Western ND Vietnam Veteran's novel inspires reflection on the price of freedom

May 30—DICKINSON — Lee Rebsom, a native of western North Dakota, addresses a timeless burden that weighs upon us all: the Cost of Freedom. In his latest novel, "Brothers No More," Rebsom delves into the depths of this weight, offering solace and closure to those grappling with the lingering aftermath of the Vietnam War. With profound empathy, Rebsom explores the negative emotions that often accompany the experiences of Vietnam veterans, revealing a shared journey towards healing and redemption."

In the midst of the night, an abhorrent remark directed at Vietnam veterans by a prominent politician sparked an overwhelming surge of emotions within Rebsom. This intense reaction propelled him into a relentless writing spree, commencing at the untimely hour of 1 am and persisting for an uninterrupted span of 17 hours. It was during this fervent outpouring of thoughts and sentiments that Rebsom's debut book took its form, forever marking the inception of his literary journey.

Although this event served as the driving force behind his literary endeavor, Rebsom made a deliberate choice to exclude it from his book. His intention was to prevent the narrative from being co-opted as a political platform. Instead, he remained steadfast in his commitment to bestow honor upon Vietnam veterans and bring their experiences into the spotlight, fostering greater awareness and understanding.

"I wanted it to be focused on veterans. I hope the book will convey that war, any war, is a serious endeavor, how it can affect a soldier's family and that all veterans should be treated with respect and gratitude for their service," Rebsom said.

Rebsom, a devoted husband to his wife Harriet, a caring father of two daughters, and a proud grandfather to a beloved granddaughter, stands as a multifaceted individual. Besides being an accomplished author, he carries the weight of his own military service, having undertaken two tours in Vietnam, serving on diverse military watercraft.

Within the pages of his book, Rebsom employs a captivating fusion of fiction and non-fiction. Each chapter draws to a close with a poignant touch—a collection of small poems. Remarkably, some of these poetic reflections were penned by Rebsom himself during his time in Vietnam, lending an authentic and deeply personal dimension to his work.

Born and raised in western North Dakota in a family of 13 kids, Rebsom was the only sibling to attend college receiving a two-year degree in farm and ranch management and agribusiness management with support of the GI bill.

Rebsom's pursuit of higher education stands as a remarkable milestone in his life's journey. However, he candidly acknowledges that the process of writing a book was far from an effortless undertaking.

"Oh, man did I go through paper," Rebsom laughed "because everything was typed and then in binders and stuff. Then I had a few people read it and they said 'You need to keep going.' And then a friend of mine, read it and he just like 'You have to.' and I just kept pushing," Rebsom said.

The biggest challenge throughout the process was the editing Rebsom said, noting that the book was edited a total of four times.

"I would not have been able to write it without the support of the North Dakota Humanities Council who sponsored in-state writing classes which I was able to participate in," Rebsom said.

Rebsoms goal in writing his book has proved successful eliciting feedback from fellow veterans and families of veterans sharing feelings of relatability after reading it.

The book effectively captures the shared experiences of veterans and their families, creating a sense of familiarity and connection among readers as Rebsom can note by the many messages he receives from readers.

"The first one I got was from a fellow veteran, a Vietnam veteran, and he thanked me for it and he said 'I thought I was the only one that felt like that like I was rejected. Now I know I'm not alone,'" Rebsom said.

Rebsom's book resonated with another reader who had a personal connection to the military as her dad was in the service. She immediately picked up on the book's exploration of how war impacts families and the importance of treating veterans with respect and gratitude Rebsom explained.

The book cover itself tells a story as it features a design of pictures put together by Rebsoms daughter including a childhood photo of Rebsom and his two brothers with the shadows of soldiers cast behind them.

"Brothers No More" is self published and is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble in Bismarck and at Dakota Nuts-N-Candy in Bismarck, which is owned by a fellow veteran.

The proceeds from books sold at Dakota Nuts-N-Candy will go to the Wounded Warrior Project and Rebsom said once he breaks even with his book expenses, he plans to donate a portion of his proceeds to the charity as well because as Rebsom said, they deserve the support.

"I had two heart ablations. One of them was at the VA hospital in Minneapolis and I don't like to lay in bed so I just pretty much walked the hospital. And then you realize how lucky you are that you aren't missing your legs or arm...I mean, it was a huge hospital. They were everywhere. I just realized, yeah, this is a big deal," Rebsom said.

Having completed his first book, Rebsom now has his sights set on the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a 144-mile bike and hiking trail through the Badlands of North Dakota as the next checkmark on his bucket list.