Armstrong, Bob No Exit from Vietnam

A Memoir by a Marine Corps Veteran

No Exit from Vietnam is a subversive, theme-oriented reminder of the Vietnam War and its consequences. In 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs discontinued the prescription of Vicodin, which Bob Armstrong had been taking since 1976 for a back injury he sustained ten years after leaving the US Marine Corps. What began as an appeal to the Department to reverse this decision became this autobiography, in which reflections on the war and its social injustices are interwoven with a relentless portrait of America in these dangerous times. Drawing on his personal experiences, the author recounts his time as a photographer in the 3rd Marine Division. With suspenseful words and photos, a selection of which can be seen in the book, he paints a vivid picture of the fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. In addition to gripping action stories, the book offers comprehensive social commentary on the treatment of veterans and their healthcare. The VA reduced prescriptions for opioid painkillers from 679,000 veterans in 2012 to 247,000 in 2020. Armstrong recognises the scale of the drug crisis, but also believes that an unknown number of responsible veterans have been deprived of much-needed pain medication. With humour and cynicism, the author shares his insights into living with pain and his frustration with the bureaucratic system that controls access to medication. He admits that his opinions sometimes seem perverse and twisted, but only because he hasn't taken his medication.