Vietnam, The Green Machine, & Me

This work is built around a unifying element which involves the journey of a conscripted soldier through his military experiences during the Vietnam War. This “road story” is a genre unto itself and more than a fictionalized memoir. You may wonder why anyone would be interested in reading a book about a soldier’s participation in the Vietnam War. The answer lies in how he did it. Our protagonist is faced with having to forge himself into the type of person capable of dealing with military challenges in a successful manner. James J. Justice shows how an ordinary man transformed himself into an adroit Nietzschean Superman. He accomplishes his metamorphosis through the help of two of history’s greatest teachers: • Dale Carnegie’s teachings were first presented in 1937 by his book How to Win Friends and Influence People and became an overnight success. It eventually sold 15 million copies and is regarded by many as a road map toward self-improvement and success in life. • Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings on truth, morality, power, consciousness and the meaning of existence have exerted an enormous influence on how to reaffirm life and rethink the nature of existence, knowledge, and morality. Our protagonist enters the war and is challenged with surviving it in an ever-changing and sometimes hostile environment. His adventure is also the perfect metaphor around which conflict lurks and builds as his voyage delivers him into the combat zone. This journey transports the reader to the innermost place within James J. Justice’s soul, where his character is forged and tested. Justice’s exploits provide a road map on how to become an adroit, confident, courageous person—self-protective armor for anyone who wishes to better deal with life’s challenges.