A Life Lived on the Fault Lines of American History

Ari SeSu Merretazon

Ari SeSu Merretazon is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, ordained minister, and advocate for veterans’ rights and racial justice. While incarcerated, he founded the first Incarcerated Veterans Assistance Organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was honored by President Jimmy Carter at the White House, and later compelled Philadelphia to establish its first Office of Veterans Affairs.

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From the Battlefield to Redemption

War and Prison: Guess Whose Coming Home is the raw, unfiltered memoir of Minister Ari SeSu Merretazon, a Vietnam combat veteran, prison organizer, and lifelong advocate for justice. A gripping true story of survival, crime, and transformation that chronicles one man’s harrowing journey from the jungles of Southeast Asia to a federal prison cell and ultimately to the White House.

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About the Book

A Vietnam veteran. A daring heist. A prison cell that became a courtroom. War and Prison: Guess Whose Coming Home is the true story of one Black man’s battle for dignity from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the halls of the White House.

Minister Ari SeSu Merretazon

Decorated Vietnam Veteran, Advocate & Memoirist

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Hear It From Ari Himself

In his own words, Minister Ari SeSu Merretazon speaks about the Vietnam War, his years of incarceration, and the fight for veterans’ rights that never ended. Watch the interview, then get the book.

Learn More About the Author

Need more info? Check out our most frequently asked questions.

What is War and Prison about?

The true story of a Black Vietnam combat veteran whose journey took him from the TET Offensive to federal prison and from a White House meeting with President Carter to a courtroom victory over the Philadelphia City Council.

Where can I buy the book?

Available for purchase directly through this website. Click “Order Your Copy” on any page.

Is this based on a true story?

Yes. Every word is drawn from Minister Merretazon’s lived experience. His Vietnam account is also featured in Wallace Terry’s acclaimed oral history Bloods, and he inspired a character in the 1995 film Dead Presidents.

Who is Minister Ari SeSu Merretazon?

A decorated Vietnam combat veteran, ordained minister, and advocate for veterans’ rights. He founded the first VA-recognized Incarcerated Veterans Assistance Organization in U.S. history and was honored by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

Book Ari Merretazon for your next event, panel, or speaking engagement.

Ari brings more than five decades of lived experience to every stage as a decorated Vietnam veteran, reparationist, community economic development practitioner, and tireless advocate for those who served. His presence commands a room and his story moves people to action.

Ready to connect?

Whether you’re organizing a veterans event, community forum, university lecture, or civic gathering.  Ari is available for keynotes, panel discussions, and consultations.