Winning Vietnam

By Conrad Larson

Winning Vietnam is revisionist history action novel combining
rumors, history and wishful thinking. The main character signifi es
the courage and abilities of our soldiers. Winning Vietnam is a
work in progress with possible sequels of the heroics of SWEDE in the
future. The Vietnam veterans are special soldiers and have been victimized,
ignored, and until recently not honored enough. This book is dedicated to
the heroes of the Vietnam confl ict.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781456837181

Conrad Larson

Conrad Larson author and father of fi ve sons, fi ve grandchildren and hopefully many more, former teacher, coach, farmer, entrepenuer, truck driver, corporate sales , corporate management, lay ministry, and everyday enthusiast of life. Conrad has a Historical Fiction mystery novel of World War I called “The Overcoat” based on the World War I soldier from this book. The author has a new book, Carry On Private Dahlgren, available now.

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Copyright © 2010 by Conrad Larson.

ISBN:       Softcover       978-1-4500-7612-8

                 Ebook           978-1-4500-7613-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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FOREWORD

A FEW YEARS AGO, I visited Auschwitz. I’m not sure why—I am not Jewish or Polish or German. It all happened in another time and place. It had nothing to do with me. I prefer to think that I’m not a ghoul. Perhaps the events that took place there seemed too monstrous, too large to comprehend—maybe I just had to see for myself. While exploring a building known as The Spa, I came upon several photographs of a young girl named Rosa. There were pictures of her playing with her brothers at the beach. There were images of her as she matured into a beautiful woman—at a party with friends, with her family, at her wedding. I was transfixed because she resembled my mother. I asked our guide what happened to Rosa. His eyes locked on mine and my heart froze. I felt my heart breaking at the murder of a girl that I never knew—one that died long before I was born. It seems that the deaths of millions is more than I could deal with emotionally, but the loss of one girl—one who seemed real to me, one who looked like my mom, captured my imagination. The death of Rosa made the Holocaust real to me.

Historical Fiction has long been a tool for authors wishing to interpret past events. In this genre, the writer tells a smaller tale against the backdrop of some larger event — like a stitch in a tapestry. There are many examples — Scarlet and Melanie struggling to survive during the Civil War in Gone with the Wind, Scout and Jem in southern America during the 1930s in To Kill a Mockingbird, Yossarian and Major Major Major in Italy during World War II in Catch 22. By focusing on the smaller, more personal stories of these fictional characters, these great novels gave their readers a sense of context, understanding and reality that transcends what a student might get from a text book. Dramatic perspective reflects the observer’s connection to what happens to others — like my experience with Rosa.

Recently, novelists have used history with a twist. Instead of representing the larger event in microcosm, their stories invent new outcomes for big events — what might have been scenarios that challenge conventional thinking and provoke readers. Some of these books are intriguing, to say the least. What if Charles Lindbergh had been elected President? What if the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in a nuclear war — causing human society to regress and simian societies to advance? What if Anastasia, the daughter of Tsar Nicholas, escaped her family’s executioners and wandered around with amnesia? What if? These stories have high entertainment value and tend to make controversial issues the subject of discussion among readers.

It is important to point out that this tool for novelists is very different from the term revisionist history as used by scholars. In the search for historic truths, there can be many interpretations drawn from the same clues. Scientists often struggle with objectivity. Evaluating data directly, without the influence of existing beliefs or emotional contexts, is perhaps one of the more difficult of human endeavors.

Conrad Larson’s novel, Winning Vietnam, is yet another clever twist on all of the above approaches. It’s fresh and thought provoking. Read and appreciate the thought that went into this entertaining tale.

Joyce Faulkner, President of Military Writers Society of America, and the author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, which received the MWSA Gold Medal for Historical Fiction in 2006

S WEDE AS HE was

called from a young age had the athletic ability to impress the coaches, teachers in Phys Ed and the other kids from an early age. Swede never was really big but always a little above the class average in height. He grew up with hard work on his family farm and was fairly busy every day with physical work. Swede always had chores to do as well as helping in the bigger farm projects.

The work load in those days on the farm was always hard. The mechanical conveniences’ were available but very new and unproven. Money was always the issue in adding mechanical help for work of any kind. Swede had man size chores to do as a young boy. He became stronger by hard work than his peers. Rusty barb wire was a good description of his stature.

Swede was a sandy haired green eyed jangly looking young man barely heavy enough to do farm work but work did he get done. The sun would rise as Swede was nearly half done with feeding the livestock. The sun would set a couple of hours before evening chores were done working long hour’s everyday. The day would end eating mother’s meat and potatoes and crashing right after supper.

The morning would come so quick but off to work Swede would go before school feeding steers in the feedlot, chickens, couple of horses, and a flock of sheep, eat and shower and run to the bus and then the evening chores after school and or school events. The time came when Swede could play with the big boys. It didn’t take long before he was considered one of the older groups of players. Swede grew to a six foot at fourteen years old and was also very skilled making him a choice for the top teams. Swede grew up alone and had to create his own entertainment which consisted of how far he could throw, run, jump and lift things.

The results for Swede were obvious when playing with his peers. Most young men or boys didn’t work at development of their bodies like Swede did. The more success Swede had the more success he wanted and he daily worked on developing his strengths. Not only did his work on these skills develop Swede but the work on the farm enhanced his development.

It was standard fair to be lifting and carry heavy loads for hours twice daily. Many days were dedicated to stacking hay bales all day long with average weights of 80-100 pounds each. The farm had many projects that had Swede working weeks on end doing manual labor at a high level besides the daily chores of heavy lifting.

This year in year out lifestyle created a very strong young man in Swede. His strength, speed and physical skill caught the eyes of his teachers, coaches and school principle. The school invited college coaches, Military Academy recruiters, and others to see Swede’s achievements and workouts. Swede was a six foot three inch young man weighing 180 pounds.

Swede enjoyed the attention but didn’t know the consequences of all the attention. Swede teams would make the regional tournaments regularly as well as state one year.

It was nearly the end of Swede’s junior year that he was offered scholarship to both the Naval Academy and West Point Academy. These offers were the creme De creme of all scholarships and Swede was very excited of these opportunities. The school was especially excited as Swede would be the first Academy scholarship the school received.

Swede was a good student as well and qualified for these two fantastic scholarships. The summer of his junior year the West Point recruiters came to the farm and spent some time with Swede and told him that they wanted him to come to the Academy in New York for some testing in psychological and physical areas. They said that they would have an airplane at the airport in Minneapolis, Naval airbase ready for him in June. He was asked to have two sets of comfortable running shoes and a personal journal for note taking. The recruiters left two manuals for Swede to review. These manuals were for the new recruits at the beginning of classes in the fall. Swede was told that he would be asked questions about the manuals during the four day stay. The trip was to last four days and Swede would be flown home via helicopter to the farm from Minneapolis Naval airbase.

Swede took the recruiters around the farm and showed them some farm life and Swede’s mother Vivian a small Swedish gal a third generation Swedish citizen prepared a big traditional supper for the guests and family. Swede’s family was a typical Minnesota family with strong family values and family ties. His brother now married came over for supper with his wife and two children. Swede younger sister and brother had been sent to do Swede chores as he had guests to show a round. The recruiters and Swede came back to the farmyard and were met by Swede’s younger brother telling them supper was on the table and to hurry in to the house. Swede’s dad Merle had just arrived home from his job in town and welcomed the recruiters to the table. Merle was a handsome Swedish man with a full head of hair and stately manners. The delicious food was ready. Swede’s father Merle gave thanks for the food and they all started eating. All were more than full when Vivian brought out her specialty rhubarb pie. Nobody could resist the sweet smelling treat.

The Army Academy recruiters left shortly after giving compliments and thanks to Vivian for the great hospitality. Swede accompanied them to the car and was told that it was very important that Swede be at the Minneapolis Naval Base at 9AM. The plane would arrive at 9:15 AM and leave at 9:30 AM for the Army base on the Hudson River north of New York City, New York.

Merle’s brother had been in the Army Special Forces and Swede’s dad had made a call to him asking his opinion about the West Point Academy scholarship and the upcoming trip. Merle’s brother Jack said that Swede couldn’t get a better education and that this was a great opportunity for Swede.

The big day came and Merle drove Swede to Minneapolis leaving the farm at 4AM making sure that they would be early and have time to be sure to have things in order. Swede had nearly memorized the manuals left with him by the recruiters. Upon arriving at the Naval Airbase Swede realized that there was to be another couple