Vet Shares Comical Tales in New Book About Vietnam

Former Navy Petty Officer Jim Lamb didn’t like to talk much about Vietnam when he first came home from the war back in 1971.

Time and distance, as they’re known to do, eventually worked their magic. As painful memories subsided, the funny things that occurred during Lamb’s tours of duty began to resurface.

“By the time I got to the writing process, I’d resolved much of my inner-conflicts about the war and was able to view my experience – both good and bad; happy and sad – in a larger context,” Lamb told Patch. “It was quite cathartic.”

The groundwork for Lamb’s new book, “Orange Socks & Other Colorful Tales,” was laid in Vietnam. Lamb, however, practiced spinning the yarn for the stories while living in Sarasota between the late 1980s and 1990s.

“I played bass guitar in a smooth jazz’ band called Direct Current,” he explained. “During practice, between songs, I’d tell funny little stories about what happened to me when I was in the Navy.”

Those nights spent telling tales caught the attention of Sam Harris, husband of the band’s keyboard player. He told Lamb to write them down.

“For years I said, ‘No,’ but when I retired about seven years ago, I found myself with more time on my hands than things to do, so I began chronicling these tiny tales,” Lamb said. Last year, Lamb officially deemed he had more than enough “tiny tales” to put together a book.

“Orange Socks & Other Colorful Tales,” subtitled “How I Survived Vietnam and Kept My Sense of Humor,” takes a look at Lamb’s more comical experiences during the war. Lamb served in the Navy from 1967-71. His duty stops included Da Nang with VQ-1, a Japan-based reconnaissance squadron.

Once out of the Navy, Lamb eventually settled in New Port Richey and attended Pasco-Hernando Community College before going on to the University of South Florida to earn majors in mass communications and political science. Lamb, a retired journalist, has worked for such papers as The Tampa Tribune, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the New Port Richey Press.

Lamb plans to read some tales from the book the Oasis Coffee Spot, 9213 Little Road, in New Port Richey this Saturday, Aug. 29. He’ll appear from 5:30 to 7 p.m. along with Christian singer Charlie Stamas of Tarpon Springs.

Lamb’s book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and on his website at www.jslstories.com.

Graphic courtesy of Jim Lamb