Where's Charlie? Memories from a Time of war, 1966-68

“Where's Charlie" is hands down one of the top 10 Vietnam War memoirs EVER written! Tim, you wrote a dandy! Congrats! Bernie Weisz, Historian, specializing in the Vietnam War

Where’s Charlie? is an extraordinary history of one man – and one woman – during one year of the Vietnam War.

This book contains a special richness: the organization is superb; the story is engaging and informative; the excerpts from letters between author Tim Soyars and his wife Jeanie are touching; the photos illustrate the people and places; the summary Operational Reports from Charlie Company add texture; the glossary defines unusual terms; and, lastly, don’t miss Tim’s brief “Reflections on Leadership.” I highly recommend this book – it is inspirational and informative on many levels.

Kenneth G. Alfers, Ph.D.
Professor of History Mountain View College

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Where’s Charlie? is a compelling testimonial to the experiences of war for an American soldier who not only survived but thrived on his faith in his country, his dedication to the mission and his men, and the love of his wife and family.

At a time in American history when it has long sense been fashionable to question the integrity of our country and the policies that throw many of our best and brightest into harm’s way, Where’s Charlie? is a refreshing reaffirmation of what American novelist William Faulkner once referred to as the “old verities and truths of the heart, lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed—love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice.” These are the values that many young men carry into military service; they are not always those with which they retire from the service. Not the case, however, for Vietnam War veteran Tim Soyars who looks back at his hitch in the military and a year of combat in Southeast Asia to reflect on the relationships he formed, the skills he honed, and the benefits he received from his experiences.

Where’s Charlie? will leave most readers with a deep sense of pride and respect for our American military service men and women. Winner of a Bronze Star for valor and the Air Medal for combat missions, former Lieutenant Tim Soyars reflects on the positive experiences he received during his tour of duty in Vietnam and what the war experiences earned for him in the years to come.

Geoffrey Grimes, PhD
Professor of English Mountain View College

 Tim Soyars’ Where’s Charlie is a personal and quietly compelling Vietnam War memoir that stands our for its candor, warmth, and clarity of purpose.

Rather than offering a sweeping historical chronicle, Soyars invites readers into the intimate terrain of a soldier’s coming-of-age during one of America’s most divisive conflicts. He writes of the era with vivid recall: “the late 1960s was time of war…all eligible young men were required to serve their country, and most of us merely answered the call as our fathers before us had done.”

From boyhood daydreams of heroism inspired by Sergeant York and John Wayne to stepping forwad “eagerly” in 1965, Soyars charts his journey from idealistic youth to seasoned cavalryman.
Interspersed with photographs, the memoir he balances the brutal realities of battle with moments of camaraderie and unexpected tenderness.

Where’s Charlie is both an act of remembrance and an ode to that time and moment in history, and honest, human portrait of service and sacrifice.December 2, 2025 BOOK REVIEW by The Literary Reporter