Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts is a dedicated veteran, ordained minister, and passionate writer. Drafted into the U.S. Army at 19, Joe served for three years, including a year in South Vietnam from November 1966 to November 1967. He began his military journey with Basic Training at Fort Ord in Monterey County, California. Joe has been happily married for 53 years to his lovely wife, Cynthia, an Okinawan woman from Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Cynthia moved to California with her parents to start a coffee shop business. Together, Joe and Cynthia have built a beautiful family with their two sons, Ian and Brian, two wonderful daughters-in-law, Wendy and Marise, and three cherished grandchildren, Ewan, Owen, and Olivia. The couple resides in Hayward, California. In his latest book, Joe offers a unique collection of poetic pieces reflecting on Vietnam and the war. His work seeks to convey the profound sadness, anger, pain, chaos, and madness of war, speaking solely from his personal experiences. Joe's intention is to provoke thoughtful consideration and ensure that future generations understand the gravity of war and the importance of safeguarding our nation's youth. Joe's career includes working for the Oakland Tribune Newspaper and earning a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies after placing his faith in Jesus Christ. He helped establish a church in Fremont, California, where he served as pastor for 22 years before retiring for health reasons. Despite retirement, Joe remains active in his church community as an ordained minister. Joe takes pride in his military service, though he acknowledges the naivety and misunderstandings that led him to believe in the fight against Communism in Vietnam. He hopes his reflections will inspire better-informed decisions regarding future conflicts.