by Huu Thang, Saigon Times
True stories about war crimes during the American War in Vietnam as written by a U.S. surgeon hit the street in Vietnam yesterday under a copyright deal between a HCMC-based publisher and American partners.
The book titled Khong The Chuoc Loi (Failure To Atone) authored by Allen Hassan, a volunteer surgeon at Quang Tri Provincial Hospital during war times, was launched by Tri Viet – First News Company at a press briefing here yesterday.
Hassan describes true stories about war crimes of American’s army in Vietnam in his memoirs from two humanitarian tours of Vietnam in 1968-69. First News Co. bought the copyright of the book from Doctor Allen Hassan and Failure To Atone Press and translated it into Vietnamese.
Nguyen Van Phuoc, director of First News, said that the memoirs not only help readers have a deeper insight into war crimes committed by GIs but also expose the way of thinking of a volunteer doctor as an eyewitness.
At the launching ceremony, Hassan said that through this book, he wanted to send an apology to Vietnamese people and to call on all people to lend a helping hand to supporting war victims.
“It is important for me to unburden my heart to say one thing to you, I’m very sorry,” he said.
“Completing Failure to Atone has been liberating and therapeutic for me, and I offer it as one doctor’s contribution to our continuing national dialogue on issues of war and peace,” he added.
At the event yesterday, First News Co. and Hassan announced the establishment of the Failure To Atone Fund aimed at raising money to support dioxin victims. Hassan said that he would deduct 10% from the earnings from this book for the Failure To Atone Fund.
During the war, Hassan served two tours of duty in Vietnam, as a representative of the American Medical Association’s Volunteer Physicians for Vietnam program in the first and a representative of the Committee of Responsibility in the second.
Until now, First News has signed more than 200 deals to buy the copyrights of the famous books of publishing houses worldwide.
