Rob explainS why he titled the book: Alone in Vietnam
“ This book is a narrative account of the events that happened to me as a twenty-year-old draftee from Conneticut in 1968.
The title "Alone in Vietnam" refers to the United States Army's policy of a 365-day tour of duty in Vietnam, which was in effect at the time. By setting a separate date for each soldier to go home, the Army unwittingly set up a target date – a goal for each soldier to try to reach. That goal was to try to survive until day to go home.
Because of this system of everyone having his own countdown until he went home, it made you feel you were "Alone in Vietnam.”
- from the Preface of ALONE IN VIETNAM by Robert B. Boyd Jr. Copyright 2007