Trip across the pond 'A Personal Vietnam Experience'

the long version

Of all the books to come out of Vietnam, "Trip Across The Pond" is extraordinarily different and down to earth by way of details and the human-interest aspect; which bring us into the story almost as if we were there. It is a striking blend done in a vivid style that provides us with a slant on the psyche of the times, a dramatic and moving recantation. Thomas K. DuGan begins with an operation then flashes back to a time before induction into the Armed Forces. We learn about incidental experiences, absurdities that have not be revealed to us before. DuGan takes us through four straight-leg infantry divisions covering area as; Camp Bear Cat, Ben Hoa, Long Benh, Saigon, Bien Dong island, Dau Tieng, Camp Rainier, Tay Ninh and Cam Ranh Bay. By writing "TAP" DuGan has made himself a place on the shelf beside Remarque, Graves, Mailer, Sajer, Hagerman, Caputo, Santoli, Kovic, Hasford and Hieneman, all whom would no doubt agree- DuGan's book belongs to the brotherhood. Thomas K. DuGan states, "In 'Trip Across The Pond' there is no gory. We as a society don't need that. Instead, I painted the absurdities/insanity's experienced by me -there is no heresy. By revealing the absurdities/insanity's; experienced by me, the soldiers day to day struggle for survival, his hand tied behind his back, drugs pushed down his throat, will give all people a better understanding thus bridging the gap between the soldier and them."