“We stood up slowly and realized there were people on the bridge above us, laughing and rejoicing at the explosion! Realizing they had not seen us, I shouted at them. Startled, they took off running. They had just dropped a large metal acetylene fuel tank that is used in portable welding, in order to see it explode. It had broken open when it struck the rock and the sparks had ignited the fuel in the tank, creating a large bomb. Pieces had flown everywhere. They had not been trying to hurt us- they simply had not seen us!”
-an excerpt from the book
ARPress proudly presents A Time of War by Dennis Copenhaver, now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress Bookstore.
This book is not just another war memoir. A Time of War is a raw, honest, and deeply personal account of one soldier’s experiences in Vietnam. Dennis Copenhaver takes readers straight into the heart of the war, not just through battlefield action but through the daily struggles, emotional weight, and the moments that never make it into history books. This isn’t a glorified war story. It’s real, unfiltered, and unforgettable.
Copenhaver tells his story with the kind of detail that puts you right in his boots. You feel the exhaustion, the adrenaline, and the ever-present danger. The book covers his journey from his early days in Pennsylvania, growing up with a father who had fought in World War II, to his unexpected journey into war. His reflections on the draft, military training, and the mental toll of combat give a clear picture of what it was like to be a soldier in one of America’s most controversial wars.
One of the biggest lessons in A Time of War is how war never really leaves you. There’s a moment in the book where Copenhaver and his wife are walking under a bridge years after the war. A loud explosion goes off, and without thinking, his body reacts; he grabs his wife and throws her to the ground, shielding her with his body. It wasn’t an attack, just kids playing with a metal fuel tank, but his reflexes were still wired for survival. That kind of instinct doesn’t just fade. It’s proof that war changes you in ways that last a lifetime.
Another powerful part of the book is how it deals with the return home. Vietnam veterans didn’t come back to parades and celebrations. They came back to silence, judgment, and a country divided over the war. Copenhaver talks about how hard it was to even admit he was a veteran. The stigma around Vietnam soldiers was heavy, and many felt abandoned by the very people they had fought to protect. He reflects on the lack of support, the struggles with PTSD, and how it took him years to talk openly about his experiences.
But A Time of War isn’t just about the struggles, it’s about resilience, brotherhood, and the moments of humanity in the middle of chaos. There are stories of soldiers praying together before missions, friendships that formed in the trenches, and small acts of kindness that made all the difference. Copenhaver doesn’t just tell war stories; he tells stories of survival, loss, and finding meaning in the aftermath.
This book is for history buffs, veterans, and anyone who wants to understand what war does to a person. It’s gripping, emotional, and one of those books that stays with you long after you finish it.
A Time of War by Dennis Copenhaver is now available for purchase via the ARPress Bookstore.