The Making of an Army Psychologist: From Fighting in Vietnam to Treating Fellow Veterans

by Bob Worthington

In the early 1970s the U.S. Army was undergoing seismic changes. The Vietnam War had ended, almost 600 American POWs were released by North Vietnam, the draft was terminated and the Army itself was in dismal shape. A decorated former infantryman turned behavioral scientist, Bob Worthington returned to active duty as a clinician and served as a senior psychology consultant, helping the Army remain an effective fighting force. His insightful memoir...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1476687536
• ISBN13: 9781476687537
• Release Date: April 2023
• Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc.
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

"Were he a football player, his number would be retired".

LTC Bob Worthington was my boss for a year at the Fort Polk Mental Hygiene Clinic during the mid 70s. As I look back on my Army career (1972-1976, 1982-1984, 2005-2008), his influence on me seemed massive. He truly taught me to be a mental health clinician, which led to a long career in the behavioral sciences that culminated with my retirement from the Veterans Administration in 2016. I agree with his Army Legion of Merit citation: "Were he a football player, his number would be retired". I've read one of his books on Vietnam and was enthralled and will soon purchase his Run Sat book to read and enjoy. This book was especially enjoyable to me as it included my time with him and brought back such wonderful memories of my time in the Army in the same field. Bob is a great writer and chronicler of the events of his life and the times in which he sojourned. I was saddened to learn of his wife's passing - may she rest in peace. Although the Army has changed much since his retirement in 1981, his advice on career advancement remains current. A great officer, in my humble opinion, should have all the things Bob had: time as an NCO, combat experience, multi-level leadership experience, and normal life experience. I often wondered how Bob could leave psychology after such an illustrious career in the field, but in reading his book, I see that his life was much more inclusive than psychology and that his other endeavors utilized the whole of his life experience, including psychology. Psychology to him was practical, not theoretical, and that was his gift to me as a clinician in mental health. His gift served me well. As a side note, we reconnected in 2006 while I was a soldier in Iraq, and we collaborated on a paper and seminar in 2008. I even attempted to write a book with him on our two wars, but my "half" turned out to be but a footnote compared to his grueling and illustrious combat experience. Bob Worthington is one of many soldiers that contributed greatly to our nation's defense but are rarely heralded. We are fortunate to have such men and women, and I am doubly grateful to have met him and served under him.