Surviving To Tell The Tale: A Time To Forgive

By Richard A Vincent

Book Overview

"An unflinching tale of overcoming childhood wounds and the aftermath of answering his country's call to duty, Richard Vincent shares his long road to self-forgiveness. This book is both evocative and transformative. Those who have traveled a like road will find hope in these pages." Susan Crandall, author The Myth of Perpetual Summer and Whistling Past the Graveyard

"...he's likely got a best seller on his hands. Surviving to Tell the Tale-A Time to Forgive, is a look back at a life full of hopes and dreams that were met, dashed and rose again from the ashes. The book details an early start to a very successful career in photography, along with some fortunate alliances, and led to serving in the special forces with the U.S. Navy. "The squadron I was in, was classified top secret for over 35 years before I could tell anyone what I did." What he did was the stuff of legend. It's a fascinating read. One of his stories involves laying sensors around the perimeter of Khe Sahn. It was called the most vicious battle of the entire Vietnam war. Years later, Vincent's squad was given the Presidential Unit Citation, an honor reserved for extraordinary heroism in battle by a unit. "Somebody said thank you, finally." Vincent said quietly. Tim Timmons, Chief Executive Officer, Sagamore News Media

A pungent example of FDR's conception of war as "young men dying and old men talking" is provided by Richard Vincent's memoir, "Surviving to Tell the Tale: A Time to Forgive." Mr. Vincent describes a U.S. program of the Vietnam war so secret that its existence could not be revealed until early in the 21st century, when President George W. Bush pulled back the curtain.
The program centered on the U.S. need for better intelligence or increased activity of Viet Cong guerillas and North Vietnamese regulars who, with their supplies and suppliers, clogged the Ho Chi Min Trail in Laos, enroute to much greater mischief in nearby Vietnam. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara ordered an electronic "fence" to mark and surveil the trail. Never much one for small plans, Secretary McNamara in this case pinned the project's fortunes to small planes: namely, P-2s a type of aging and slow Navy submarine tracker that from low altitude would sprinkle the trail) had benefited from years of experience using similar technology to surveil submarines - with one crucial difference. These planes were suspectable to catching fire if shot at. They were going to fly low and slow to track exactly where the listening and movement detectors had fallen in the jungle. Mr. Vincent says he was unsurprised when Secretary McNamara looked past these pesky facts and gave the P-2 quick approval. "As far as McNamara was concerned," Mr. Vincent writes, "the planes and men were totally expendable, and throwing more soldiers into danger was a great strategy."

Young men and old men, indeed. Mr. Vincent's memoir is full of historically significant insights like this. I found the book's combat descriptions downright riveting.

"An unflinching tale of overcoming wounds and the aftermath of answering his country's call to duty...Susan Crandall, author The Myth of Perpetual Summer and Whistling Past the Graveyard

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BZFRQYXF
• ISBN13: 9798987873007
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Rvincentbooks
• Length: 414 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"