I Served

About the Book

I SERVED was written differently from most other Vietnam memoirs. Instead of being a chronological recitation of my experiences growing up in the orphanage and then going to Vietnam and serving with Co. F, 51st Long Range Patrol (Airborne) Infantry, I made its focus be the characters in the story. That is its greatest strength and what makes it such a good read. Because I focused so closely on character, you really get to care about the person Don Hall because you know what makes him tick, what is important to him, and what drives him. You are also engaged by the other people you meet in the story because they are so clearly drawn. You don't have to be a military buff to enjoy the book. I SERVED is a factual story backed up by official U.S. Army records. Col. William C. Maus, the man who formed F/51st LRP, told me where to find that documentation. I also have copies of handouts we received when we went to Recondo School. Before he died, he told me how much he enjoyed reading the book. He praised me for having written such a great story about a unit he was proud to have commanded. He was a visionary who knew our unit was the vanguard for future U.S. Army military strategy and tactics. I remember his telling me at the time that F/51st LRP was making history. Being just a naïve 19-year-old staff sergeant, I didn't understand the significance of that statement. I do now. The current print and ebook versions of I SERVED are a second edition to the original 1994 hardbound edition, with a revised preface and afterword, a new War Stories section (with stories from other men with whom I served), and new photographs.

About the Author

Together, Don and his wife Annette wrote I Served. In addition, they produced an award-winning documentary about Don's unit, title ''Silent Victory: the story of Co. F, 51st Long Range Patrol (Airborne) Infantry.'' They just finished showing ''Silent Victory'' at various film festivals around the country. In the final festival in which ''Silent Victory'' appeared (the Vision Film Festival in Virginia, in April 2005), they capped off a successful festival run by winning the Audience Choice Award and the Best Editing Award. ''Silent Victory'' has consistently won high praise from audiences and festival previewers alike. Don and his wife Annette have known eachother since the eighth grade and have been married since July 1968. They have one daughter. For more information about I Served, please visit www.i-served.com. For more information about ''Silent Victory,'' please visit www.silentvictory.com.