Russell Coward describes the year he spent in Vietnam during the war teaching South Vietnamese officers English. Coward eloquently recounts his experience as an Air Force enlisted man in a war-torn country and the lasting effects of the war on him personally. Vietnamese history is provided throughout the narrative in an accessible manner to help students place the personal narrative in a historical context. Original and historical photographs help readers better understand the experience.

This is the second book in a new series, Voices of Twentieth Century Conflict, directed towards high school students. The lively writing style and engaging stories help history come alive for students learning about the Vietnam War. Also included are a series foreword, timeline, glossary, and Questions for Discussion and Reflection for each chapter. Also available in this series is A Voice from the Holocaust.