by Robert Garlick (Author)
Just two months after my 20th birthday, I was drafted into the US Army. Before my next birthday I arrived in the former Republic of South Vietnam; it was February 1969. I have been asked countless times over the last five decades: "What was Vietnam like?" For decades I could never give much of an answer. If one is to give an answer, one must first confront their past.
Going Off The Beach is the account of a conscripted, "boots on the ground" soldier and his experiences in the US Army during the Vietnam War. These experiences included twelve months in Vietnam, serving in Binh Dinh Province. The book explores the contrasts between a peaceful tropical beach overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean with the monotony, drudgery and dangers of being a foot soldier in an unpopular war. It describes the endless struggle for survival while constantly dealing with the "inner conflicts" of the US Military fighting a war they were not even trying to win. And finding love in the midst of it all.
"What was Vietnam like?" It's the story of what happened to 20-year-old me. It's my story of love, war, and courage.