Author Jack Billups' first book, 'My Vietnam' was a bestseller in the Vietnam War Memoir category. The new book was inspired by John Bunyan's immortal classic, 'Pilgrims Progress'.
At no time in history has then been a wider generation gap than the one we experience today. Change has come at a breakneck speed over the last few decades, The angst older Americans feel in regard to younger Americans’ views could be caused, according to many "Boomers", by changes in the traditional American value system. While many of us felt or perhaps intuited that something had changed, we struggled to determine what had changed, and perhaps how or why. No longer. We now have the proof.
The recent WSJ/NORC poll revealed some startling facts about how Americans now view life in the US. The poll details a seismic shift in the American value system over the last 25 years.
In 1998, 64% of people believed the next generation would do better than they. In 2023, that percentage is only 21%.
In 1998 47% of people believed community involvement was important. Today that number is just 27%.
In 1998, 70% of people believed patriotism was important. In 2023, that percentage is only 38%.
In 1998, 62% of people saw religion as important. In 2023, that percentage is only 39%.
“As the grandparent of 17, I have become increasingly distraught watching American culture rapidly morph from the values I knew in the 50s, to the godlessness that looms over our country today. Not wanting to sit on the sideline wringing my hands, I chose to do more than vote and complain. Persuasion works for both good and evil.
"That’s why I wrote and illustrated, 'Christian’s Walk ~ The Journey'. Attractive in appearance, this fictional book has a storyline for our time and culture. A book that both the young and old can enjoy. Within the story are passages from the Bible, called, The Big Book, that address issues of the heart, and the unusual occurrences pressing in on our youth today."
Excerpt from Christian’s Walk ~ The Journey
Turn the TV off, shouts Chris. Extremely frustrated, he races from the house, mumbling, “I can’t believe this, the world has gone collectively insane; nothing makes sense anymore.” Everything right is wrong, and everything wrong is now right. Everyone is looking out for themselves! Whatever happened to courtesy, kindness, and integrity? Now it’s fashionable to disrespect seniors, boastfully spew profanities and see who can push the furthest boundaries of decency and modesty! Why does my culture celebrate perversion and lewdness? Why are criminals pitied while their victims are ignored? My kids haven’t a chance!
"I have given to each of my loved one’s a copy of 'Christian’s Walk', hoping that within my circle of influence, there will be 'push-back' against the dark forces that are destroying this once great nation.”
'Christian's Walk, The Journey', is available at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jack-Billups/author/B08R5PHYYV?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true.
Billups’ bestselling first book, 'My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter', is a stunning piece of writing that will likely take its place as one of the best Vietnam memoirs ever written.
‘My Vietnam’ is, at its core, a love story, combined with a dramatic and searing account of the Vietnam War experience. That experience is shared with a family member, in the most intimate way possible - a return trip to the battlefields of Vietnam.
Billups' memoir puts the reader into a pair of combat boots, and allows them to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the Vietnam combat experience in vivid detail. That is but part of the story.
"Hey Dad, please share your Vietnam experiences?" Naomi's request set into motion a journey, 50 years into the past, as a "grunt" in the steamy jungles of Vietnam. Four months later with his memoir completed, Naomi asked, "Dad, let's go to Vietnam, just you and me?" Could the ghosts of Vietnam past morph into a father and daughter blessing in the present?
George C. Colclough, Col. Inf (retired) US Army, former president, and CEO of Smith & Wesson, stated in the introduction to the book, "Just another Vietnam War book? Certainly not, Jack takes you down two roads as he embarks on one remarkable journey with his daughter. First, Jack effectively articulates his story in such a way that puts the reader into the boots of a grunt, causing them to feel what he felt, and understand the daunting challenges of those who traveled the Vietnam jungle.
"Secondly, Jack and his daughter continued this remarkable adventure as they traveled back to Vietnam to return to the places where her father had so many vivid experiences. A wonderful story!"
What really sets this bestselling memoir apart is Billups' writing style. There is no pretense; nothing feels forced or contrived, made up or embellished. Billups presents his real-life characters in such a way as to make the reader feel intimately familiar with each of the members of his very young band of brothers, warts, and all. Billups tells it exactly as it was.
His style holds through the second part of the book, describing his return to Vietnam and the jaw-dropping changes now evident in modern day Vietnam. One of the highlights of the second part of the book is the reunion, bringing those somewhat innocent young men back together many decades later as mature men. Readers will get a vivid look, from many points of view, at how the Vietnam experience changed the lives of those who lived through that experience.
It is also a compelling memoir that reconciles America and Vietnam, then and now, including the culture shock of seeing Vietnam as it exists today. It offers a heartfelt and heartwarming message to the people of both countries, and a greater understanding of what the old song "Ruby" called "that crazy Asian war."
Readers and reviewers alike have praised 'My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter'. It has been called "A beautiful journey to healing," and "A thought-provoking and introspective Vietnam memoir". One reviewer said, "The book was so good, I was sad when I finished it." Another stated, "Jack's memory of his time in Vietnam has been beautifully detailed in his book. Not everyone wants to relive such a terrible page in our American history, but Jack was able to do a remarkable job talking about actual events that he lived through and came back home in one piece to give such a wonderful gift he has given to his daughter."
Another wrote, "The book delivered on my husband's hopes for a healing response to what our Armed Services faced over there. My husband usually can't read much Vietnam War material due to PTSD. He read this in just a few days; it was that good. Our thanks to the author for undertaking this topic and telling his story."
The book will make for an engaging read for veterans, spouses and children of veterans and others who have been impacted in any way by serving in any branch of the military, as the memoir includes the years leading up to, and after his service in Vietnam, including the effects his tour in Vietnam had on his family.
Jack Billups is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at jabillups49@gmail.com. 'Christian's Walk: The Journey' is available in ebook and paperback at Amazon. 'My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter' is available at Amazon in Kindle, paperback and audio formats. More information is available at Billups' website at https://myvietnambook.com.
About Jack Billups:
As a 19-year-old Army volunteer, Sgt. Jack Billups received the Bronze Star with the V attachment. He was awarded the Air Medal, which went to those who participated in combat aerial missions. Assigned to the 1st Air Calvary infantry as a M60 machine gunner, Jack served in the steamy jungles near the Ho Chi Minh trail along the Cambodian border.
Jack grew up during the 1950s and early 1960s in a peaceful Southern California community populated by many senior citizens and dotted with chicken ranches. He is a dependable and talented "everyman" who makes no claim about his service in Vietnam except for being a patriotic American who did "the right thing" as he saw it. He maintained that attitude throughout his life. Asked to talk about his military experience by his daughter, he began writing it out, and ended up exposing 50-year-old forgotten memories and emotions about the jungle war, concluding with a trip back to Vietnam with his daughter.
Contact:
Jack Billups
myvietnam1949@gmail.com
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