Comic Absurdity, September 5, 2000

By	David A. Willson (Maple Valley, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reviewer: David A. Willson, author of REMF Diary, The REMF Returns and In the Army Now

In my role as a Vietnam War literature bibliographer, I have read hundreds of books dealing with the war. Most of the memoirs and novels are junk or the same basic book over again. Rast's book is not junk. There is no other Vietnam War book even a little bit like it. His lively narrative (from an Army lieutenant's point of view) deals with 1969-70, when Nixon was taking his time withdrawing the U.S. from the war. The subject is the extremely hazardous job of convoy commander assigned to the "Orient Express," the 534th and 379th Transportation Companies, 7th Transportation Battalion. Rast has written a unique and fascinating book filled with comic absurdity, phantasmagoric scenes and believable characters of all ranks and races. And he includes the Vietnamese, unlike the authors of most Vietnam War memoirs and novels. The insanity of the war has never been better explored and exploded. I highly recommend Don's Nam.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is reality, July 28, 2000

By	Ben Feliciano (West Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

First of all, I am a member of Lt Don's platoon from the 379th Trans Co. Reading about our experiences gave me some laffs, a few tears and a lot of goosebumps ! Lt. Don has captured the absurdity, streaks of madness and overall experience of the convoy truckers of the Nam (unsung heroes). He tells of the maturing of young boys into men (American & Vietnamese alike). His insights into east/west philosophies, the politics of the day and the plight of everyman should be required reading.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vietnam Veteran's Perspective of the Orient Express, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

Don's Nam is an excellent book describing the daily experiences of the men of the 534th Transportation Co. This is a must reading for all those interested in this not-so-popular political war of Vietnam. The fire fights, ambushes, and sweep patrols were described about as vividly and accurately as you can get. Thank you for reporting the events and situations that have been pushed far back in our minds. You have, I am sure, helped many of your readers recall, relive, and rethink their experiences in Vietnam. The book along with the photographs provides a way for us veterans to share our experiences with our spouses and children and perhaps help them to understand us better. Every word you have written is so meaningful to me, since I served with you during part of your tour of duty, and can personally vouch for the authenticity of the events you described. The last time I saw you was 30 years ago in a rice paddy on patrol outside of Long Binh, and to find you alive, well, and on the Internet, was quite a suprise. God bless you. Christoper Cross---Vietnam, Oct. 68-Nov. 69.