Vietnam Vet Recalls War as Personal Growth Experience
Columbus, GA (PRWEB) May 19, 2008 -- Franklin Evans was a typical teenager interested in cars and girls. He went to college to stay ahead of the draft. But when his friend was killed in Vietnam, Evans realized it was time to do something meaningful so he joined the U.S. Army. The lessons he learned in Vietnam are recounted in his honest and suspenseful memoir "Stand To?A Journey to Manhood" (ISBN 9780595450534, ABISVC 2008).
The order "Stand to arms" is the source for the title "Stand To." "Stand to arms" means every soldier must arm himself fully and remain alert until the command to "Stand down." Evans uses the term as a metaphor for the need always to be prepared for whatever may happen in life.
As a combat leader, Evans found himself always needing to prepare for the worst. Despite the stress and unpredictability of war, he found enjoyment in bonding with his fellow soldiers. His memoir depicts how the struggle for survival brings about closeness among men. Evans and his comrades worked for a common goal, despite the danger threatening them, to stay alive and to defeat the enemy. They became a brotherhood with single mind and purpose.
Although his Vietnam tour of duty ended with the 1972 peace agreement, Evans decided to continue his military career with the U.S. Army. Today, he is a proponent for the men and women of the armed forces. He stresses the benefits in education, experience, and travel to be gained by serving in the military. Yet Evans is also realistic about the strain military life can place upon a family. His recounting of his own experiences enlightens readers about the realities of serving one's country.
In Evans' own words "Stand To" "is not a book about 'shoot 'em up' combat laced with blood and guts" but the tale of "a young man's daily experiences in an unfamiliar jungle environment and his emotions dealing with apprehension, loneliness, joy, sadness, and growth. It's a story of relationships." Besides revealing Evans as a savvy combat leader, the memoir charts his evolution into a mature, confident, and tolerant human being.
About the Author
E. Franklin Evans is a decorated, retired career U.S. Army officer who fought as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam. Employed today as a defense contractor, he is the widowed father of three grown children and lives in Georgia. "Stand To?A Journey to Manhood" is his memoir of his Vietnam War experiences.
"Stand To?A Journey to Manhood" (ISBN 9780595450534, ABISVC 2008) can be purchased through online bookstores. For more information, visit the author's website at www.efranklinevans.com. Publicity contact: www.ReaderViews.com. Review copies available upon request.
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