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In Our Duffel Bags, Surviving the Vietnam Era
In Our Duffel Bags, Surviving the Vietnam Era is a memoir written by two authors Richard C. Geschke and Robert A. Toto who served as two junior army officers from 1969 to 1972 in the midst of the Cold War and the Vietnam War. This memoir chronicles the day to day lives of the trials and tribulations of two officers who served in four locations in a relatively short time span. From the training fields of Fort Benning and Fort Bliss in the United States onto the training fields of the Cold War in West Germany and Berlin to the combat fields of Vietnam, Geschke and Toto tell of all the foibles, training and the sights and sounds of combat. It contains a series of stories told in chronological order of their experiences good, bad, exciting and boring. It tells of the historical back-drop of both the Cold War and the Vietnam War. As described by Amazon book reviewer Paul Gelman “If you would like to know how it felt like being a soldier or an officer in the vicious fields of Vietnam, and you would like to hear a very detailed and frank story, read this book. It is what the German historians had named Alltagsgeschichte, or an everyday micro-history about three particular places in a very short span of time.” The book places the authors in the middle of an ever-changing America which was in the turmoil of the ever controversial Vietnam War. Also they found themselves in a very different type of war which was playing out its story in Europe under the auspices of the Cold War. It is a frank accounting of what they encountered in this fast moving time span of change where they literally changed from young and inexperienced men into combat veterans during a very difficult time in US history. The book references not only personal experiences but it ties these events into the history of what was happening during this time. Once all was said and done after more than forty years of mature thought, the authors bring forth their assessment of what happened and what should have happened. Their conclusions are the epiphany of the purpose of the book. As reviewed by Father Ron Camarda a combat chaplain veteran of Iraq; “Geschke and Toto challenge our status quo in how we understand and approach wars. There is an uncomfortable air about their insight and open-ended conclusions. However, speaking as a combat chaplain who has actually been in the soup of Iraq, I believe they are spot on. The two of them should be expert advisors because they would hold all soldiers and citizens accountable, including me.” This book is not a shoot-em up bang, bang book. What it is represents is real personal history which will explain this time span in a very real and accountable way. Richard C. Geschke was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Comprehensive Social Studies in the College of Education. Upon his graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant from the ROTC program. He served from 1969 to 1972 as an infantry officer in Germany, Panama and Vietnam. He currently resides with his wife Ann in Bristol, Ct. Ann and Richard have a son and daughter along with a granddaughter and grandson. Robert A. Toto is a native of Lawrence, MA. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1969. He graduated from the ROTC program and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry. He served from 1969 to 1972 in Germany, Panama and Vietnam. After leaving the army he received his MBA degree. He currently resides with his wife Paulette in North Attleboro, MA. Paulette and Robert have two daughters.