A Broken Silence in Vietnam: Stories from the Vietnam War

"The Vietnam experience is forever rooted in our souls." In 1966, Ray Cyrus joined the Army knowing his destination would be Vietnam. For God and country, he thought. That's how his tour began. It ended somewhat differently. After serving two tours in Vietnam, the second as a helicopter door gunner, Ray returned home a changed person. "I saw some awful things there, but I saw some good things, too. No one in my hometown ever said anything nasty to me. No one ever spat on me or called me a baby killer. But no one ever said 'Welcome home' either." As Ray approaches the later stages of his life, he finds that his time in Vietnam has been one of the most defining experiences of his life. Rewarding, and no regrets. "I am comfortable with the memories," he says. A Broken Silence in Vietnam is the story of one man's wartime experiences in the early years of America's most controversial war. Each chapter is followed by stories of several fellow Vietnam veterans that Ray has met out in public places while wearing his Vietnam veteran hat. From these chance encounters, Ray has come to learn that veterans are loyal to one another and mindful of the sacrifice each made in Vietnam. Their brotherhood is a strong one. Once the war ended, veterans fought their demons alone and in silence, with no recognition or credit from the country they fought for. For a long time, all they had was the support of each other. Though the Vietnam War is oftentimes forgotten, for the men and women who served in that war, the Vietnam experience is forever rooted in their souls. From the moment Ray meets a Vietnam combat veteran-be it Marine, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force-there is an instant, unspoken bond between them, an acknowledgment of one another's struggle in Vietnam that no one but a fellow veteran can understand.