When Soldiers Cried

By the summer of 1967, the nation's Selective Service System was fueling the largest military build-up since World War II. Hundreds of thousands of young men, many too young to legally drink and vote, were inducted to wage an ill-fated war in Vietnam. Written as a narrative history, this story is a lasting tribute to those who answered the call and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the face of improbable odds.Based on actual events, this book provides a unique, behind-the-scenes account of the draft and how the Vietnam War was actually conducted and fought. Although many of the scenes are shockingly vivid and the language is often raw, they have been included to describe the real conditions the young draftees had to endure. Woven throughout the pages of this book are the tragedies of loss and the instinctive drive to survive and rebuild.Sadly, many of the men depicted in this book are among the over fifty-eight thousand fallen soldiers whose names are engraved on the hallowed, granite panels of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Countless more were wounded or suffered from haunting, psychological problems, withdrawal, depression and suicide. In many ways, the sacrifices paid by their families were even greater.To respect the privacy of the surviving families, many of the names in this book have been changed in order to protect their true identities.