‘1-A’ AND VIETNAM
As a child, I didn’t like reading. I hated reading assignments in school. With attention deficit disorder, I couldn’t focus long enough to get anything out of the book. But when I was a Senior in High School, I read a cheap paperback titled ‘1-A’. It was the story of an American who was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. The story told about his experiences in the jungles and the atrocities of the evil Viet Cong.
The book intrigued me and held my attention. I was persuaded that the war was a worthy cause to deliver people from Communism. Later that year, when my number was up for the draft, I decided to enlist rather than be drafted. That book played a major role in my decision. I entered the Army a flag waving patriot. Unfortunately, three years later I had changed my opinion of that war, and came home disillusioned. That led to a pursuit of alcohol and the hippie culture, championed by The Beatles.
The only other book to influence my life like that was the Bible. When I discovered Christ I tore into that book searching for the truth of God. I read it from cover to cover in 12 months, retaining much of the content. It was like ADD was gone. At least in that area, anyway.
What one book changed you the most?
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