Larry Lail helps inspire book
Author Jim Steffes said he began looking into what happened in June 1968 after speaking to fellow Vietnam veteran Larry Lail in 1995. Lail, who had the task of gathering the bodies from the wreckage, was still haunted by nightmares nearly 30 years after the incident, Steffes told the Macon Telegraph.
Together the two Vietnam vets began trying to locate the families of the deceased sailors, starting with the only information they had, their names and hometowns. "We just started calling phone numbers," Steffes said.
-- Macon.com
The book is called "Switch Boat Down." The official version of the sinking is it was hit by friendly fire from the Air Force, but Steffes believes it was hit by a North Vietnamese crew in a Russian-made helicopter. He says the military didn't want to accuse the Vietnamese of the sinking because of ongoing peace talks at the time.
I haven't read the book, but it sounds like an interesting tale.
Tags: Vietnam War | Lail | Swift Boats
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Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but, had trouble with computer. Glad to see you ran with this information as I told it to you concerning Swift Boat Down. I have almost finished the book and although it has many military terms, it is an easy read and deals with ( the truth ) about war and politics.
I think every Lail would be proud that our extended families, somewhere have gotten to see the truth and not be afraid to speak out.
I have e-mailed the author on many occasions and he is an admirable man with a talent for in depth story telling. I for one am very proud of my Uncle Larry and his part in this story.
vr/ Robert A. Lail
Thornhurst, Pa