The Twins Platoon – by Christy W. Sauro Jr.

One of my favorite books on Vietnam! Christy Sauro tells the story of a group of young Marines (adopted by the Minnesota Twins) as they go from boot camp to the aftermath of returning home.

His clear, concise writing makes it easy to follow the lives of a number of different men - not always an easy task when you are dealing with the complexities of war in a foreign country. The people and places just come to life. And his writing is so poignant, even the people who appear briefly in the book capture your heart. I found myself crying as well as laughing at some of the day-to-day events.

These men are not only champions, they are also heroes and through Christy's stories, we will never forget them.

Heroes from the Wall – by John Douglas Foster

Many years ago, I lived in Washington DC and would visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The names etched in the black marble always haunted me - even before I knew my birth father's name was on that Wall. In John Foster's book, he tells the personal stories of 20 names on that Wall - my father included. However, I do not like this book JUST because my father's story is included. To me, this whole book is important as the author tells these hero's stories. The greatest gift we can give to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country is to remember their stories. The author has captured this perfectly. My husband teaches at a high school and I think this book is just the type of book the next generation should read to honor these sacrifices and learn of the men who fought and died for them. I have a lot of books on Vietnam due to my father, but this is on my top shelf and one of my favorites. A must read!

Second Watch – by J.A. Jance

I've read the J.P. Beaumont books for years and loved them all. This particular book struck an emotional chord with me as the fictional character deals with his ghosts from Vietnam. So many parts of this book reminded me of my own journey to find out about my father and then to help the veterans and their families who have embraced me over the years. By the end of the book, I could barely see through my tears (good ones!) and when I turned the last page over, I was surprised to see that the story behind Second Watch is a true one. Through the fictional life of Beau, J.A. Jance tells the true story of classmate of hers – Doug Davis – who died in Vietnam in 1966. This deeply emotional book has touched the lives of many veterans and helped them in their healing process. Even if you don't read the entire series, this particular book is one you definitely should. I'm so thankful to J.A. Jance for sharing her story in this way! One more step to help us never forget those we lost.