MWSA Review

A gripping firsthand account of the Vietnam War, Charles Hensler's memoir  There it is…It don't mean nothin' captures the experiences of a young man and the soul of an era. Written in a straightforward and easygoing manner, the book is refreshingly candid. Hensler takes a well-organized approach, giving readers unfamiliar with the Vietnam War a context for events and themes in this rich autobiographical account.

Hensler's vivid and direct writing style is riveting, giving the reader an experience like listening to his storytelling in person. He adds depth and color to the narrative by noting important historical and cultural events, giving a view of the larger world around him as he experienced the war. Other enriching details incorporated into the story include brief guides to military slang and common Vietnamese phrases, which truly make the era come alive.

The book is deeply moving, humorous at times, and very honest. It imparts a deeper understanding of the experiences of young American servicemen during the Vietnam War. For those seeking to enhance their knowledge of the war and the men who lived through it, Hensler's story is an essential read

Review by Zita Ballinger Fletcher (March 2020)

Author's Synopsis

I served as an infantryman with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam from April 1968 to April 1969. It was a year of transition for the country. America’s support for the war was rapidly fading while racial strife, social upheaval, and political unrest were escalating. The Army was not immune to these changes, and the resulting ramifications rippled throughout the Army. Consequently, my story is not just about slogging through rice paddies or hacking through jungle foliage but integrates how events and changing attitudes back home impacted our morale, discipline, and trust in what we were being asked to do. It was a crazy time in America and no less so in Vietnam.

ISBN/ASIN: ISBN-13: 978-1-7239-7074-0, ASIN B07GV4ZPTR
Book Format(s): Soft cover, Kindle
Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Number of Pages: 291