Living in the shadowy interior of the brain's limbic system and invisible to the untrained eye, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can not only torture its victims for a lifetime, but reaches beyond victims to negatively influence family members and loved ones. Soldier's Heart, titled after one of the early names for PTSD, delves into the lives of otherwise "normal" American veterans who, seemingly for no reason, display lasting patterns of bad choices and erratic, self-destructive behavior. Analysis of the life portraits of combat veterans brings the myriad symptoms of PTSD to light, equipping the lay reader to recognize the disorder and gain a thorough understanding that can be the foundation for steps to facilitate healing. Four men and one woman who served in Vietnam describe how PTSD still tears at their lives 30 years later. The symptoms of PTSD are conveyed in non-technical language by the veterans featured in this absorbing work, presented by authors Schroder and Dawe, both Vietnam veterans and, respectively, now a writer-businessman and a mental health counselor. To fully explore the lifelong effects of war trauma in the 20th century, the focus must be on Vietnam veterans, explain Schroder and Dawe. Profound statements on the human condition, the narratives of the five featured veterans, from across branches of the military, offer emotional and intellectual comfort to millions of Americans whose relatives and friends have served the country in time of war. This book, which also includes a glossary of military terms, will be of interest to veterans and their families, as well as to counselors, therapists, psychologists, veteran care workers and students of studies in trauma, psychopthology, and treatment. These are more than war stories, because for these veterans the lingering "war" is internal--and it may never end.

In order to highlight the lifelong effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on military veterans, Schroder and Dawe (both Vietnam veterans who have suffered from PTSD, one of whom is also a licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida) present the personal narratives of five veterans of the American war in Vietnam. The veterans describe their war experiences and their efforts to recognize and cope with the symptoms of PTSD in their later lives. Schroder and Dawe frequently interject short notes in order to relate the personal narratives to current understandings of PTSD. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

William Shroder and Ron Dawe take us into the hearts, souls and lives of Vietnam Vets, with gripping stories that will tear your heart and bring you to tears, opening your mind to the emotional devastation of war and to the ongoing needs of such courageous soldiers. Interspersed with sound psychological observations about the development of each soldier's post traumatic stress syndrome, and a fascinating review of the diagnosis, their stories are brilliantly told--as vivid as seeing a movie-with scenes that bring the stories to life. I beseech everyone to read this book. Be inspired to take some action to insure that soldiers get the honor-and treatment-they need and deserve.Dr. Judy Kuriansky, clinical psychologist, Columbia University Teachers College Editor of Terror in the Holy Land: Inside the Anguish of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Praeger, 2006)

Soldier's Heart provides a unique perspective of how certain reactions and symptoms may emanate from combat and other life-threatening situations. And it is written to be understandable, regardless of the reader's background.John F. Somner, Jr. Executive Director, The American Legion Combat Medic, Vietnam

Mental health professionals will find it important, not for its contribution to the professional literature on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but for the light it sheds on the continuing psychological toll that war takes on the soldiers and on their families.PsycCRITIQUES

Especially in light of service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan affected by PTSD, the focus here is on an intimate understanding of the longterm effects of combat via the stories of five still-suffering Vietnam veterans, including one woman.

WILLIAM SCHRODER is a writer, businessman, past helicopter pilot infantry officer, and a Vietnam veteran. He is an auxiliary cadre member of Warriors, Inc., a Hollywood film industry military technical advisory company. His own PTSD symptoms and their decades-long effects on his spouse, children, and loved ones compelled him to begin a deeper exploration of and book on the disorder.RONALD DAWE is a licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and Executive Director of The Palm Beach Institute in West Palm Beach. His special interest is the link between early, complex trauma and substance abuse or dependence in later life. His clinical focus is on treating the underlying psychological causes of chemical dependency and other addictive behaviors. Dawe is also a Certified Clinical Sexologist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Sexology. He served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and subsequently has struggled with PTS for three decades.