In July 1968, while waiting to board an aircraft in Saigon after completing a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam, the last thing Stan Bain ever imagined was returning to the country that both shaped and haunted his life. Nearly forty-five years after the Vietnam War ended, recurring nightmares and painful memories led to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), marking the beginning of a profound journey toward healing, reflection, and reconciliation.
Encouraged by his counselor and those close to him, Bain began writing about his experiences in Vietnam as a way to confront long-suppressed trauma. That process resulted in his first book, “You Are Never Alone,” which helped him better understand his daily flashbacks, nighttime dreams, and recurring nightmares. Writing became a turning point, one that eventually opened the door to an even greater challenge: returning to Vietnam to face the memories he had carried for decades.
That journey is chronicled in his latest book, “Return to Vietnam – The Memories.” What began as a deeply personal mission to confront his demons became far more meaningful than he ever anticipated. During his return, Bain met a former Viet Cong soldier during peacetime and formed friendships with several gracious and welcoming Vietnamese people, experiences that reshaped his understanding of both the past and the present.
A cruise down the Mekong River stirred vivid memories of crossing the same waters during wartime convoys. Yet the central purpose of the trip was deeply personal: to locate an orphanage in My Tho where, during a Viet Cong attack in 1967, several children were killed. With the help of a knowledgeable and tireless tour guide, numerous leads were followed until the site was finally identified. Although the orphanage no longer stood, having been replaced by a school, the journey did not end there.
The most overwhelming moment came with the discovery of Sister Renée, one of the last surviving nuns who had worked at the orphanage at the time of the attack. Her vivid memories and firsthand account of that tragic day brought the past into sharp focus. Over the course of three days, Stan Bain and Sister Renée revisited meaningful locations and shared memories that bridged time, loss, and understanding.
“Return to Vietnam – The Memories” documents the details of this extraordinary journey and the profound impact it had on Bain's healing process. It is a powerful story of courage, reconciliation, and the enduring human capacity to confront painful memories in pursuit of peace. The book stands as a testament not only to one veteran's journey, but also to the power of remembrance, compassion, and healing across former divides.
To further honor this message of reflection and healing, Stan Bain will also be featured on an upcoming Times Square billboard, scheduled to be displayed in New York City.
The book is now available on Amazon and all global platforms.
Grab your copy today!
Link here: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Vietnam-Memories-Facing-Demons/dp/B0FRB66J18/
ASIN: B0FRB66J18
“Return to Vietnam – The Memories: Facing My Demons and Coming to Terms With Them”
Author: Stan Bain
Publisher: Luna Global Media
Published Date: September 17, 2025
Represented by: The Eagle Literary
Book Genre: Biographies and Memoirs, Leaders and Notable People, Military, Vietnam War
About the Author
Stan Bain is an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran born and raised in Kalispell, Montana. Drafted into the U.S. Army, he served 13 months in Vietnam with the Army Signal Corps in the Mekong Delta and on the DMZ, and later joined the Special Forces Army Reserve.
Following his military service, Bain spent 33 years with the U.S. Forest Service, retiring in 2000. His career included advanced work in aerial photography, satellite imagery, photogrammetry, and remote sensing, eventually serving as Operations Manager at the Remote Sensing Applications Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also taught aerial photo interpretation and analytical photogrammetry at Flathead Valley Community College for more than a decade.
After retirement, he worked as a contractor, home inspector, and handyman before fully dedicating himself to writing. He began writing in 2013 and has since authored eight books, with more in development. His first three books—“You Are Never Alone,” “Being Santa,” and “Return to Vietnam – The Memories”—are based on his life experiences and his journey toward healing from PTSD and Agent Orange exposure.
Today, Bain enjoys writing fiction, including his Contractor novel series, cruising, spending time with his partner, and sharing life with his beloved dog, Luna.
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