Singing to the Lions : Maria A. Gisclair : 9780692496480 : 0692496483 : 11 Aug 2015 : A novel of the Vietnam War as told by a young American recruit about his tour of duty in the late 1960s. Real-life Vietnam War experiences through the eyes and ears of powerful, compelling characters. Gisclair takes a fresh-faced recruit and shapes him into a hardened soldier in the jungles of Nam. In honest and authentic descriptions that make our hearts ache till the last word, he presents the grunts and their comrades, including a unit standout, the Cajun Pierre Boudreaux whose French language and culture help him to bond with the villagers. Actual combat is overshadowed by psychological and physical challenges the soldiers face every moment of every day. Gisclair makes us care about these young GIs and grieve for those who don't come back. Beautifully and poetically written, this is a winner for first-time author Gisclair.