This author was an Army reporter and photographer whose first novel, The Bridge, placed us in the middle of the devastating war in Vietnam. Now in the first part of this book Alan Ramias reaches deeper into the psyches of soldiers sent there, offering three stories, each based on real-life characters and incidents.Where friends struggle with clashing emotions of love and jealousy while navigating loneliness and the dangers of a war that had no boundaries or front lines.Where a young man is forced to live the ungodly experiences of war by a controlling monster of a father.Where a worn and tattered veteran returns home to an endless darkness of broken promises, trashed friendships, an unfeeling family and an indifferent hometown.This is the Vietnam War and its aftermath as it really was. The second half of the book is a collection of poetry written by the author over a span of 40 humorous, quietly reflective, experimental, and always fascinated with language and imagery.