A Tree by the River

This is not a war story, but rather a story of a coming of age. Toby Allman was injured in the final days of America's involvement in Viet Nam. He had the good fortune of being rescued by Buddhist monks who had not taken sides in the conflict. The monks secreted him in a monastery while he was unconscious. When he awakened, he discovered that American troops were basically gone home. He also discovered that his rescuers had taken in a woman who would normally been viewed as his enemy. Their...