BRUCE K. BERGER
BROTHERS BOUND
How much can the human spirit endure? Buck, a Caucasian teacher, and Hues, a multiracial street preacher, form an unlikely friendship after meeting in a bar fight near their Army training base in 1969. When their helicopter crashes later in Vietnam and they're captured by Viet Cong soldiers, they begin to learn the power of brotherhood. Marched to a prison camp and forced into hard labor, they are beaten frequently and given little to eat or drink as they suffer a brutal life in a bamboo cage.
Each day begins with the ominous question: how can they survive another day? They discover the gift of good memories and share them often. And they find great hope in Hues's incredible life spirit that lights their darkest days.
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Fourteen months after their capture, Hues damages his ankle so severely he can't walk. With death closer than ever, they escape and begin a harrowing journey through the dense jungle filled with predators-the enemy, the wildlife, and even their fellow soldiers who may not recognize them. Buck vows to carry Hues every step until they reach safety, but can they possibly make it? Their devotion to each other drives them onward.
PRAISE FOR BROTHERS BOUND
“Every so often a narrative arrives that allows us to understand -- in the most vivid, visceral way -- how war is experienced on frozen battlefields, coral islands or in this case, a POW camp and a desperate escape through the steaming jungles of Vietnam. Bruce Berger delivers a triumph of storytelling about war, the bonds between soldiers, and the human spirit, with a brilliant twist in the conclusion.”
- Mark Harris, former VP of Comms for IBM
“Brother’s Bound is a short, terse, and remarkably rich, precise story of human survival. The irony of going from the Casualty Branch to Graves Registration, (both jobs few readers can imagine, or have even given any thought to) is an astounding focus in itself, but then for it to morph into an epic fourteen-month prisoner of war struggle is a superb exercise in the finest imagining of what human survival can reduce to. The critic James Wood once wrote that his grandmother, nearing her death, fell into a condition of “bewildered Silence.” Closing the final pages of Brother’s Bound leaves this reader in a similar condition. It’s a remarkable piece of work.”
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--Joseph Heywood, author of more than 20 books and a navigator in the
Air Force in the Vietnam theater
“Bruce Berger gives readers a vivid idea of the costs of war as he develops the bond between Buck and Hues. Brothers Bound is worth the read for the POW story of war. But Berger's writing offers readers a much larger experience. He is using the fifty plus years since Nam to help unpack lessons of war. This is not a book just for Viet vets; it is wisdom that can help most of us as we negotiate the jungles of today. And I believe many readers will feel those lessons in the poetry of the psalms attributed to Hues. This is a book that can move you.”
--Richard Puffer, a Marine infantry platoon commander in Nam in 1969-70
"I thought I knew a lot about the Vietnam War, but Bruce Berger's writing brings into sharp focus the horrific world of captivity, the love of two men for one another, and their indomitable will to survive."
- Don Tyler, author of "Tough Guy and Other Poems"
“This is a rich book of inspiration, courage, survival and brotherhood. As a proud Vietnam veteran of the 101st Airborne Division in the year 1970, I find this to be a must read for all.”
- Jim Thompson, Veteran
“Bruce Berger tells an essential part of the Vietnam story––the business of death as American forces worked to send soldiers’ remains home and notify their families. Berger’s brilliant descriptions force the reader to experience every feeling, sight, sound, and smell his heroes encountered when trapped in a brutal POW camp. Just as his character, Hues, was “everyman,” Berger infuses his characters with the DNA of a multitude of soldiers in Vietnam, generating compassion and empathy for our soldiers in a winless war.”
- J. Suzanne Horsley, Ph.D., professor, author, and widow of a veteran
“Bruce Berger’s novel places two American soldiers inside small cages in a brutal Vietnamese prisoner of war camp and seems to throw away all hope of rescue or escape. But that’s not how the story ends, it’s only the beginning. These two men will stretch the bonds of brotherhood and share a combined spiritual strength that will not allow either to give up as long as they still have life inside them. Bruce Berger has given us, in this work of human survival, a truly unforgettable love story.”
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--Bill McCloud, author of What Should We Tell our Children About Vietnam?
and The Smell of the Light: Vietnam, 1968-1969
“Bruce Berger turned the clock back over 50 years and reminds us of the horrors and sacrifices endured by our Vietnam vets. The redeeming outcome of this tragic conflict is the binding brotherhood of Hues and Buck - two guys who met in a bar minutes before their tour of service began. What follows is an intense friendship and the two become each other’s family. Brothers that put their lives on the line for each other... and more. They are indeed Brothers Bound. Sometimes heart wrenching, sometimes joyful. Always difficult to put down.”
--Sue Neumann, retired Corporate Communications Leader
“Brothers Bound is a poignant, deeply moving account that stirs a mixture of sorrow for Buck’s losses and awe at his resilience and capacity to impart profound life lessons derived from his harrowing experiences. The story presents an emotionally rich and transformative journey of a Vietnam vet who grapples with the psychological and physical scars of war. This story not only sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of military operations but also delves deep into the human element, exploring themes of duty, brotherhood, and the indelible mark of war on the human soul. Through the physical imagery of scars and the psychological depths of memory rooms and emotional breakdowns, the story touches on themes of survival, the enduring human spirit, and the redemptive power of love and hope. Brothers Bound by Bruce Berger is a must-read for anyone who would understand the emotional trauma of war and resilience of love.”
--Charles Templeton, author of Boot: A Sorta Novel of Vietnam
“Bruce Berger’s storytelling of Buck and Hues' bond amidst the brutalities of war is profoundly moving, showcasing the indomitable resilience of the human spirit. Their unbreakable brotherhood, forged in the crucible of adversity and forged through daring escapes, serves as a testament to the transformative power of friendship in the face of overwhelming challenges. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and a reminder of the profound strength found in unwavering dedication, especially during life’s most trying moments.”
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--Eyun-Jung Ki, Ph.D., professor, author, and past president of the Korean American Communication Association