The Last Parade

In January, 1967, the American forces in Vietnam declared Ben Cat part of its pacification program. To secure this ancient farming village came twelve naive young soldiers fresh out of advanced training. What they found when they brought the war to Ben Cat blew their lives apart forever.

Hodges found the woman he would love despite all odds. MacKerry found a friendship he had to kill. Sergeant Dudley found his way back into action. They all found the disaster that was Vietnam.

For in Ben Cat they found a subtle culture they didn't understand and a complex people filled with desperate, concealed passion and timeless patience. They found Laureen Nhu Lam, a beautiful half-French girl born out of an earlier conflict; Mai Nin, h er fierce grandmother; Tranh, her relentless teenage brother; the mysterious old woman Ching Phor; Guyan, Laureen's childhood friend, a ferocious fighter for national independence; and many others.

Who was friend? Who was enemy? How could you survive? If you survived, how could you go on living?

The compelling characters in this intensely fast-paced story of patriotism and love, of fear and bravery, of violence and endurance tell the Vietnam War the way it really was.

Hiland B. Doolittle was born in Albany, New York. He is the grateful son of John Q. A. and Mary-Arthur B. Doolittle, who gifted him with love, sport, and pursuit of happiness.

Mr. Doolittle was educated at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island, Randolph-Macon College and The State University of New York at Albany. He served in Vietnam from January 1967 through May 1968.

Mr. Doolittle lives with his wife, Suzanne, and his three children, Ashley, Hiland Jr. and Abbigail Adams, who have tolerated and supported him through the creation of this, his first novel.

Life is good!