Vietnam

The Summer of Goodbyes is a deeply moving and poignant chronicle of a generation that came of age in the shadows of war. With unflinching honesty and heartfelt reverence, Torie compiles firsthand accounts, poetic tributes, and personal reflections that honor the unsung warriors of the Vietnam War. Through letters, memories, and boots-on-the-ground perspectives, she humanizes the Vietnam conflict in a way that history textbooks often fail to do. She digs deep into the emotional terrain of fear, loss, brotherhood, and post-war disillusionment. The narrative shifts between raw, soldier-told stories and the soft but powerful voice of a witness determined to preserve the memory of those who served...those she had gone to school with and cheered for at athletic events. Most importantly, the book confronts the difficult legacy of PTSD and the shameful treatment many veterans received upon returning home---without bitterness, but with fierce truth.