From Saigon to Katum

From Saigon to Katum takes us on a side-by-side journey of two men who experienced the American Vietnam War from very different perspectives; Bourret from a classical music background set in rural Americana and Huynh from the precarious rice fields of the Mekong Delta in the time of war. The chapters unfold to allow the reader to view each men's trek from childhood into adulthood as each traverses his new surroundings and understanding of a war neither asked to be part of. From Saigon to Katum allows us to journey through two men's experiences as their lives are inexorably transformed. Before becoming a U.S. draftee, Dennis R. Bourret's only wish was to follow his dream of bestowing music on people's lives in an evocative and meaningful way. As a successful student from the Mekong rice fields, Sam Huynh's only wish was for his family to survive and for his nation to heal and be at peace after generations of misery. Fortunately, both men not only survived the war, but years later, they had the wherewithal to document their experiences for us to witness and contemplate. Their combined voices - while distinct in manner, perspective, and recall - create a fuller personal experience of the American Vietnam War, allowing us a foothold in coming to terms with the universal tragedies of a miscalculated war. Sam and Dennis both hope future generations gain the wisdom to learn from their tribulations.