Count Your Dead is the first novel written about the Vietnam War by a professional soldier, based on real events and personal experiences.

Count Your Dead is the first novel written about the Vietnam War by a professional soldier. A fictional story with drama, violence, strong characters and poignant moments, Count Your Dead is closely based on real events and John Rowe’s personal experiences and observations of real people.

When Count Your Dead was first published in 1968, it made front-page news and led to his resignation from the military. Written by Rowe as part of his own personal process to make sense of the complicated war, it raises questions still relevant in global conflicts today.