A Spear-Carrier in Viet Nam: Memoir of an American Civilian in Country, 1967 and 1970-1972 - Paperback

by Michael E. Tolle (Author)

There was another war in Vietnam, one that mostly did not make the headlines: the campaign to "win the hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people.

Fought not with artillery and helicopters but with food, medicine and shelter for civilians devastated by the conflict, the effort was unprecedented in U.S. history, involving both military and civilian personnel working together in widely spread areas of the countryside.

Part history and part memoir, this book chronicles an overlooked aspect of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, with a focus on the war victims and refugees who were most tragically affected by the carnage. The author recounts his two years "in-country" as an aid worker and tells how the humanitarian effort was conducted and why it failed.

Author Biography

Michael E. Tolle pursued several careers after leaving government service. He settled on teaching history at community colleges in the Philadelphia area. Now retired, he lives in San Francisco, California.