The story
Before the war, the battle, and the return
The memoir begins before Vietnam. It traces the conditions that formed Leon Collier, writing under the pen name Christopher Rowling, and the experiences that stayed with him after service.
Early Years in South Carolina
Born and raised in rural South Carolina during the 1940s and 50s, he grew up under Jim Crow. He began working in the cotton fields at age seven and was kept out of school during crop seasons.
A Young Man Searching for Purpose
The story follows his path from the boundaries of his early life into military service, a turning point that placed him in a much larger and more dangerous world.
Deployment Into a New World
His service took him to Binh Dinh province in Vietnam. The memoir records the strain, uncertainty, and demands of that deployment.
Baptism by Fire
Combat transformed the meaning of discipline and survival. The book places those experiences within the larger arc of the life he had already lived.
Chu Moor Mountain
The defining battle took place at Chu Moor Mountain, where five consecutive days of close combat tested every part of him. For his actions there, he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
Completing His Tour
He completed his military service in 1979.
Coming Home from War
Returning home did not erase the experiences of combat. The memoir follows the continuing struggle to live beyond the war.
