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Start giftingChasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn moreAuthor Doug Beed relates his memories of the men and missions during his year (1968–69) as a combat soldier with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam. After two years of college he couldn't afford to continue, so he was forced to relinquish his student deferment and enter the draft. He tried various strategies to get a non-combat job; nevertheless, he ended up in the infantry and was assigned to Vietnam.
The stories in this book depict the year Doug spent in Alpha Company, where he spent days on patrols finding and killing North Vietnamese soldiers along the hundreds of miles of trails heading for the Saigon. These stories range from funny to tragic, from uplifting to extremely frustrating, and from touching to horrifying. This book gives the listener a sense of life in the infantry in 1968 and 1969.
Douglas Beed was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and grew up with an older brother and three younger siblings. His father died in 1964 during his junior year in high school, leaving his mom alone with five kids to raise. After graduation he attended a junior college for two years, working in construction during the summers. As he finished his tenure in the junior college in January 1968, he knew he didn't have enough money to continue his schooling. His response was to let his student deferment lapse. He received his notice for a pre-induction physical two days later from the local Draft Board. Beed entered the Army in April 1968 and went through infantry training until late November, when he got his orders to go to Vietnam. He spent months on patrols and ambushes, carrying an M60 machine gun until his company's mortar platoon was killed. He then finished his tour as a member of the mortar platoon. After the Army he worked in construction until he met his wife and married her. He then finished his bachelor's degree and worked in construction and maintenance until he started teaching in several community colleges. He finished his career as a professor at Hawkeye Community College, from which he retired in 2010. He and his wife are now living in retirement in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
Malcolm Hillgartner has narrated over 175 audiobooks. He was named an AudioFile Best Voice of 2013. His work ranges from children's titles such as On the Blue Comet (AudioFile Best of 2011, Earphones), and Neal Stevenson's sci-fi epic REAMDE (Audible.com Best of 2011) to the biographies Kissinger (AudioFile Best of 2013, Earphones) and Cheever (AudioFile Best of 2009, Earphones). He is also an accomplished actor, writer, and musician. With his wife and partner, Jahnna Beecham, he has written over 130 books for teens and young readers, as well as the musicals Chaps! and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Musical, which have been produced in the U.S. and Canada.