Finding David Paperback – February 7, 2013

The Vietnam war, more than anything in recent memory, divided our country and affected a generation of young people. As Tommy DiMarco says, "a half million kids my age were dancing half-naked in the mud at Woodstock, I was fighting for my life in a VA hospital."But "Finding David" isn't a book that debates the Vietnam war, it doesn't cast blame nor does it wrap itself in self righteous patriotism. Because Finding David isn't about the war in Vietnam...it is, though, a fitting tribute to the young men who fought there, many of whom came home to that divided nation, scarred, scared, grossly unappreciated and greatly misunderstood. Men who fought in America's most unpopular conflict and too often found themselves abandoned by the country and the people they had served.That, on one level, is F. Mark Granato's novel. And "Finding David" captures that experience through Tommy DiMarco's battle in Nam and his ongoing struggles back in The States with horrifying reality, touching dignity and genuine empathy.But that is only one aspect of Granato's remarkable book. Here, too, is a truly moving story of friendship, brotherhood, love, loyalty and family. Through realistic, multi-dimensional characters, this author takes the reader beyond Tommy's battle to readjust and gives us a heartwarming tale of childhood friendships, romance and a slice of 1950's, 60's and 70's life.I was never in a war, hence I am no authority on the authenticity of the conflicts related in Finding David. I have no experience that could ever compare to what Tommy lives, neither on the battlefield nor in his long road to recovery. But, that being said, perhaps it is testimony to Granato's writing...he was able to take me, a naive civilian, from the heat and desperation of Vietnam to an understaffed VA hospital, to the streets where Tommy and David grew up.Please, do not be off-put by the notion that this is a book about war. Yes, there are scenes, frightening ones, of bloody armed conflict, but that is not where the heart of "Finding David" lies. "Finding David" traces love, loss and rebuilding. It is a story of a friendship we all would treasure, of family bonds that are rich and deep. It is a story of courage and strength, and ultimately forces the characters as well as the reader to examine how we cope with our perception of life and death...what we hold on to and when to let go.

Two best friends since grade school join the marines out of high school. They are sent to Vietnam and David's body is blown to pieces while his buddy is in a hospital in a coma with some damaged parts undergoing numerous surgeries. The author makes me question the present when he flips between what I thought was the present and flashbacks but at the end I wonder if he remained in the coma dreaming of what could have been. It took three years in that coma before he and david were reunited. What this story and others like it did was make me realize the high price one pays to sacrifice their lives for me and that the government instigating the war will not care for those they are responsible for damaging. Rather they horde them in an institution without appropriate care or they are released back into society and then held accountable for the way they behave. I lived during that time but because I am a female I was not forced to enlist. My heart goes out to those who suffer and their families. My ex-husband's first cousin was a victim. I was never exposed to him but heard about his demons.

So many times I'd hear that men who fought in Vietnam didn't receive recognition for their service. They would return home, in some instances, without any thanks, even disgust.This author was able to relate the horrible conditions in which most of these "boys" fought. Showed how they felt, and how they didn't understand the whole mission themselves.If they were lucky enough to come home, they had to fight inner demons as well as disdain from fellow Americans.My love for our servicemen grew even more after reading this story.

I'm not crazy about the author taking license to attribute the development of Prolonged Exposure Therapy to a fictional character in the early 1970's when, in fact, Dr. Edna Foa, psychologist, developed it in the ?late 1980's? If only we'd had this effective form of therapy since that time. Many more lives could have been redeemed. Thank you, Dr Foa for your courage and rigorous research and dissemination. Thank you, Mr Granato, for a story that honors our Vietnam veterans. I wish they could read it, but most probably cannot.Also, not sure I like the ending but, it was definitely a surprise! A worthy read.

I felt so close to home reading this book. This author is great!!! You get right into the book and I could not stop reading .

For those of us who grew up in the Vietnam era, this book takes you through the horrors of what our young men went through. A difficult read, but a compelling one also.

I could not put this down, having read it on memorial weekend. It was filled with hope, love and the promise of tomorrow. It also hit close to home for me personally because I knew David as a child and because my own son came home from war with his own demons. I know David has found peace. I pray my son does.

I started reading and the book got better. It was difficult to put down.Having been in this era of life myself,I could relate to the horrible war these guys fought in. It was indeed then and now, a war most unpopular of all wars! To this day, many of the survivors are only surviving!