There are many reasons why people write-to share their stories, to educate, to entertain. In Vietnam veteran Stan Bain's case, it's to unburden his spirit and let other veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder know they aren't alone.
A Kalispell Montana native and Flathead High School graduate, Bain was drafted into the Army in 1966. He served during the Vietnam War. By the time he returned to the U.S. in July 1968 after 13 months of active duty, Bain was forever changed. It took nearly 45 years for him to be diagnosed with PTSD, but in that time he's suffered from nightmares, night sweats, hallucinations and debilitating pain.
Because of a tragedy at an orphanage as he described in his first book "You Are Never Alone," He decided never to have children, a decision he later regretted. At the time, I carried so much guilt. I felt I wasn't worthy of being a father.
A half century later, he felt that if he could return to Vietnam, revisit the origins of his demons and find the orphanage again, he might be able to bring peace to his life.
After reading his cousin's first book and recalling how his own father never talked about his World War II memories, Greg Bain told Stan to set the wheels in motion for what became a two-week trip to Vietnam for the three of them.
That trip is documented in this book. Finding the orphanage was the main focus of the trip. What was found was not expected and results was awesome. This book is a must read.
