James Stoup

Jim Stoup has wanted to tell his amazing Vietnam story ever since returning from his tour of duty in May of 1971. Even though “life got in the way,” as he puts it, he was always planning, developing the concept, making notes and writing the project in his head. And then, in 1994, relying on a myriad of materials, including his writings as an Army journalist, a collection of Army literature and photography developed by his peers that he brought back with him, as well as his notes, a virtual daily diary in the form of letters written home, and his vivid memory of events that never left him, he finally completed a first draft of the book. But the demands of his career and a lack of interest in Vietnam stories at the time prompted him to shelve the project. Some twenty years later, he decided the time was right, and in 2014 did a complete re-write of the book. The result is his non-fiction novel, Behind the Wire.

After his military service as an Army journalist ended in 1972, Jim pursued a career in corporate and marketing communications, eventually transitioning to writing and producing video and film presentations and live corporate events. In the latter phase of his career, he circled the globe as a consultant to some of the world’s largest multi-national corporations, working in production management and as an executive producer.

Now retired, Jim is currently working on his second non-fiction novel, traveling when he can for adventure and to visit family and friends (especially his daughter Francesca, his son-in-law Ryan, and his two granddaughters, Ava and Emerson), and is enjoying life in south Florida with his partner.