Overview

It is a vicious circle in that roads cannot be built until areas are relatively secure, and roads cannot be secured until they are fully built. - - This was the assessment of Roadbuilding, one of the principal strategies of the Vietnam War. Jim Decker, an Army lieutenant, wonders if his Vietnam tour will end with a CMH, not a Congressional Medal of Honor, but a casket with metal handles. Not much on war and educated to be an engineer, he wonders if his talents can make a difference in this unpopular struggle. Can he and his men establish a base camp along national route QL 20, in the heart of deadly Ambush Alley? Can they build road and simultaneously prepare for imminent attack by major NVA and VC forces? Can Decker react to repeated threats and ambushes upon his men? Persistent, demanding challenges and novel solutions lead to an exciting surprise ending.

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9780615738857

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Jay Braden grew up in a military family; his father was a World War II Army veteran who was called back for Korea and remained in the service until his retirement. In 1967 Braden was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. After basic engineer officer schooling in Virginia and his first duty assignment as an engineer platoon leader at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was sent to Vietnam, where he served again as a platoon leader and was responsible for the two major construction projects: The Third Corps Tactical Operations Center and a portion of the QL 20 road building effort. During his tour he was decorated for achievement and for valor, receiving the Bronze Star with V-device for his actions when his platoon was ambushed on QL 20. Braden went on to serve nearly 30 years with the Army, commanding a company, battalion, and brigade in the process. He was the Central Command Engineer for Operation Desert Storm during the first Gulf War. At the end of his military service, he sought and gained employment with Florida State University, where he worked full-time and concurrently earned a Doctorate of Education. He then worked ten years for Stetson University in the Orlando area. While in the service, Braden wrote training articles for military publications, and he earned two military Fourth Estate Awards. For many years he contemplated a more ambitious writing project, but his Army duties and then his doctoral dissertation commanded most of his free time. He did find time for two Letters to the Editor of the Tampa Tribute, and in each case his submission was awarded the Letter of the Week designation. At the urging of his wife, he began dictating what would become QL 20 while commuting to and from work in Orlando. His wife Bonnie, who was the typist for his doctoral dissertation, was also the typist for this novel. Braden has been married for over 45 years and has four children and eight grandchildren. He and Bonnie enjoy golf, tennis, volleyball, and family get-togethers. They try to plan two family vacations each year. There is a family Website: www.bradenclan.com, where lots more on the Bradens and Jay's military service can be found.

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