Through a Soldier's Eyes: The Vietnam Memoir of Lieutenant Alan Hansen($16.95Value)

Description

A DIFFERENT KIND OF VIETNAM WAR STORY The UNDERTOLD story of those soldiers supporting the combat troops in the Vietnam War and the UNTOLD story of their Vietnamese female companions: This story is about the ninety percent of the soldiers who served in the Vietnam War—the “support” soldiers. Army First Lieutenant Alan Hansen, a supply officer, is one of these soldiers. But his story also includes that of a Vietnamese woman who was his girlfriend throughout his tour there. The impact of the War and its soldiers upon her life, and women like her, has not been told before. The author’s 1970/71 Vietnam tour was a time of deteriorating soldier morale, marked by periods of comical leadership and tragedy. The only constant during this period was the support from his female companion. In late March 1972, the author returned to Vietnam as a tourist to search for his former Vietnamese girlfriend. The author has assigned a minimum reading age of 17 for this book. The author's story includes 27 photos taken during his one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. "Through a Soldier's Eyes recounts the experiences of First Lieutenant Alan Hansen, a support soldier in the Vietnam War, and his relationship with a Vietnamese woman, Hai, who became his girlfriend during his one-year tour. Unlike the combat-focused narratives often told about Vietnam, this story highlights the lives of the 90 percent of soldiers who served in support roles, providing logistics, intelligence, and other essential services. Hansen's role was with the Army Security Agency (ASA), operating under the alias "Radio Research," which intercepted enemy communications to provide critical intelligence. The narrative captures soldiers' declining morale during the war's later years, marked by absurd leadership decisions, moments of humor, and tragic events. Hansen's bond with Hai provided him with emotional stability during the chaos. Hai, like many Vietnamese women, faced enormous challenges, relying on relationships with American soldiers for survival. Her life was shaped by the war, including raising children fathered by departing soldiers. ...Through humor, tragedy, and photographs, Hansen's story offers a unique perspective on the Vietnam War and its lasting effects. I've read many books on Vietnam, and Hansen's raw honesty makes this among the best, if not the best." A Readers' Favorite 5-star review by Carol Thompson "...Through a Soldier's Eyes was a fascinating read as it chronicled the daily life, trials, and interactions of soldiers not necessarily on the frontlines but critical to the successful imposition of a military strategy. ... This is a memoir of an ordinary soldier who was changed forever by his Vietnam experience. I highly recommend this book . " A Readers' Favorite 5-star review by Grant Leishman "The role of support troops in the Vietnam War has not received the publicity that it deserved, nor has the interaction of the American soldiers with local women seen much attention, perhaps to downplay the obvious and appease moralists at home. ... Photographs of the author's environment provide an additional window into life in Vietnam during the war. Such personal images are rare and add depth to the narrative." A Readers' Favorite 5-star review by Leonard Smuts