A Veteran’s Toughest Fight

They survived the insanity of the Vietnam War by telling themselves, “It don’t mean nuthin’.” But it did. This collection of nonfiction short works tells the story of how war damages our soldiers, and then pulls back the curtain of trauma treatment to offer a rare glimpse of how these veterans strive to integrate those combat experiences and to recover. Though intimately revealing the human shadow and darkness of war, this is a hopeful book: it is about transformation, restoring meaning and connection, and navigating the archetypal hero’s journey as survivors come home from war. It seeks to unite our warriors and civilian public together in learning and healing. Their stories are this liminal bridge.
This narrative arose from the psychotherapeutic process of treating our nation’s combat veterans for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But this book is also about the author’s own self-discovery, tracing his evolution as a clinical psychologist and combat trauma specialist dedicated to working with Vietnam veterans. The author serves as a therapist, narrator, advocate, keeper of veterans’ sacred “dark” wisdom, and fellow traveler.

David T. Klein, Psy.D. has worked for more than 25 years as a staff psychologist and combat trauma specialist in an outpatient trauma recovery program for veterans. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

David T. Klein
Foreword by Edward Tick
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 50 photos, glossary, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9541-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5285-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Edward Tick

Preface

Introduction

I—The Descent  

 You’re the First

 War Calendar

 The Grunt with One Name

 Blue Eyes

 Welded Wings

 Flower of the Heart

 Cost of Courage

 Unlucky Strikes

 The Tent

 The Low Side

 Forged in the Jungle

 Sleeping with the Dead

 Promises to ­One-Eyed George

 Lost in the Woods

II—Transformation and Return  

 Silent Night

 Thresholds

 Rolling Sanctuary

 Banana Cream Pie

 Champ

 The Grenade

 Father’s Map

 The Resident

 Just Shoot Me

 The Adopted

 Buddha’s Treasure

 Mrs. Schafer’s Requiem

 The Crucifix

 Well of Forgiveness

 War Smiles

Conclusion

Glossary

Index

• “Klein’s reflection about his twenty-six-year-long career as a therapist connects the personal and the professional spheres, for the man and the healer are one in the journey through the experience. This book is an act of recognition and intermediation between the ‘small’ community of veterans and the ‘broader’ public, i.e. those who too often pretend not to share the same legacy with their fellow citizens who sacrificed so much for their country.”—Close Encounters in War

• “The book brings together different stories of veterans who served during the war, their horrific experiences in the Vietnam jungle, and how the war affected their lives. This powerful nonfiction book will pull at the heartstrings of readers. … I have never read a book that is this emotional before. I found myself drawn to tears, and my heart ached while also gaining insights from these heart-touching stories of these veterans. … What I enjoyed most about this book was the author’s writing style. The way the author wove the stories of these veterans was intriguing. I wasn’t bored by their stories, but rather it felt like I was in the PTSD group with them, listening to them talk. It was so real that I could picture the therapy sessions like I was there. This is a deeply emotional book that will take readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion. … This is a beautiful, inspiring, and heartfelt book that should be read by all… I rate this book five out of five stars. I recommend it to all veterans, not only those who fought in Vietnam but also those who served in other wars”—Online Book Club