POINT - A Paratrooper's Memoirs of Vietnam

by: Rick Butler

Published by: iUniverse

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

Vietnam! The war that still haunts this country–and many soldiers who served there.

A paratrooper at age 18, Rick Butler arrived in Vietnam at 19. He became a man very quickly. Rick’s story is about what soldiers and friends in war mean to each other.

He did not adjust to Army life easily but soon he was being trained to be the “point man,” first in line as they traveled through the jungles. His mentor was Ray Garza, an experienced point man. Hero Garza earned three Purple Hearts, but was killed with 16 days to go. Rick was devastated.

Rick says, “Although wars can be won or lost, they are atrocious and actual combatants seldom win–they mostly lose. They lose a piece of their sanity and are tormented, often for the rest of their lives.”

When Rick came home from Vietnam, everything was different. Although he quickly married his waiting girlfriend, he was tormented, was experiencing Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) syndrome. Now in normal work and friend situations, the idea of what is important, and what makes sense–well, Rick related differently because of his PTS syndrome. However, the real difficult symptoms–depression and withdrawal mostly–didn’t show up for 10-11 years.

Many things now seemed superficial, unimportant. In Vietnam the guys had a saying: It don’t mean nothing (meaning if it isn’t about life or death, it don’t matter). Nightmares, relationship problems at home and at work were all part of Rick’s life. “I didn’t care about much other than my family,” Rick wrote.

In many ways, Rick “walked point” for years following Vietnam, and having been a leader when he walked point, and now a new boss was driving him crazy. This man wanted followers, not leaders, and Rick was lucky enough to take early retirement at 55.

Today he is a VA volunteer for returning Iraqi vets–and says some estimate that 20-25% of returning soldiers will be affected by Post Traumatic Stress syndrome, which he describes very clearly.

Only comment–wonderful story well told, but it would have been much improved with some editing and certainly proofreading.

Armchair Interviews says: If you had a father, brother or other loved one in Vietnam (or now in Iraq), this book will give you better understanding of their war experiences and post-war life.