A Destiny of Memories

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A Destiny of Memories by David Ramati is not a war novel, not in the usual sense. It is a warrior novel exposing the baggage that the warrior carries home with him.

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Scenes of battle play in his mind’s eye while reality plays out around him, and it is often hard to distinguish between the two. The nightmares that bedevil his sleep are little worse than the friends and family as well as strangers who judge him for the war they sent him to fight. It is a tale that every warrior has lived (if they were “fortunate” enough to live). Sadly, those who fought in Vietnam suffered worse than most. Denied the opportunity to decompress among comrades on the long voyage from battlefield to home, these warriors were transported almost as swiftly as Star Trek crew members and dropped into another battle, an uncivil civil war raging between their peers. No one has told this story better than Ramati.

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Most of the better known tales such as Platoon, The Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now were ideological diatribes. A Destiny of Memories is heartfelt and honest. It’s characters are not political pawns or symbols. They are real and relatable. Strangely, you may find yourself sympathizing with the protagonist and his antagonists simultaneously. You understand his wounds as much as you understand their ignorance.
The writing itself is not just competent, it’s gifted. Ramati is a true storyteller with a clear voice. Yes, there are a few typos here and there, but none so egregious as to serve as a speed bump to the reader. Nothing that would cause me to hesitate giving this book my top rating. (To be fair, it’s lack of serious grammatical errors, invariably found in most books these days, is refreshing.)
On a personal note, like the author, I served in the Vietnam War and can attest to the accuracy of his telling of that tale, both on the battlefield and at home. The reactions Ramati raised in me were almost too visceral but cathartic at the same time, and I was able to complete reading the book in short order. I hope and pray that A Destiny of Memories has longer legs than those other tales and survives as the authentic tale of the Vietnam War while those other stories wither in obscurity. History will be better served if it does.