Childhood Lost

About the Book

This is a true story of an experience in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. It describes places like Khe Sahn during the siege, demilitarized zone during bombardment, and Hue city with its ornate beauty and people's sadness.

It offers a front line view of the pain, agony, and brotherhood that existed then and exists now among Vietnam veterans who have taken their place in America's society.

Friends who gave their ultimate sacrifice for this nation inspired Childhood Lost. It is because of unconditional devotion and love for their fellow brothers that I share these thoughts.

This story is about the reality of war; pain, anger, screaming, laughter, and death, that sometimes society takes for granted.

Childhood Lost envelops loyalty, love and remembrance in a place where death saturated the atmosphere. It reveals a comparison between life as we knew it in childhood and life in time of war.

About the Author

Willie Zavala, Jr. was born and raised by his grandparents in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1967, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Upon arriving in Vietnam, four months after high school graduation, he was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (The Walking Dead). After receiving an Honorable Dischargefrom the Marine Corps, he attended several universities in San Antonio and Austin, Texas and has earned several degrees and went into the field of education. His career as an educator has taken him from teacher, supervisor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent to superintendent.