Author Michael Duffy

Duffy’s war experience begins when he exits a C-130 cargo plane onto the Tan Son Nhut tarmac–a chaotic scene of blasts, explosions, and small arms fire. Sprinting to a waiting helicopter, he is lifted up and over the city, where he gets a bird’s-eye view of Saigon under attack. The helicopter lands on a road outside Bien Hoa Base Camp, and Duffy crawls in under enemy fire, tumbling into a fox-hole under cover of two GIs. Later, he meets up with his younger brother, Danny Duffy, in an ammunition convoy driving up Highway 1 to the village of Xuan Loc.

After his brutal one-year tour in Vietnam, Duffy returns to Chicago, where he enjoys a Christmas dinner with his family before enrolling as a freshman at Colorado College. Like many vets, his return from the war would be met with curiosity, indifference, and, at times, scorn. This harrowing memoir was thirty years in the making.

These events acknowledge holidays and other occasions that are valued in our community.

By including these days, we hope that you

see your diversity mirrored on our calendar
feel like we are taking your beliefs and observances into account with our programming
become aware of occasions valued by other members of the community
appreciate the diversity of our community

This effort, as well as others to come, are the result of our participation in the Glen Ellyn DEI Project meetings and listening sessions. The library is committed to furthering our commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of our community.