Patrick H. Dockery’s “Vietnam Was More Than Just the Killing,” Tells a Story of a Young Officer in an Active War

Retired United States Army Reserve Patrick H. Dockery tells the story of his younger self in his memoir, “Vietnam Was More than Just the Killing: The Untold Day to Day History.”

“Vietnam Was More Than Just the Killing” shares details of Patrick Dockery’s life as a young officer during the Vietnam War. With two tours of duty in Vietnam, the officer shares his life to provide insights into the life of the troops and how he dealt with various assignments and the dilemma that go with each.

Readers are taken into the life story through journal-style written texts. This style gives the readers the illusion of the events happening in real-time. The book shares how a soldier deals with challenges and personal problems in active war. Dockery provides the readers with his assignments, including one where he was tasked to look for signs of enemies in the forest. The book entails a soldier’s survival in the active war and how he dealt with each of his assignments with a sense of responsibility.

The book shares the experience of being in the war, which lets the readers know how soldiers survive during war, including getting their rations and finding potable water. Dockery also explains how trained canines are utilized in active wars. The memoir shows the retired USAR’s creativity in providing a flash of images through his descriptions and humor.

“Vietnam Was More Than Just the Killing: The Untold Day to Day History” by LTC Patrick H Dockery (USAR, Ret) is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Author’s Biography

LTC Patrick H. Dockery was the second born of eight children in the Canal Zone, Republic of Panama, just like his father. His grandfather, a United States citizen, had worked on the construction of the Panama Canal and received the Roosevelt Medal for his year-long service. His mother, of pure German lineage, had been brought to the Canal Zone as an infant and remained there until his father’s retirement from the government.

He grew up amongst the military, spending time on all the bases on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus. Military service, duty, and belief in the federal government were revered subjects as he grew up. Everything was positive in supporting their lifestyle.

Being so close to an actual jungle environment, it was not uncommon for him to spend complete days playing games like soldiers, cowboys and Indians, hide and seek, and more. He and his siblings knew and loved the jungle, along with their secret trails and hidden forts they built. Importantly, they learned to recognize what was dangerous, what bit or chewed, and how to identify them.

Knowing that after college he was likely going to Vietnam, he researched small colleges with a Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC). In his sophomore year, he met the woman whom he later married at the end of his junior year. Their marriage, which has lasted over thirty-seven years, also proved beneficial for his college education. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, with a strong minor in the sciences and coaching philosophies.

“Vietnam Was More Than Just the Killing: The Untold Day To Day History”
Author| LTC Patrick H. Dockery
Published Date| February 28, 2023
Publisher| Trafford Publishing
Genre| General

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