I owe a debt of gratitude to many: To the members of the Missouri Southern faculty who encouraged me, especially to Dr. Steven Wagner, my project adviser, for his research ideas and for agreeing to help me on such short notice; to my family, especially my father, both for his service to his country and for his wisdom in looking beyond the hell of war and into the true nature of Vietnam and its people; to my Vietnamese guide, Quang, for his boundless knowledge of the country (not to mention photography) and for his companionship; to the people of Vietnam who welcomed me into their homes and shared painful memories with me; and to Tony Nong and his mother, Ann Tran, for booking a great tour, but more importantly, for their friendship.

Most of all, my endless thanks and respect go to the late Kenneth McCaleb and his widow, Margaret McCaleb. Count me among those whose lives have been touched by the McCalebs’ generosity and good will endeavor to bring a little understanding, and ultimately peace, to this planet.