Naked in Da Nang

The Book

When was the last time a Vietnam memoir truly touched your heart...and made you laugh out loud? Or when did you last  read a book or see a film that vividly captured the broad spectrum of human emotions? And how often has one man’s inspirational story made you want to stand up and cheer? Naked In Da Nang does all that...and much more. Few combat memoirs have ever painted a more compelling portrait of the hopes, fears and motivations of the average American GI. Naked In Da Nang successfully reaches out to all branches of the military, all living veterans, and civilian audiences, as well, male and female alike.

Jackson and Dixon-Engel lead the Operation
Welcome Home parade in Las Vegas.

Like the wildly successful "We Were Soldiers Once…And Young," Naked In Da Nang (the book) is helping to redefine America's perception of her Vietnam veterans. Armed with the biting wit of MASH, the historical accuracy of We Were Soldiers, and the innocent nostalgia of TV’s The Wonder Years, Naked In Da Nang presents a main character who is likeable, sardonic and courageous, usually in spite of himself.

The bitter, brooding, traumatized soldier who finds solace in drugs, alcohol or insanity is not now - and never was - the norm, as underscored by the fundamental decency of Naked In Da Nang. The book's accurate yet warmly colorful portrayal of the Vietnam GI has struck a nerve across America and throughout all branches of the military. In fact, Naked In Da Nang inspired Operation Welcome Home, the nationwide "welcome home" celebration for America's veterans of Southeast Asia, which took place across America in 2005, culminating in a huge Las Vegas, NV event over Veterans' Day weekend last year.

Now in its third printing, Naked In Da Nang (Zenith Press 2004) has become a brisk seller based almost solely on energetic word-of-mouth by veterans their families, and passionate reviewers who have discovered that 'Naked' offers a highly readable and vigorous personal account of combat.

Reviewer/author Henry Holden, Airport Journal, calls the book "Riveting! Naked in Da Nang is easy to read but not simple. Sad at times and provocative, it provides a healthy dose of déjà vu and irony."

Women In Aviation described the combat memoir as "a refreshing read... Jackson and Dixon-Engel weave a compelling and very human tale of Jackson's tour of duty in Vietnam; you'll even find yourself laughing aloud at times... And, by the time you figure out the meaning of the title, you'll be half-way through the book and won't want to put it down!"

Flight Journal  summed up a glowing review by saying "this fast-paced book's sometimes-irreverent commentary on military training and life in a war zone paints an altogether different picture of Vietnam veterans than one might expect. It also does much to help the reader better understand how the war affected them… The story is funny, a bit bizarre at times and maybe a little offbeat. What a wonderful book!"

The Military Book Club, which named the book an "Editor's Choice" for February 2006, said "Early on in this terrific memoir, Mike Jackson refers to the Rules of Engagement, which he and his fellow forward air controllers were bound by in Vietnam, as “The Idiot's Guide to Combat,” which tells you a little something about where this brave pilot is coming from when he writes about his experiences in-country in 1972. But, Jackson, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, writes not with bitterness but with pride and a spicy dash of irreverence about his old job of flying militarized civilian aircraft…"

The Movie

St. Paul, MN — Zenith Press, an imprint of the MBI Publishing Company, announced that famed Los Angeles entertainment attorney Robert Young of Pratter & Young, Attorneys, is working with the authors of Naked in Da Nang (Zenith Press, 2004) to represent their interests in negotiations for the rights to the popular memoir. Young's production company, MY Entertainment Co., Inc., is currently developing the Johnny Carson biopic, "King of the Night." Young and his partner Alan Mintz ("Rudy") have met with prominent screenwriter Herschel Weingrod ("Trading Places", "Twins") to pen the screenplay for Naked in Da Nang.

"I cannot disclose those who are bidding for the rights," Young said, "but we've got a fierce competition. It's unusual to read a story about the Vietnam conflict that paints such a positive picture of the men and women who served, and this is one of those stories that just resonates with people. We, like many others, are convinced that this will translate beautifully into a film that has tremendous impact and meaning, especially today, as another generation faces the reality of war."

Academy Award-winning actor Cliff Robertson is already on board for the planned film project. Zenith Press publisher Richard Kane, who personally acquired the book, has always been convinced of Naked in Da Nang's viability as a film. "The movie starts playing in your head as you read it," he explained. "Mike Jackson, the 'star' of the book, is genuine, the kind of character who Jimmy Stewart played so effectively. Jackson's story focuses on the universal experiences and emotions of a soldier in combat, not on the mechanics of a specific war. And it's funny!"

Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Vietnam veteran Mike Jackson and former journalist Tara Dixon-Engel, the authors of Naked in Da Nang, wanted to humanize America's Vietnam veterans by telling an accurate and engaging story of one man's journey through military training, into combat, and home again. They wanted a universal portrait of – and tribute to – all those who serve.

"Until We Were Soldiers came along, there were precious few positive portrayals of the soldiers who served in Southeast Asia," said Jackson, a decorated combat pilot. "We wanted to change that through the personal perspective of one little guy from small-town Ohio who went to war and came home to lead a successful life, instead of robbing liquor stores or living under a bridge, as traditional media images have portrayed."

Mike Jackson and Tara Dixon-Engel entertain the crowd
on Fremont Street, following the Operation Welcome
Home parade in Las Vegas on Veterans Day 2005.

The Celebration

Mike Jackson and Tara Dixon-Engel served as National Chairmen for Operation Welcome Home, promoting it nationally, and encouraging communities across America to develop their own welcome home events. Many did just that and, in fact, the events have spilled over far into 2006! A large celebration is being planned for Veterans Day 2006 in Antelope Valley, California by several Vietnam veterans who attended the Las Vegas celebration and were so moved and energized, they wanted to replicate it for other Vietnam vets across America. See the celebration here.

The Las Vegas Operation Welcome Home celebration took place November 10-14, 2005 and included a 2½ hour parade through the downtown, featuring over 3,500 participants, and Vietnam veterans from all 50 states. Well-wishers lined the Las Vegas streets, stacked 20-deep and waving 'thank you' signs and flags. The event also featured a native American pow-wow honoring veterans, a slate of entertainment and events on Vegas' famed Fremont Street, and an air show at nearby Nellis Air Force Base, offering live action and static tributes to those who served. Numerous reunions and receptions were scheduled for various groups and organizations, both military and civilian. Another highlight of the celebration was an authentic USO show (endorsed by the National USO), featuring the soldiers’ sweetheart herself, Ann-Margret. Veterans, their families, and patriotic citizens packed the city.

The Operation Welcome Home concept was "born" at a Bob Evans Restaurant in Dayton, OH where Jackson and Dixon-Engel would frequently eat lunch and work on their book. The duo was sharing coffee with an area Bob Evans Manager one afternoon in 2002 and discussing various veterans' issues when they hit on the concept of trying to organize a nationwide day of homecoming to finally recognize the service and sacrifice of America's Vietnam veterans.

"I wasn't sure America was ready for it," Jackson later admitted, "but Las Vegas proved me wrong! And now I am hoping that Antelope Valley can take the celebration one step farther! Good for them and good for all those who embrace the true legacy of our Vietnam veterans…one of courage and service and duty to country!"