My 'Nam

I want to first say that this book-----MY 'NAM----- is written through my eyes and from my point of view about my experiences as an Army Officer serving in a Construction Engineer Battalion in Vietnam. Every man who
served during the Vietnam War has his own story and my experiences do not pretend to speak for the many thousands of US Soldiers who served in different kinds of units (Army, Navy, Marines) performing different kinds of duties and tasks in many different locations in the Republic of Vietnam.

This is MY story ----- my Vietnam experiences ----- MY 'NAM. 'Nam was the shortened name that the men (soldiers) gave to Vietnam. This story is not just a war story, as I did not see the level of enemy activity that many of the Infantry units saw. They were looking for and wanting to engage the enemy. As a Construction Engineer Battalion, we were building roads and airfields. These roads were largely in unsecured areas, with minimal security provided for our men and equipment as we constructed these roads. These roads were vital to getting men, equipment, and supplies ----- quickly and safely ----- to the various remote areas of the country where the enemy was located. Unlike the infantry units, we were not looking for the enemy but in many, many cases, the enemy was looking for us ----- and they found us ----- far too many times.

I was motivated to write my story to provide information about my military and Vietnam experiences, so as to provide information for my children and grandchildren. It has been very common for war veterans to not want to talk about their war experiences with their families. The reasons for the reluctance of these veterans to talk about their war experiences are many and varied. It is my thought that these pent-up emotions can affect these men, who have returned from a combat zone, for a lifetime. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide have been some of the sad and severe outcomes for war veterans. War is hell! The horrors of war can go against every bit of moral fiber that a soldier possesses. Trying to bury these horrors is mentally unhealthy and destructive. It is my hope that some of the things I have written will motivate many other veterans to tell their stories to their families and loved ones as a way of "unburying" these negative emotions and "freeing" their consciousnesses of the horrors that have plagued them ever since they returned to their world of family, jobs, careers, relationships, etc. The consciousness that society has today of PTSD, makes it easier for loved ones to understand, and forgive, if necessary.

This is My 'Nam ----- my story. I hope it enlightens my family and my loved ones and provides a path for other veterans and their families to move on with their lives in a healthy and productive way.

Tom Curry
2018