Vietnam: No Regrets: One Soldier's Tour of Duty

by J. Watkins

“In the 30+ years since its conclusion, countless volumes have been crafted regarding the Vietnam War – not to mention movies, television specials, and documentaries. Most of the written and visual media have done a commendable job of exploring the logistical blunders and other revealing aspects of the war itself; however, very few of them have given Vietnam the same empathic human touch as “Saving Private Ryan” so famously did for World War II. There is now a book that everyone can read and understand what a year in Vietnam was truly like. Told through the eyes of one soldier who was lucky enough to have been allowed to survive. Throughout the pages of No Regrets, author and Vietnam veteran J. Richard Watkins steps directly in the gap and fills that void in standout fashion. A heart-wrenching memoir recounted in an unfiltered, no-holds-barred manner, No Regrets takes the reader straight into the heart of one of the most controversial extended episodes in our nation’s history, painting the gruesome conflict in a graphic, vivid light – undeniably real and raw. Kendra Carroll, Apex Reviews More than 50 pictures of what a tour of duty was really like for those soldiers who spent their time in country outside the wire. seeking out the enemy. Thanks for the copy of your book. it will be a very special addition to my library. Needle to say, I understand the emotions you experienced, the effort to servive, and the need to leave some of one's combat time behind when returning home. You also captured the essence of the Brotherhood of the Close Fight very well. Thanks-- for your service and I will highly recommend your book for I couldn't put it down. Gen. David Petraeus, Commander Multi National Command Iraq _______________________________________ I apologize to each and every Vietnam Veteran who served their country with honor. It was never my intent to disparage those who put themselves in harms way in Vietnam for I have the utmost respect for them. I just wanted to point out that those of us out in the bush every day and night seemed to be getting the shit end of the stick that's all.. I did a very poor job of explaining myself and I want to apologize once again. I am not a writer by profession all I am is an Irish/American story teller. I will close by saying "Welcome Home" to all whose served their country In Vietnam. Rich Watkins This is your opportunity to share this once in a lifetime adventure. Are you ready to walk by my side, as my tour of duty in Vietnam unfolds? If so, then pick up your weapon and grab your gear, for we’re getting ready to move out in search of the enemy and I promise you this will be one year you will never forget. Great, now let’s move out!! J. Richard Watkins " No Regrets" also contains Sixty (60) never before published photos taken by the "Author", as well as fellow "Wolfhounds" during his "Tour of Duty" in Vietnam.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2012

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Vietnam

Excellent account of how an infantry soldier was able to survive the many perils of Vietnam. I myself, served as an RTO in the Central Highlands during the Tet Offensive. Brother Watkins tells it like it was.........pure Hell

[howard s eddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading a lot of Nam books on my kindle because I feel I was left out on personal history. I was USMC 69-71, went to Boot at PI and my MOS was 3361 (mess hall supply clerk). After AIT, five of us were sent to Gitmo. After a week of BS, two of us, still pretty gung-ho from the states decided we would march into our Colonel’s office and volunteer for Viet Nam service which is where the other 95% of our platoon was destined for and where we should be as well. The Colonel didn’t see it that way and exclaimed in no uncertain terms “that Corps sent you maggots here for a reason and I will not interfere with Corps’s reasoning for you idiots being here..Im going to save your asses by telling you to get the hell outa my office!” My tour in Gitmo lasted a little more than year after an extension. Returning to Lejeune after Gitmo, I settled in comfortably until I got out with 60 days left because I found out by getting accepted to college I got released early. To this day I still feel guilty of not experiencing Nam or even worse not being able to support my platoon buddies nor my personal friends that went (tho they say I was the lucky one). Maybe I was but at age 75 I can’t help still feeling the way I do. It was history and I missed it.

[PATRICIA M KARCHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by the "s" man

I right away saw the respect this writer had for everyone he came into contact with. Am I the only one to notice that every time he wrote the word " soldier" the s was a capital letter!
I found his eyes from Vietnam to be very insightful. Every description of people, places and jungles made me feel like I was there.
I read a lot of books about the life of a Soldier during Vietnam and this one goes to the top of my list!
Strongly recommend reading one.

[Martha McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

No regrets review

Book was well done. I really enjoyed. Hard to put down. Bought a kindle in march and have been reading nam books. I was 11b in 71. 1'st 22 nd Infantry 4th division. I also made it home. Thank you for your service.

[Chris Willett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

From a non vet, this gave me true insight into the life of a soldier on the front line. His thoughts and feelings he explained showed me something I would never truly experience.
Thank you for your service and sharing.

[Melissa Blauvelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

very insightful

I think I understand more about what happens to a person (maybe regardless of the combat location or date of combat) that must face this situation at such a young age.

[William Kepford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. No “filler” with stateside time and training and no long lost reminiscences of times with past girlfriends. I think I was 40% thru it when I found out he had a long lost love. Page one starts as he is getting off the airplane.

Highly recommend.

[Dick]

Great story

Excellent book telling the story of grunt label's experience of a tour of duty in Vietnam. Author blends telling what he was going through and his feelings very well

[david w smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

Great story of an ordinary guy doing out his year. No superman antics or John Wayne bravado. Just a well written story of this fine gentleman’s war experience.

[Debbie Doherty]

I thought the book was very straight forward and forthcoming but it was also repetitive and many areas.

[Ralph Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read from a soldier's view.

I was in the Air Force at DaNang and PhanRang from Nov. '67 to Nov '68. Reading this book made my deployment








This book was about the foot soldier's point of view. My cousin was in the Army in the APC Unit. This soldier's account of the war was the grunts perspective of the war. It was a whole tougher than what I went through as a Security Policeman in the USAF. All the Army and Marines that were in the rice paddies deserve all the praise for what they did during this war that we where never going to win because our ELECTED government officials were not letting us win this war. A very great read about what they did and how they did it during this war.

[Jon K.Stather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of growing up

It was a very compelling story, the hardships faced by a lowly grunt and how it was handled on daily basis, easy to read as well as putting you there in the picture ,good read.

[Glenda Stonecipher · Rating 5 out of 5]

real Experiences

This is what it was really like. ...and I'm glad he left Nam without a lot of baggage to carry and haunt him.

[Richard Hartwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest book on Vietnam.

Excellent, no nonsense book about his real life experiences. It reminds me of Tim Brian's early books on Vietnam. Highly recommended.