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Walking Point

From the Ashes of the Vietnam War

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About this listen

 A Vietnam War veteran paints a searing portrait of his one-year tour of duty as an Army draftee, shedding light on the emotional and physical casualties of war

In this intimate memoir, Perry A. Ulander chronicles with powerful clarity the bewildering predicament he confronted and the fellowship and guidance that transformed him during the year he served as an American GI in the jungles of Vietnam. Conveying with unadorned precision the harrowing experiences that shatter his core beliefs, Ulander also captures the camaraderie and humor of his platoon, the hostility between “lifers” and draftees, the physical hardships of reconnaissance missions, and the unrelenting apprehension underlying everyday life. Ultimately, he describes the surrendering of social norms and accepted identities that allows him to glimpse a previously unimagined realm of heightened awareness.

Written after a lifetime of reflection on the nature of war and the effect of violence and domination on the minds and spirits of those forced to practice it, Walking Point offers a powerful narrative for readers with an interest in the effects of war and violence, American involvement in Vietnam, PTSD, and how trauma can be a catalyst for spiritual transformation. Giving voice to profound insights gained through extreme adversity, Ulander movingly captures the depth of trust and commitment among a group of unwitting warriors who struggle to stay alive and sane in unchartered territory. Military Military & War Vietnam War War Witty
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Like, 100%...Dislike, 0%. My personal experience of a different time and a different war still had the same type of experience with most officers and REMFS only interested in the glorification of their deeds in the anal areas of the war zone. Much stupidity abounds and can now be seen in TV documentaries. A certain Secretary of Defense of the previous administration was known for his outrageous and tactically stupid placement of FOBs. I digress... I can neither condone nor condemn the use of Marijuana as I have not had any direct dealings with it or soldiers under the effects of it. However, conscription is the fast track to military self destructive forces and to be taken from your home, job and loved ones because of a lottery is demoralizing from the get go. For the most part I found this story resonated with me in unusual ways, the search for that quiet place, being in the zone on patrol and going through a particular ritual to get into the zone. So, I enjoyed the story very much, but I would have liked to know if those second tour guys made it through ok. For someone who is not from a military background, this story would give a perspective that they would not have heard much about. Well not from a front line soldier openly discussing the situation. It may bring them to understand why veterans are not the same when they return. Losing friends is bad, but when it is dust off crews, the people who risk it all to get the wounded out, that loss is felt across the entire task force. Every person carrying a pack and a rifle depends on each other and the unsung medivac. The bonds are closer than biological brothers or sisters. They are not diminished, this is just what happens when your life is in so many other people's hands. Non military people need to grasp this brotherhood and not think that we consider ourselves elitist. This story does just that, it humanized the people who were conscripted, their fight against the war, the lifers, and the glory seekers. Fantastic story.

Unusual POV of combat soldiers

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