Napalm's Embrace

Napalm's Embrace is non-infantry centric novel of the Vietnam War. USMC 2nd Lieutenant Jack Brady, a civil affairs officer is assigned the thankless task of winning the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese rice farmers out in the countryside. In this attempt, he is thwarted by the military bureaucracy and intensifying war. The story is a close up look at the South Vietnamese people, their culture, and the horrors of the war they endured.

Napalm's Embrace is a non infantry centric novel set in Vietnam, in 1968, at the height of the war. USMC 2nd Lieutenant Jack Brady, a civil affairs officer has been assigned the thankless task of winning the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese villagers out in the countryside. His efforts are thwarted by the military bureacracy and the intensifying war. His attractive interpreter, Tran Thi Sam, gives Brady a deep insight into Vietnamese history and culture. Lieutenant Mike Donnelly, the operations officer, just in from the field, is a direct counter to Brady's growing empathy for the South Vietnamese people. Brady's efforts prove futile, no less tragic than the infantry-fought war. The interwoven destinies of Jack Brady, Tran Thi Sam, and Mike Donnelly reveal all the fault lines and fractures of the American-led war. Based on the author's (W. Thomas Leonard) experience while serving as a USMC Civil Affairs Officer in Vietnam during 1968-1969.

Iona College, 1967, English Major United States Marine Corps, 1967 - 1970 American University - Masters, Liberal Arts 1972 Worked in the private sector for 37 years specializing in recruiting; was Director of Staffing for a number of large Corporations. Retired a few years ago. Am now focused on writing fiction: novels and short stories. Napalm's Embrace is my first novel, a work of fiction based on my experiences as a USMC 1st Lt. serving in Vietnam, 1968-1969.