What was it like to live through the only war America lost in the twentieth century? Firebase Tan Tru answers that question by describing one man's adventures fighting in Vietnam's Mekong Delta during the peak of the war in 1969. A unique feature of this story is that it focuses upon that rare enlisted man who was already a college graduate, struggling to cope not only with the authoritarian rigidity of America's Army but also the horror and madness of the war itself. It describes both harrowing nearly fatal clashes in combat and the numerous surreal experiences encountered in that foreign land. If you are curious about how a bizarre war like Vietnam changes a thoughtful young man into cynicism and skepticism, then Firebase Tan Tru is a book you need to read. It provides insights into the personal psychology of both America's Vietnam era officers and the enlisted men they lead as well as our Vietnamese allies and our Vietnamese enemies.

This book is about the invisible wound of war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In a semi-memoir format, it explains the historical development of PTSD, its myriad symptoms and the scientifically verified psychological and medical treatments for the disorder. It also investigates the exciting new research into its neurobiological foundations. Combining the basic tenets of cognitive psychotherapy and his own military experience, the author has developed and refined many unique therapeutic ideas and insights; these are described in detail and in plain language. (Just for example, the reader will learn that the Bible's Fourth Commandment is usually mistranslated and awareness of this can help a combat veteran ease guilt over killing the enemy.) Because it is a hidden, psychological wound, veterans afflicted with PTSD may find it difficult to understand their symptoms. Veterans and their families can better understand PTSD by reading this book.