Media Kit

Amazon link

Media

Thank you for helping us share about these young men and their tremendous sacrifices. Thank you for being a part of sharing the truth about the Vietnam War, and our purpose there.

You have permission to use quotes from this page and the book cover. For speaking requests, book signing events, and interviews, go to the Unsung Heroes of Morgan County Alabama Facebook page and send us a message from there.

Dedication

Dedicated

to the memory of the twenty-three young men

from Morgan County, Alabama,

who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Vietnam, and

a tribute to all the men and women across the nation

who lost their lives during Vietnam, and

to offer our sincere gratitude

to all those who served.

~~

Short blurb

Using the names and faces of the young men from one county who died in Vietnam, this book takes a sobering look at factors that led to our involvement in Vietnam, the cost for being there, and the result after our withdrawal. Readers will come alongside these men and their families as the war played out.

     How did a freedom-loving, patriotic country turn against their returning war veterans?

     What part did the media play? 

     While the reality of war is brutal, freedom will always be challenged by those who want more control and power. Will we fight to maintain our freedom or peacefully surrender it? 

~~

Full description

Using the names and faces of men from one county who died in Vietnam, the book explores how charismatic leaders won support, the actual reasons for the war in Vietnam, and the patriotic American spirit of the time that led so many to join the fight. 

     Stalin, Hitler, Castro, Ho Chi Minh, and Mao Zedong all longed to hold power over their people under the promise of "equality" and redistribution of wealth. All dissenters who wanted to retain their belongings suffered enormous consequences at their hands.

     Generations of Americans who relished living in free enterprise, were willing to do their part to help those under persecution from the heavy hand of socialism and communism. They served in wars to fight alongside those who struggled to retain their freedom, and their families at home did all they could to help that cause.

     By the time America became involved in the Vietnam War, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) had a stronghold in Europe and Asia. North Vietnam, which bordered China, fell to communist control. When the South Vietnamese were also threatened to be overrun with communism, America stood with them to battle a common enemy. The USSR stood with China and the North Vietnamese. 

     These two super-powers struggled by proxy within North and South Vietnam, and in the public eye with the "Space Race." Albert Einstein and Werner Von Braun escaped the grips of socialism to join Americans in liberty. 

     As the media reported of the harsh realities of war, young people called for peace without recognizing that meant a peaceful surrender to life under a dictatorship in communism. The sensational reporting of the fears and horrors within the battlefield haunted Americans. Gradually the graphic pictures and reports of battlefield losses doused the fire of patriotism. 

     Some Americans turned their backs on Vietnam veterans, who returned to hate-filled crowds. Casualties were returned to families who had to grieve alone rather than discuss the pros and cons of the war. Political pressure brought an end to American involvement, and led to the fall of Saigon. Thousands of South Vietnamese died in the war. Tens of thousands died after the war, under the communist regime.

     This book takes a realistic look at history and how manipulation of thought has swayed countries. It demonstrates the socialist and communist agenda, and contrasts it with the free enterprise in America. 

Chapter overviews

1  The 1930s in America. How Americans lived after the stock market crash. Hitler's promises, and rise. Mao's immersion into Marxism. Small town America insights.

2  Hitler, Stalin and Mao compared to glimpses of life in America and the patriotism in all aspects of life.

3  Communism expands to Cuba. Ho Chi Minh gives himself the name Ho Chi Mihn, "He Who Enlightens." 

4 Japan attacks US Naval base in Pearl Harbor and American unite against the enemy to their freedom. To combat the National Socialist (Nazi) propaganda, America initiates the Voice of America radio. Hitler sets out to eliminate Christianity, but incorporates some Christian language into his speeches to appeal to them.

5  John F. Kennedy's PT 109 capsizes. Eisenhower becomes the Allied Commander. Hitler's concentration camps hold hundreds of thousands. Ho Chi Minh takes North Vietnam and suppresses all non-communist parties.

6  1946 Churchill declares an "Iron Curtain" fell on Europe and warns of USSR aggression. Dr. Spock releases his book on child care, with admonitions to let children make their own choices without spanking for correction. 1948 To counter the state-atheism promoted in communist countries, "Under God" is first added to the pledge of allegiance. Soviets increase their support for North Vietnamese to "unite" South Vietnam under communist rule. America assists the South Vietnamese.

7  1954 The Geneva Accord divides North and South Vietnam. 'Under God' is officially added to pledge. Mao’s grassroots socialism and famine in China. 1959 Communist Castro nationalizes American owned business and property. North Vietnamese clear out a supply route to infiltrate the south--the Ho Chi Minh trail. 

8  1959 Werner Von Braun works with the US space program. President Kennedy meets with him at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. Von Braun voices his belief “the farther we probe into space, the greater my faith.” JFK rouses the country with his "Ask not..." speech. 1962 Khrushchev declares "we will bury you." The Berlin Wall goes up. 1963 The South Vietnamese government falls into corruption. President Kennedy assassinated.

9  1964 first American POW captured. Jeremiah Denton blinks “T-O-R-T-U-R-E” in Morse code as cameras filmed him as a POW. Hometowns mourn their battle dead.

10  1966 Operation Hasting and a local casualty. The “Space Race” between US Gemini 10, and USSR. China purges the educated. Peace movement develops among American youth.

11  1967 Dr. Spock releases Spock on Vietnam, concluding US forces illegally wage war against the Vietnamese. Strategic battles and graphic media reports.

12  1967 stories of local men and their heroic sacrifices.

13  1968 Spock indicted for encouraging men to throw away their draft cards. North Vietnamese increase attacks in their “Tet Offensive” to encourage surrender. Photos and reports haunt Americans.

14  1968 Cronkite reports from Vietnam that the conflict will likely end in stalemate. Without support of the public for the war, President Johnson decides to not run for reelection. 

15  1968 Veterans return to America without “Welcome Home.” Chilling photos continue to sway the public.

16 1969 Nixon reduces troops in Asia. Apollo 11 mission. Woodstock music event, and peace movement make headlines.

17 1970 Apollo 13. Personal stories of local men and their missions.

18  1971 Local Air Force pilot shot down. MIA

19 John Kerry, Jane Fonda express opinions about Vietnam, and North Vietnam uses them to shift the public opinion. 

20  US withdraws from Vietnam. Saigon falls to communism. Millions of South Vietnamese die under the new regime.

~~

THE REASONS AND MISSION FOR UNSUNG HEROES

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy 

forget in time that men have died to win them."

 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Of the many thousands of US military who served in the Vietnam War, fifty-eight thousand died in service, far away from their homes and families. 

     Like in “Your Town, USA,” the casualties from “Our Town”—Morgan County, Alabama—hit us hard. While this book is dedicated to the memory of those twenty-three young men, it is also meant to honor all those who left their homes to serve in Vietnam. 

     All these men and women pledged allegiance to serve under the US flag, fought under the US flag, and some came home in coffins draped with the US flag. They deserve to have a US flag flying over their final resting place. The Unsung Heroes, in this book and in Your Town, never had a chance to come home as veterans, pursue their dreams, raise families, or tell their stories.

     After searching public records about those who died from Our Town, Don and Heather Collins located their grave sites, many of which were not marked with veteran status or in sections of cemeteries with other veterans. Some graves were barely marked at all and many were covered with grass and weeds. Don and Heather found it "unacceptable" for them to rest unnoticed, without an American flag flying over them. They took it as their mission to rectify those oversights. 

     They reached out to organizations, contacted all the remaining family members they could find, and organized a reunion of sorts, where family and friends could share their memories. These families had suffered alone for decades because of the stigma portrayed by the media, about the battle where their loved ones fought. They had buried their dead, and then held inside their pain. 

     That meeting, complete with Patriot Guard Riders of Alabama, sparked a movement to finally honor these who seemed nearly forgotten. Each family that came to that meeting shared stories, some brought pictures, many wiped fresh tears, and all bonded with others who experienced similar events. The tremendous outpouring of shared grief gave healing to those who felt alone and gave a renewed purpose to their lives and the memories of their fallen family member. 

     As Don and Heather learned about these men and their families, they wanted to make sure these lives and their gold-star families were recognized and their stories were not forgotten. Unsung Heroes was born. 

     What can you do?

     Thank a veteran. Your freedom cost them a portion of their lives.

     Buy a book. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book goes into a foundation that will fund the continuing preservation of their memories, and their final resting places. 

Share it with others, or buy an extra copy to give.

     Leave an honest review on Amazon, if you liked this book. This helps their stories and the truth about the war be noticed. 

     Visit our website UnsungHeroesOfMorganCountyAlabama.blogspot.com where you will find basic information about these men, and a little of their stories. You may search (on the side panel) for battles, cities, provinces, cemeteries. Each man has a separate post, and you are encouraged to leave a memory, a “thank you,” or any encouraging note for the friends and families in the comment section at the end of each post. 

     Follow the Facebook page Vets Like Us, for things happening and opportunities to serve our veterans.

     Follow the Facebook page Unsung Heroes of Morgan County Alabama about the book and the gold star families from the Vietnam War. Touch base with other family and friends of these men from Morgan County. Keep up with book signings and other events. You can also message us from this page to request books, or to have us come speak to a group.

     Check on the Vietnam casualties in “Your Town.” Have they been given the honor they deserve? 

Donate an Unsung Heroes book in memory or honor of someone.

     Ask your local library to stock Unsung Heroes.

     Fly Old Glory. She stands for freedom. Freedom that is costly and fragile. Fly her high and proud and encourage those around you to do the same. Freedom is too valuable to take for granted.

 Quotes from notable endorsements

From: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver L. North (Ret)

“Bless you for remembering and honoring

the unsung heroes from your county

who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Viet Nam War.

May God bless you in your continuing efforts

in recognizing those who died for our great country.”

~~~

The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance

Semper Fidelis,

Oliver North

~~

From: Gary Sinise

Dear Families of our Fallen Heroes of the Vietnam War,

First and foremost, I want to thank you all for your service and commitment to our country. The families of our service members serve and sacrifice also, and I have the highest respect and appreciation for our Gold Star families. I thank God every day for the brave defenders who have served our country in times past and who are currently serving today. Those, like your loved ones, who are willing to go into harm’s way to protect and defend our freedom, and look out for our safety, are truly deserving. Thank you for informing me of this effort. It is my honor to acknowledge you all on this special day ...

Calvin Coolidge, once said, “The nation which forgets its defenders, will itself be forgotten.” Please know that your loved ones service and your families sacrifice for our great country will not be forgotten, or be taken for granted.  

May God bless you and your loved ones, and may God continue to bless, and watch over, our America.

Your grateful American pal,

Gary Sinse

Book trailer

US News and World Report article

About the authors
Award-winning author, Lisa Worthey Smith, and her husband are empty-nesting in North Alabama. She writes stories of faith, hope, and love, often including Bible studies within her heart-warming tales.

Don and Heather Collins are passionate about our American military and are active within several veterans groups. Unsung Heroes grew out of their mission to serve veterans and their families within their non-profit Vets Like Us.