Don't Break My Rice Bowl

Feeling life is slipping him by, an American agriculturalist heads to Vietnam to try and make a difference in the lives of the people as part of President Johnson's 'Hearts and Minds' campaign. There is just one big problem - there's a war going on. Eddie joins a small group of civilian advisors chosen to work with local farmers to help make Vietnam once again self-sufficient in rice. He is drawn to the adventure and the opportunity to make a difference, but he is leaving some problems behind. His story follows the ups and downs of cultural and tropical agriculture training in Washington DC and the Philippines, and then his long-term assignment in the Gia Dinh province just outside Saigon. This semi-autobiographical novel shines a light on a relatively unknown part of Vietnam War history.