It's 1968. Henry’s just turned 18 and his birthday present is a 2nd class ticket to the Vietnam war. The Vietnam war you’ve never heard about.

"Henry and his attention-loving orphan monkey play the lead roles in this wartime comedy/action/drama. Everywhere they go they make new friends and new enemies. By the time Henry boards the plane back to the States, he has experienced the absurdities of military life, the atrocities of war, unexpected friendships, unrequited love, betrayal, and loyalty."—L,A, Harder

THE HERO Versus Me & Monkey Jo chronicles the adventures of Henry Neis who arrives in Vietnam an innocent youth from Kansas, and quickly falls in with addicts and lost souls. Perry Shepard’s prose pulls the reader into the “scene” immediately, and propels us on a journey that is at times exhilarating, shocking, and moving. A rollicking read and an eye-opening look at the experience of soldiers in Vietnam.

"I always enjoy a good redemption story. The characters were believable and felt like real people. I really enjoyed reading this book." —Kay McLear, NetGalley Reviewer

Henry Neis, fresh out of high school from Kansas, is drafted and sent to Vietnam. Trained as a helicopter mechanic, he is promptly assigned to a personnel unit, a fitting introduction to the insanity of this war that makes no sense to him. Henry falls in with the company misfits and drug users, becoming an addict and dealer himself, yet his fundamental innocence shines through to the final page. Henry’s account of his year “in country” is, by turn, fascinating, hilarious, terrifying, wondrous, and enlightening—sometimes all at once. I couldn’t put it down, and when I got to the end I only wished there were more. —John Bodle, fmr. USAF JAG