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Scott Christofferson was an aspiring writer when he dropped out of college after just one semester, choosing to see the world first-hand as an enlisted GI-turned combat reporter during the turbulent Vietnam years. This book of his letters chronicles his life and growth with startling honesty, humor and insight, from the time of his high school graduation at age 17, his idealistic decision to quit college and enlist in the Army at age 18, to his combat death in Vietnam just one month shy of his 20th birthday. Included are numerous photographs and copies of original source documents, making this book a compelling read as well as an excellent resource for the study of the Vietnam era.

Scott Christofferson was one of the original baby-boomers, the third of eight children born to Frank and Barbara Christofferson. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in November 1947, Scott grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he hoped to major in journalism. He was an aspiring writer when he dropped out of college after just one semester, choosing to see the world first-hand as an enlisted GI-turned combat reporter during the turbulent Vietnam years. He was killed in action on October 8, 1967, and was awarded the Silver Star posthumously, for bravery in combat. His seven siblings worked together to publish this volume of Scott’s letters, poems and essays, in hope that others will be able to gain insight into that period in American history, to develop an appreciation for the young men and women who sacrificed their youth in the jungles of Vietnam, and perhaps most significantly, to know well one specific young man whose journey from college dropout to Army combat reporter to fallen hero is brought to vivid life through his own words