Vietnam vet writes second book on war
Jerry Sudduth
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: News
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In the beginning of the Iraq War, people told Eastern history professor Robert Topmiller what war was about. They also called him things that would make many cringe.
But Topmiller had seen combat, 77 days of the closest thing to hell on earth, he said.
His experiences came from the siege of Khe Sanh in the Vietnam War and other trips to Vietnam. Those experiences, combined with the Iraq War, compelled him to write Red Clay on my Boots: Encounters with Khe Sanh, 1968-2005, a book about war and its aftermath. The book is in the process of being published.
"We have a population who thinks they know what's going on; few do," Topmiller said. "So I wrote this book to tell people what my war was all about."
And other history professors at Eastern gave the book their stamp of approval.
"The way his story is constructed is the way he has encountered it since then," said Carolyn Dupont, a history professor. "He was involved in 1968, but it is his ongoing battle."
Topmiller wrote first book, The Lotus Unleashed: The Buddhist Peace Movement in South Vietnam after studying the Buddhist movement during Vietnam for his doctoral degree.
But Topmiller's books are not the only reminders of the war. Topmiller's office in Keith Hall serves as a display of his youth in Vietnam. On the shelves are scores of books on Vietnam, plaques he won for his service, and photos of Vietnam and the people he met there.
The memorabilia is a daily reminder of the war.
Topmiller's path to Khe Sanh was a roundabout one. Born in Cincinnati, Topmiller intended to join the Marines right out of school, but his plans changed. Topmiller joined the Navy. He was going to be a hospital corpsman, which is a medic. So his fellow Marines called him "Doc."
Still, before he went to Vietnam, Topmiller went through two months of jungle training. But in 1968, Topmiller made the trip to Vietnam. He arrived nine days after the North Vietnamese Army launched its first attack on an American base in Khe Sanh.
But Topmiller had seen combat, 77 days of the closest thing to hell on earth, he said.
His experiences came from the siege of Khe Sanh in the Vietnam War and other trips to Vietnam. Those experiences, combined with the Iraq War, compelled him to write Red Clay on my Boots: Encounters with Khe Sanh, 1968-2005, a book about war and its aftermath. The book is in the process of being published.
"We have a population who thinks they know what's going on; few do," Topmiller said. "So I wrote this book to tell people what my war was all about."
And other history professors at Eastern gave the book their stamp of approval.
"The way his story is constructed is the way he has encountered it since then," said Carolyn Dupont, a history professor. "He was involved in 1968, but it is his ongoing battle."
Topmiller wrote first book, The Lotus Unleashed: The Buddhist Peace Movement in South Vietnam after studying the Buddhist movement during Vietnam for his doctoral degree.
But Topmiller's books are not the only reminders of the war. Topmiller's office in Keith Hall serves as a display of his youth in Vietnam. On the shelves are scores of books on Vietnam, plaques he won for his service, and photos of Vietnam and the people he met there.
The memorabilia is a daily reminder of the war.
Topmiller's path to Khe Sanh was a roundabout one. Born in Cincinnati, Topmiller intended to join the Marines right out of school, but his plans changed. Topmiller joined the Navy. He was going to be a hospital corpsman, which is a medic. So his fellow Marines called him "Doc."
Still, before he went to Vietnam, Topmiller went through two months of jungle training. But in 1968, Topmiller made the trip to Vietnam. He arrived nine days after the North Vietnamese Army launched its first attack on an American base in Khe Sanh.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Gary L. Janicke
posted 5/03/07 @ 7:28 AM EST
I too have a difficult time in dealing with what I did and saw during the Vietnam War. I was very fortunate and left after a year with no holes in my body but many in my mind. (Continued…)
Ken Larson
posted 5/03/07 @ 11:02 AM EST
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak. (Continued…)
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