The Fifth Season

Product DescriptionThe Fifth Season is an unpopular story experienced during an unpopular time in American history. However, in spite of the reasons, the wrongs, the politics, and the ‘unpleasantness’ of the Vietnam era, men bled and men died and some men served between these extremes and tried to contribute by being neither hero nor corpse. The story is not a tale of war or an account of taking Hill 432; not a story of blood and guts, although there is some of both. It is a composite of memories, a narrative relating to small events and to common men caught up in an uncommon situation. It is a story revealing minor and major dedications to a mediocre war, mediocre being relative. A story of Nightingale women most of whom were young, skilled, courageous and did not realize the full consequence of their contributions; their fervor being directed only on the task at hand-and some giving their body freely in exchange for the passage of time…or other reasons. The story is untidy and slightly soiled --a small Augean stable with banners and flags and soft words of intention trying to divert the river Alpheus to flush the stable clean. The Fifth Season is a fifth season, extra and unfitting, not being confined to scheduled time, an exaggerated baker’s dozen of young corpses and maimed children. We will rationalize it, apologize for it, and try desperately to wipe it from the pages of our history. It may have been wrong, unjust, and yes, even unnecessary. However, in hindsight so are all wars and the interpretation of the events of such wars depend on the color of the uniform as to the rights or wrongs of the battle. The dream of one is the nightmare of the other. We must all, in the end, make our own decision…and move on.About the AuthorRobert H. Kyle was born in Charleston, Maine and spent his childhood and teen years on the shores of Casco Bay. He served with the Navy as a medical corpsman during the Korean Conflict and later became a registered nurse. He graduated from Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing, Worcester Massachusetts, a pioneering effort for a male at that time. A few years later, after graduation, he accepted a commission in the Army and did post-graduate work in anesthesia. He served in Vietnam in that capacity in 1967-68, receiving the Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor. He retired from the Army in 1977 and now lives with his wife of 57 years in Alton, New Hampshire. He has three children and four grandchildren. He has written several short stories but The Fifth Season is his first novel.