VietNow National Magazine

Through My Eyes
In his yet-to-be published book, a Vietnam grunt tells his story. It's the story of his year in Vietnam, and it's also a story of hope.

By Bob Whitworth

I was drafted in 1967, and served my time as an infantry soldier in Vietnam from April, 1968, to April, 1969. If you are acquainted with any Vietnam combat veterans, you know that it was a painful time in our lives – a time that most of us "grunts" choose not to share with others. But wanting my children and future generations to know me, I decided to write about that year.

I have always been a storyteller. I enjoy relating anecdotes from my years growing up in the central valley of California. My life was filled with fun and adventure, and there were lots of good stories to tell. I was drafted into the Army in June, 1967, and spent 10 months training – and then a year in Vietnam, as a combat infantry soldier. It was an incredible time in my life. From the time I came home from Vietnam, I had things inside that I felt I needed to write down, but writing down my stories was difficult.

As I began to describe the details of those events in writing it caused other painful details to come into focus. It was too difficult to even think about some of those times, let alone try to put them down on paper. Over the years, my wife and I talked about writing down my experiences, but other than her writing out the letters I had sent home to my folks, I really didn't want to go there.

I still struggled with nightmares and sleepless nights, and didn't want to look at some of the images my mind still held. Finally, I wrote something about a battle I had been involved in, after the brother of one of the soldiers killed during that battle contacted me. Once I began writing, I found that the storyteller in me could now write these stories, and the part of me that didn't want to dig deep lost out to my desire to write something for my children and grandchildren.

As my collection of stories grew, I realized that there was more to the story – and I that had to be transparent about the whole experience. Most combat veterans who were in on the "in your face fighting and tragedies" will not write about their experiences, because it is too painful. I pushed into the pain, never quite able to get through it, and made the commitment to finish a book that would be interesting enough to keep the attention of anyone reading it. After a year of writing, I felt I had done a decent job.

A few close friends read it, and thought other people would enjoy it as well. My wife suggested we put together a focus group to read the book and give us their corrections and comments. A collection of about 30 people from a cross-section of age, education, and professions joined the group. We were not acquainted with all of them – we just put the word out, and put together the group. We wanted honest opinions, not friends patting me on the back. The results were unanimous. I should look for a publisher or agent. Their opinions were that it was a story that needed broad exposure, and not something to just self-publish for family and friends. I took their suggestions as to how the book could be better – adding explanations and dialogue – and with editing and polishing by my wife and daughter – it is a year later, and I feel that I have a book ready to be published.

I am a mentor to returning veterans at our local vet center, and see a huge need for hope to be brought to them. Hope for relief from physical and mental stress. Hope for healing. Hope for a future. I want to point the way to that hope for them and others who faced and are facing harsh circumstances.

Go to Bob Whitworth's Facebook page for more information about the book.

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