Upon returning to the United States after serving in Vietnam, Col. David O. Scheiding, USAF (RET), and other Vietnam vets were met with a significant amount of antiwar, anti-military sentiments by the American Society toward them. David reveals his reaction to the significant change in the general American attitude toward the Vietnam War. The Long Return shows us his experiences as an Air Force pilot and his efforts to understand the change in the American attitude by looking at history and how and why the use of the military developed into a political tool by use by politicians. This is the only way he has been able to adjust and accept the change and to finally be at peace with himself, completing his "long return" from Vietnam.