The Long Journey Home: Untold Stories of Forgotten Soldiers - WWII Historical Book for Veterans, History Buffs & Military Enthusiasts

Craig Blackman's book has a great deal of meaning for me. I am a Vietnam veteran who served with one of the soldiers Craig's students memorialized in their 2014 Memorial Day ceremony. By directing the activities described in this book and by subsequently publishing the events herein, I believe that Craig accomplished several truly significant objectives.The first is telling the individual stories of 25 of our young soldiers and Marines who died during the Vietnam War, honoring their memories by describing their lives and subsequently their deaths. The second is that surviving family members of the 25 who perished in Vietnam were invited to the Memorial Day ceremony in Chesapeake, Virginia, where their loved ones were honored for their patriotism and sacrifice. I'm sure that the hearts of those in attendance swelled with pride as young American high school students, most about the same age as the lost family member, remembered the service and sacrifice of those 25 young men. But there was one more outcome that was also truly significant: that the research, the interaction with family members of the deceased, and the preparation of the stories of each military member were the total responsibility of Craig's high school students from Indian River High School. Those students participated in a project that will help them better understand the tragedies of war, the sacrifices of those who fight the war, and how war changes lives forever. Even today you might hear about why we should not have fought that war. On the other hand, however, way too little is said about those who answered the call when their country needed them, and they went, many making the ultimate sacrifice. I truly believe that the high school students who participated in this project will never forget what they learned. I say thank you Craig for helping America remember our heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War and for showing us why we should never forget them.