A SENSE OF DUTY: My Father, My American Journey

(Ballantine Books; coming April 12, 2005) by Quang X. Pham

From The Publisher:

In the tradition of bestselling books such as "Flags of Our Fathers," "Jarhead," and "Angela's Ashes," Quang X. Pham explores the inner conflicts of a young man caught in the often contradictory forces of loyalty to a new country, duty to family, truth, and trust, in the aftermath of America's most divisive war.

In 1964, a South Vietnamese fighter pilot is shot down by Viet Cong anti-aircraft fire while flying in support of American forces. When Saigon falls to the Communists, his son, Quang, escapes with his mother and sisters to the U.S., leaving his father for dead. Thirty years later, Quang, now a U.S. Marine pilot turned successful entrepreneur, retraces a uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to peace, from blame to forgiveness, and in a surprise reunion with his father, finally sheds deep-seated feelings of shame in the presence of this genuine hero.

"A Sense of Duty" illuminates the sacrifices of the South Vietnamese, unfairly derided by their American allies as corrupt and unwilling to fight for their cause, and the turmoil suffered by one family, torn apart by the war in Vietnam and brusquely reunited in America.

Praise for "A Sense of Duty"

"Quang X. Pham has written a superb account of the remarkable journey he and his family experienced. As someone who lived and fought with the South Vietnamese forces and witnessed Quang's outstanding service in the U.S. Marine Corps, it was an exceptionally moving read. Every American should read this wonderful story to better appreciate the freedoms we enjoy." -General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Retired)

Visit www.asenseofduty.com for a PDF file of the book jacket and for information on book tour locations. To host a lecture and book signing or to request an advance reading copy, please reply via email and a publicity representative will respond in January 2005.

Author tour: New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Arkansas, Seattle, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Jacksonville (FL)

* April 9-13: San Francisco, San Jose, CA
* April 14-18: New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia
* April 19-20: Riverside, CA
* April 21-22: San Diego
* April 25-30: Los Angeles and Orange County, CA
* May 2-6: Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
* May 7-10: Northern California, Seattle, Oregon
* May 12-15: Houston, Dallas, Austin

More venues will be announced at a later date.

-- Kẻ Sĩ Bắc Hà (ke_si_bac_ha@yahoo.com), December 14, 2004