~by Father Ron Camarda

January 30, 2012–Review of PACHYDERMS: One Soldier’s Experience of the Vietnam War

By Danny Buoy

Copyright 2002 by Danny Buoy, 372p, (Xlibris)

Review by Ron Camarda

January 26, 2012

Pachyderms is a diamond in the rough. The book reads like a screenplay of a movie with substance…but better. The characters come alive, albeit complex, simple and surprisingly likeable, through the mind of a very gifted and clever author. St. Augustine’s Confessions came to my mind as I finished this book. Danny looks deeply into his own heart and soul and recognizes his own faulty judgments and foibles. The book is raw and demands that you feel, think about, experience and observe the fears, terror, boredom and blunt force of an illogical war. This is accomplished through the observations of a young new recruit who was overwhelmed by the inevitable deployment to an unpopular, seductive and perplexing Vietnam War. It was a war that blasted the body, mind and soul of the people who endured it.

If you dare to take the journey of this book, you will require a good dose of courage for the self-reflection. The author forced this Iraq combat veteran chaplain to re-evaluate some of my false assumptions of Vietnam Veterans and all combat veterans for that matter. Humbling.

To me, the book is more than real. It explores the depths of the heart and soul of young unsuspecting kids thrown into a caldron of invisible enemies, confusion, lust, virtue, immorality, poor leadership, superb leadership, terror, friendship, passion, fickleness, greed, death, red tape, the Army way, and love.

The story is compelling and resonates with life on many levels and dimensions. The book is connected and comes full circle in most cases. Some of the “unresolved” issues are just that, irresolvable. How could anyone understand suicide, returning soldiers treated like criminals, inept commanders receiving awards for causing so much misery, or a scared friend not saying goodbye?

The story, which more resembles a memoir, is complicated. Vietnam Veterans are complicated. This story really got under my skin.  Any American History teacher or scholar would discover that Pachyderms is a hidden treasure, to use a Scriptural analogy. The story has the power that could assist healing in combat veterans.

Before I read about the deployment of PFC Cooby, the soldier narrating, I was so intolerant and skeptical of Vietnam vets in general. I was blind to the plight of the enlisted. When I read in shock about the R & R trysts of the soldiers to places like Hong Kong and Penang with the debauchery, lust and plain bad behavior, I was really angry with the soldiers. But I still really loved them unconditionally and I understood that they were not thinking with their brains, but only with their broken hearts. I forgave them and read on, as difficult as it was.

I am filled with gratitude for these men who suffered and were tormented by even their own family members upon return. There is much dissimilarity in the return of troops from the war in Vietnam compared to the recent wars. I am not sure I would have survived it. In war, “Charlie” (code for the silent and invisible enemy), can never hurt us other than physically. Only friends and loved ones can inflict the wounds of the heart and soul. And that is very clear to me, what all of us Americans did to our returning Vietnam Veterans. For some of them, death was a more humane or compassionate outcome compared to returning to a hostile America of the time. It just is. Vietnam Vets are not innocent nor without sins, but they do deserve to be forgiven for their own sins. They do not need to take the responsibility of those politicians and lousy leaders who sent them there without true support for the troops.  My own sins are plethora. Who are we to judge?

Danny, like his Sergeant who went from feared boss to endearing friend, mentored me through this journey. Just as his former Sergeant corrected Danny Coobat, when he failed to mentor his replacement, in a very subtle way, Danny encourages those who dare to listen to his story.

‘The reader’ has never been in a bunker during incoming mortar, has never pulled a burned body from a Chinook, didn’t return from R & R only to find his buddies rotated, and has yet to be hailed by Rule number four. As far as I know, ‘the reader’ did not lose his first love Madilla, and only has one talent like you in July 1966. “Live and let live.”

At 17 years old, I entered into the overwhelming world of the military complex. Danny touches on many of those highs, middles and lows in navigating the torturous journey of becoming, not just a modern warrior…but also a decent and mature human being capable of honest and humbling self-criticism. He also shares with us the ability to love and to be loved.

The story is ordinary, gut wrenching, extremely thought provoking, and profound.

Thank you Sergeant Danny Kubat (and your friends both living and dead).

Welcome Home!

“Not good enough, Danny.” I wish I could embrace you, Sergeant Coobat, in a long hugengrossed in a feeling ‘brothers in war’ share. My eyes are too wet to confirm seeing a tear in yours, but my ears heard your voice crack when you said, “Good-bye Reader.”

A RESPONSE FROM DANNY KUBAT

Padre Ron,

I couldn’t dare to believe I could write, as an ‘author.’ After an uphill
battle, to say the least, I became ‘published.’

At first I was lured into thinking about fame and title, book signings, possible return upon invested time. None of my wild expectations, or dreams, happened, and I was left to think. I hoped, no prayed, that one day, someone, who I did not know, somewhere, would get a copy of my book and review it. I expected the worst; what I received was the best.

I would embrace you in a long hug, and believe me, your shoulders would be wet from my own tears. Thank you for giving me the privilege to say, “I’m an author,”  regardless of who reads or doesn’t read about that ‘war.’

Danny Kubat
PACHYDERMS
Danny Buoy

Father Ron Camarda is a retired Naval Chaplain and author of “Tear in the Desert,” a powerful book containing his memoirs of life and death at the Battle for Fallujah. Father Ron appears on EWTN and recently won the Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.

VISIT FATHER RON’S COLUMN ARCHIVE

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W. Keith Moore has written music and lyrics for Father Ron Camarda’s upcoming movie based on his book Tear in the Desert. He has sent us a heartfelt commentary on Father Ron’s book and we must share it with you! Read Keith Moore’s Commentary

**Check out some of the songs Keith Moore wrote for the television series and the motion picture of TEAR IN THE DESERT:

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It is our privilege and great joy to have with catholicStewardsofCreation.com a blessed and holy-spirit filled priest who sees God in everything and everyone.

Father Ron Camarda is an ordained Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of St. Augustine and also the Archdiocese of the Military which shows you how committed and hard he has worked in his vocation. He has received numerous commendations and achievement medals and is a ten year member of the American Counseling Association.

He is also the author of the widely successful and emotionally moving book titled TEAR in the DESERT which shares his experiences in Iraq as a Chaplain in the heart of war. His journal chronicles the names of 2,000 troops he met along the way and his experience at the Marine Surgical Hospital during the battle for Fallujah that forever changed him. Even today, he remains in touch with many of the families and survivors that he came to know through this experience.

He has appeared on EWTN and has been written about in Emmanuel Magazine, The St. Augustine Catholic and many newspapers across the country have carried his story.

We thank Father Ron for blessing this new website with his presence. Father Ron will have a featured weekly column and will also share his inspirations in each of our monthly Eagles Wings Newsletters.

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