Searching for the Good: A Young Man's Journey to War and Back

By Thomas A. Brewer

Book Overview

Finally, a book that speaks to the heart of anyone seeking a true understanding of how the Vietnam war unfolded in the lives of those who fought in it. Not your typical war story, Searching for the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970133901
• ISBN13: 9780970133908
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Quaise Pubns
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Read This Book To Feel What It Was Like In Vietnam

I received this book from a friend who had met the author and thought I'd be interested, since I was a Vietnam Vet also. Tom Brewer's book was a wonderful read. It brought back many memories, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was written. There is no stumbling through this book; you're quickly drawn into Tom's life and his experiences. And though all of us have unique experiences in life, Tom's memories are often similar to mine. I felt myself agreeing with Tom's expressions of patriotism in the 50s, the desire to "serve our country" for what it had given us, the need to "make up" for a relative who hadn't served in World War II, and the desire to help others and follow a code of behavior which was admired. I, too, was an officer in the US Army, stationed in the Mekong Delta, in a combat branch, though fortunately not in face to face combat. Tom helped me to feel what he felt and I strongly recommend the book to anyone wishing to participate in the Vietnam war and times through his first hand experience.Though I respect Tom's experiences and commend him for his service, I can't say I agree with his conclusions about the War. However, that is what made the Vietnam era so very interesting and challenging. Every soldier's experience in Vietnam was somewhat different and each person's war was different, too. Some soldiers came home saying as Tom did, we could have won "if only", and others came home saying this war wasn't ours to win or lose, it was the South Vietnamese's. The same issues argued about in the United States were often spoken by the soldiers who served there. But the overall feelings of this war were well expressed by Tom. We have every right to be proud of our service for most of us went to Vietnam because our country asked us to do so. We wanted to serve our country and we did it proudly! Thank you Tom for sharing your life with the rest of us.

Recommended for military buffs & political science students.

In Searching For The Good: A Young Man's Journey To War And Back is the intense personal story of Thomas Brewer's personal sojourn from the unreflective patriotism 1950s, post-World War II childhood, to the font lines of the Cold War in Germany, to lethal and political ambiguous, controversial combat in Vietnam, to his post war struggle to build a life in a society that just wanted to forget it all. Highly recommended for military buffs, political science and social science students, as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in late 20th Century American history, Searching For The Good is part military memoir, part social/political analysis, and offers a unique, comprehensive, compelling perspective on the times and the events that shaped a generation of young men just like Tom Brewer.

A first hand history lesson

I am giving this book to all my friends who were in Vietnam as a thank you. My high school and college years were spent debating the pros and cons of our involvement in this war that wasn't a war. Contemporaries were dying while we questioned and protested. Tom Brewer tells his story with such ease yet it is packed with poignancy. We didn't appreciate then how lucky we were to have such heroes. Worse yet we didn't recognize them for all their sacrifices on their return. There is no changing the past but I'll make a point of thanking all those that I know and making sure that my children read this book so they never forget a generation of men who are often forgotten.

An excellent discussion of the realities of Vietnam

This book eloquently captures the struggles and realities of Brewer's Vietnam War experience and his return after being wounded. This is hardly a "poor me" study but instead a thought provoking narrative about a time in US history that far too many of us don't understand.Written in a very readable style it should be recommended reading for every high school/college student studying the Vietnam War and a must read for any teacher attempting to cover the topic.

The Human Side of Vietnam

"Searching for the Good" provides a man's self-reflection on his personal experiences during the Vietnam War. Written decades after his experience, this true story has captured the feelings and sentiments that were so fresh decades ago. But the story is also shaped by the wisdom and insights that only time can bring. Read this book if you know someone who lives with their own memories of Vietnam. Read this book if you want to know how the war impacted those young men who later ventured into corporate America. Read this book to understand one of the most pivotal times of the 20th century as told by one of millions who lived through it. Read this book.