Letters Home: reflections of a Marine rifleman by George Berg

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MWSA Review

Letters Home: Reflections of a Combat Rifleman by George Berg is a memoir of his time as a combat rifleman in Vietnam. Although it’s clear that veterans had vastly different experiences there—based on their military occupational specialty—this might be the most comprehensive and soul-searing account of the Vietnam War that I have ever read. Taut firefights are interspersed with candid emotions laced with observations that are deep, often lyrical, and immensely insightful—the product of the reflections mentioned in the title.

In this book, we follow 19-year-old George Berg through enlistment, training, deployment, the daily grind in country, combat, wounding in action, hospital recovery, and subsequent attempts at reintegration, showing the specific effects of combat on his young psyche. It’s clear to see the incalculable cost of war that was borne disproportionately by the “grunts.”

Each chapter is based on a month in country and chronicles important events as well as the day-to-day grind, explaining actions, conditions, and results—many times deadly serious but sometimes comical. Of note, each chapter is accompanied by a song title of a contemporaneous song that provides the musical backdrop of the era as well as foretelling the contents of the chapter. Looking up the lyrics or listening to the song before reading the chapter will get you “in the groove.”

The thing that sets this memoir apart from others is the reflective nature of the content and the writing skill of the author. The prose is insightful and sometimes even lyrical. Details are so vivid that the reader can see, sense, and even smell the surroundings the author describes. The reader, however, will have to overlook a number of spelling errors as well as navigate through punctuation that impedes his progress. 

Review by Betsy Beard (April 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Letters Home is written from letters home to family, official U.S. Marine Corps documents, military maps, conversations with fellow Marines, and hospital records. The author recounts his very personal combat experiences as an infantry rifleman in Vietnam. It is a candid and often uncomfortably frank description of the brutal conditions Marines faced in Vietnam in 1968. That year was the most violent of the entire war for the Marines; the operational tempo was extreme and unrelenting. During the long hot summer, the new Marine was challenged with ethical and moral dilemmas and decisions…

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 216

Word Count: 71,000

Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories by Jen McDonald

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MWSA Review

Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength through Our Stories by Jen McDonald is a collection of thoughts and nuggets of advice for military spouses with any length of service. But it is so much more. Much of the material would also offer comfort and strength to single parents, widows and widowers, and civilian family members or friends seeking a better understanding of the military. Some of the advice applies to every human being, like this gem on page 117: “There is never a guarantee of another single day. Live each day the best you can and squeeze all the life out of it that you can get. Don’t take your loved ones for granted. Love them.”

McDonald’s sage advice is interspersed with personal anecdotes that allow readers to identify with her, accept their own emotional responses, and normalize their experiences. Often, we isolate ourselves, thinking we are the only ones, and this book negates that thinking, drawing the reader into the community of others who have walked before us on a similar path. McDonald also quotes seasoned spouses, showing the reader that they can also find the strength to deal with life’s vicissitudes.

Although the book is specific to the military experience, the style of writing and the engaging use of humor will appeal to others in many walks of life.

Review by Betsy Beard (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

You knew what you signed up for. These words are often directed at military spouses, yet the true depth of what it will mean to be married to a service member is seldom fully grasped. In Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories, readers are immersed in the captivating world of military spouse life, unearthing the challenges and triumphs faced by those who leave behind the familiar to embrace a life of constant change.

Authored by Jen McDonald, this compelling narrative weaves together the experiences of military spouses across generations, illuminating the unbreakable bonds that unite them. With a keen focus on the impact of frequent relocations, deployments, and the nomadic nature of military life, McDonald also celebrates these spouses’ resolute tenacity. Drawing from her personal three-decade journey as a military spouse, alongside stories from contemporary spouses and those from the Korean War and Vietnam conflict eras, Milspouse Matters reveals the remarkable strength within this community.

Whether you’re seeking courage, confidence, or a deeper understanding of the military family experience, these shared stories invite you to discover the unyielding resilience that lies within us all.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 251

Word Count: 66,153

A Victor's Tale by Doc Westring

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MWSA Review

In A Victor's Tale: The Story of Milo Flaten, One of the GIs who Led the Invasion of Omaha Beach on D-Day, author Doc Westring brings to life the remarkable story of a World War II veteran who witnessed and participated in some of the most pivotal moments of the war. Through Milo Flaten's eyes, readers are transported to the front lines, experiencing the chaos, bravery, and sacrifice that defined the Allied victory in Europe.

Drafted in 1943, Milo Flaten's journey takes him from the shores of Omaha Beach on D-Day to the bitter battles across France and Germany. As the first scout off his landing craft, Flaten's firsthand account of the invasion is both harrowing and awe-inspiring. His story, meticulously preserved by Westring, offers a rare glimpse into the realities faced by the soldiers who fought to liberate Europe from Nazi oppression.

A Victor's Tale is more than just a war story; it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the bonds forged in the heat of battle. Flaten's experiences, from his grave injury in 1944 to his continued service in Korea, paint a vivid picture of the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation. As the number of living World War II veterans dwindles, this book serves as an essential record of their heroism and a reminder of the horrors of war.

Westring's engaging narrative style brings Milo Flaten's story to life, ensuring that his legacy and the legacy of countless other brave soldiers will endure for generations to come. A Victor's Tale is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the human experience of World War II and the profound impact it had on those who fought in it.

Review by Elvis Leighton (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

While it's likely most of us have never wanted to go to war and face combat, many of us are nevertheless fascinated by the experiences of men and women who have.

This book is about a man who served as a rifleman in World War II, and was one of the first GIs to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day.A man who survived the landing and continued to fight through France and Germany until the Nazis finally surrendered.

His memories of those experiences have been preserved in a new book by Doc Westring entitled A Victor’s Tale: The Story of Milo Flaten, One of the GIs who Led the Invasion of Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Milo was drafted in June 1943, and after training in the states, was shipped to England, where he was assigned to a company in the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. That company would be in the first wave of soldiers invading Normandy. As that company’s 1st scout, Milo was the first man off his landing craft and the first on shore. He eventually realized he might have been the first GI to land on Omaha.

Follow his path as he survived the invasion carnage, and continued to fight through Europe in some of the bitterest, bloodiest battles of World War II. After becoming a highly decorated and respected senior sergeant, he was gravely wounded in November 1944. He recovered completely, rejoined his division, and was in combat until Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945.

With the personal stories of so many World War II veterans now lost forever, we are privileged to have this man’s life available to us. His remarkable exploits are here, from the day he was drafted to the end of the war in Europe, along with his further service in Korea and his fascinating military and non-military life thereafter.

Walk with Milo and experience the insanity and terrible heartbreak that is war—and the relief, if not exuberance, that comes with victory and peace.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 204

Word Count: 58,097

The Drums of War: An Autobiography by William A. Corbett, Editor

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MWSA Review

In The Drums of War, T.C. Corbett takes readers on a poignant journey through the tumultuous landscape of World War I and its aftermath. Edited by his son, William Corbett, this autobiographical narrative offers a rare glimpse into the life of a young pilot, Cy Corbett, as he navigates the exhilarating yet perilous world of early aviation, which had a higher death rate than that of soldiers at the front.

Set against the backdrop of 1918, Corbett delves deep into the heart of his experiences, chronicling his rigorous flight training, filled with adrenaline-fueled flights, forced landings, and a brush with death. Despite the inherent dangers, Corbett finds solace in the thrill of flight, only to have his aspirations abruptly halted by the sudden end of the war before he has a chance to deploy to Europe. The transition to civilian life proves to be a tumultuous one, marked by confusion, loss, and the enduring specter of trauma. The Drums of War serves not only as a chronicle of early military aviation but also an unfiltered glimpse into Cy Corbett's world. His commitment to transparency and honesty underscores the genuine nature of this autobiographical work.

Through sections of prose that sometimes flow like poetry, Corbett captures the essence of his journey, offering readers an intimate portrayal of his innermost thoughts and emotions. His narrative oscillates between moments of exhilaration and despair, providing a nuanced exploration of courage, adversity, and the enduring human spirit.

The Drums of War stands as a testament to the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity. It is a narrative that weaves together history, aviation, and personal introspection, offering readers a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have served.

Review by Elvis Leighton (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

The Great War is replete with stories about war hero pilots who fought overseas. But little has been told of the 11,000 Americans who trained to fly and never made it “over there.” Then, one cadet died for every eighteen pilots who lived to earn their wings.

In The Drums of War, former pilot and newspaperman T.C. “Cy” Corbett relates his experience of a hundred years ago through original flight journals, diaries, and reflections written decades later, assembled and edited by his son, who discovered the writings after his father' s death.

The author's personal journals contain reflections not only about his sixteen forced landings and one bad crash, but about his undiagnosed injuries--both mental and physical--that plagued him throughout his life. Though at the time 'shell shock' was widely recognized, little was known about other deleterious effects of strenuous flight training. It is evident from the author's writings that he most likely suffered from a form of PTSD long before the condition was recognized to exist.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 246

Word Count: 67,000

My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter by Jack Billups

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MWSA Review

My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter is an interesting memoir written by Jack Billups. From the beginning of his incredible story, I felt like Mr. Billups was sitting across the table from me as we had coffee and cookies. His narration reminded me of my neighbor, a humble man who served in Vietnam and became a quiet highly decorated hero. The two men have that in common.

The request of Jack’s daughter Naomi for her father to write his story of his time in Vietnam touched my heart. Her question set into motion a journey 50 years into the past as a "grunt" in the steamy jungles of Vietnam. After contacting several of the men with whom he served, Jack had compiled an accurate timeline and accounting of his time “in country.”

Four months later, with Jack’s memoir completed, Naomi asked another question. "Hey Dad, let's go to Vietnam, just you and me?" Could the ghosts of his Vietnam past morph into a father and daughter blessing in the present?

My Vietnam: A Gift to My Daughter is a heartwarming, compelling memoir that reconciles America and Vietnam, then and now, including the culture shock of seeing Vietnam as it exists today.”

Review by Nancy Panko (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

"Hey Dad, instead of a gift, would you share your Vietnam experiences with me?" My daughter's request set into motion a journey 50 years into the past as a "grunt" in the steamy jungles of Vietnam.

Four months later with my memoir completed, Naomi called to say, "Dad, this was the best gift I've ever received, I liked it so much, I read it a second time!" Then another question, "Hey Dad, let's go back to Vietnam, just you and me?" Could the ghosts of Vietnam's past morph into a father and daughter blessing in the present?

This journey will put the reader into the boots of a grunt with vivid detail. Surrounding Jack's tour in Vietnam are the experiences and events that defined that unique period in American history.

Then, the eye-opening revelation of present day Vietnam as Jack and Naomi return to the places where her father fought and survived near the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 472

Word Count: 94,341

Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History by Robin Bartlett

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MWSA Review

Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History is an excellent, well-written combat memoir about one young American’s time in Vietnam. Only 22 at the time, Lieutenant Bartlett is put out in the field with the First Cavalry Division in Vietnam at the height of the war. Though a graduate of Airborne school and Ranger school, this is his baptism by fire. How Bartlett navigates the path between FNG and experienced combat leader is an intense, harrowing, horrifying, and sometimes humorous journey that any Vietnam veteran or small unit combat leader will appreciate.

Bartlett doesn’t pull any punches. He gives the good, the bad, and the ugly—often in the same chapter. He is honest about his mistakes, and speaks with candor about the situations and actions of Army leadership that he encounters. He is also blunt about his combat experience, and the fear and terror he felt while doing his job. His writing gives insight into himself as well as vivifies the experience of a platoon commander for those that have not experienced it.

Vietnam veterans (grunts in particular) and those who enjoy combat memoirs will enjoy this book.

Review by Rob Ballister (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

More than 50 years after the Vietnam War, Bartlet's vivid combat experiences are brought to light in a fast-moving, well-written, first-person narrative expressing the horror, fear, anguish, and sometimes illogical humor of that war.

"Readers who want to learn what it was like for a twenty-two-year-old lieutenant to lead even younger Americans in combat, in miserable conditions, and where no one wanted to be the last man to die, there is no better place to begin than 'Vietnam Combat.'" From "On Point, The Journal of the Army History, Vol. 28, No. 4."

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 288

Word Count: 129,000

Growing Up Army by Robert R. Heath Sr.

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MWSA Review

Growing Up Army is a remarkable and heartwarming read that both military and non-military can enjoy. The enduring term Army Brats is brilliantly explained and gives the story context. The adventures of a globe-trotting military family started in the 1930s about a career Army family with nine siblings and continues over time to the adulthood of the siblings. Serving a career in the army myself with three of my own Army Brats, I found this book entertaining and relatable. It presented shared personal and cultural experiences relatable for all generations of military children. The story is wonderfully told and uses reality and levity to engage the reader and convey personal and cultural experiences that in some instances dramatically and humorously draw the reader into an understanding of what it was, and is, to be an Army Brat.

Review by Warren Martin (April 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Shortly after Dick and Jinny started dating, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and soon afterwards, Dick was drafted into the army. Not long before being sent into the war, Dick offered to provide Jinny with her own kindergarten if she would quit teachers college and marry him. She did, and Brat #1 arrived while he was in Sardinia. The rest of the 9-member Brat Platoon arrived in different places around the world as Dick continued his career serving our country. The Brats proved to be highly adventurous as they experienced many different peoples, languages and cultures while growing up army. This historical memoir chronicles the historical aspects of Dick's time in WWII, the many places in which he served our country, and the wild and crazy adventures of the Brat Platoon.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 290

Word Count: 96,181

Rosie's Sweat Box by David Rozzell

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Author's Synopsis

Grady Rozzell at age 19 was a B-17 pilot in the 401st Bomb Group operating out of Deenethorpe Army Air Base. On Friday, May 30, 1944, Grady and his crew made their first combat mission. Their target was an airplane factory in Oschersleben, Germany. Highlights from his diary tell this story.

This is his first diary entry:

10:26 . . . Over to the left front, a patch of sky is literally filled with black crust; that’s flack, my first sight of the dreaded flack I’ve heard so much about. 11:30 . . . We’ve just been attacked by enemy fighters. Those babies came within a few hundred feet of our plane and not one of my gunners shot at the fighters. Too excited to do anything but gape—and gape they did. The fighters got the ship directly behind me. I looked back in time to see the big bird go into a vertical climb and spin-off on one wing. I saw two chutes pop and stretch out their lazy canopies. There’s eight more men in that plane. Off to the left and lower is a crippled B-17 trying to fight its way home. . . . There’s about five fighters making swift passes at the ship, trying to knock it down. They look like vultures gathering around, ready for the kill.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 249

Word Count:

Steel Soldier: Guadalcanal Odyssey by James J. Messina with Charles Messina

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MWSA Review

In Steel Soldier, Guadalcanal Odyssey, author James Messina tells a fascinating account of his tenure in the marines with a special focus on his experiences during the invasion of Guadalcanal. James grew up in Pittsburgh, and just weeks before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he enlisted into the marines. As soon as he finished his training, James found himself on a ship heading to the Pacific. After a brief period of preparation in New Zealand, his unit led the invasion into Guadalcanal to take the island back from the Japanese. James recounts the invasion and months of fighting as only someone with firsthand experience could.

Charles Messina, James's son, adds historical perspective and edited his father's work to make this book a truly interesting read. I recommend it.

Review by Bob Doerr (January 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

My father, the most influential person in my life, passed away on March 20, 2008. As an intimate gift to his children, he wrote and illustrated his life story.

In the end, it took him eight years to complete his autobiography, and I was so impressed with his storytelling and artistic talent that I reached out to a journalist who had an interest in regional history. Following an interview with my father, the local newspaper ran a two-page article chronicling his life growing up in West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and his time serving as a Marine in World War II. The journalist applauded his work as an enormous achievement and an important part of history. He encouraged me to publish his story and share it with the public, which is something I had wanted to do for a long time. However, my dad was not interested and said it was merely a token of love for his children to remember him by.

This is an American tale about a working-class man who lived an honest life, believed strongly in God, and fought for his country. He represents thousands of other hardworking Americans with untold stories of integrity and honor. It’s also a compelling story of survival that begins in a gritty Pennsylvania steel town during the Great Depression and then transports the reader into the steaming jungles of Guadalcanal, where a young Marine faces death in one of the most pivotal and bloodiest battles of World War II.

Steel Soldier serves as a testament to the special man my dad was. It’s not a gripping mystery that concludes with a thrilling climax. Rather, it is a series of vignettes with some entertaining moments of a bygone era, which have been compiled by a very talented storyteller.

To look at him, you’d never guess this mild-mannered, unassuming, and kind man had once been a fierce warrior. He was loved by everyone who knew him, and to me he is a true American hero. Semper Fi, Dad

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 306

Word Count: 93,670

The Hardest Year: A Love Story in Letters During the Vietnam War by Carole and William Wagener

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MWSA Review

The Hardest Year: A Love Story in Letters During the Vietnam War by Carole and William Wagener is a rare and intriguing treat in which the reader viscerally feels the desperation, anguish, pain, separation, confusion, and awfulness experienced by a young newlywed couple separated one day after their wedding by his deployment to the Vietnam War.

Carole has crafted a unique work based largely on 300 handwritten letters she and her soldier husband Bill exchanged, beginning before he left for basic training through when he returned home a changed young man of 23. She adds additional narratives throughout the book, weaving in her recollections of how she felt after receiving a particularly disturbing/annoying/terrifying account from Vietnam, wrestling at the same time with her own fears, longings, and frustrations as a young woman/student/wife pursuing her undergraduate degree during a time of campus protests.

This book was as revealing as it gets for a couple. Carole and Bill held nothing back in their letters. What a ride, what raw emotions, what daily stress they shared with each other, so many insecurities of youth, of young love, of a marriage she questioned from the beginning for a variety of reasons. I couldn't put it down and found myself grateful for the honesty these two young people shared.

Their two distinct voices, their words written decades ago, put the reader in a variety of settings: on campus witnessing student protests and racial unrest, in Vietnam both in the relative safety of an HQ office, and then on a convoy being ambushed in a life-threatening combat situation. The intense change in settings from the University of Wisconsin campus to various sites in Vietnam as well as the events they each lived and chose to share with each other offer a delightful, and sometimes uncomfortable experience for the reader. Each letter's date and place of origin is clearly indicated. The vocabulary used in their letters was raw and authentic—the feelings and longings of young lovers separated by great distance and terrible circumstances.

Chapter 18, written by Bill, in which he reflects on death-defying events that he never wrote to Carole about, really grabbed me.

The book is constructed with black and white photos included to further draw the reader into this tumultuous year in their lives. Endnotes add info on sourcing, news media accounts, colloquial speech, etc. The glossary includes translations of words used from a variety of languages.

Anyone who wants to feel the human side of how that war disrupted young lives of Americans, who would appreciate a thoroughly intimate and vulnerable account with words that survived the decades, words that reveal how at times these two Americans were just barely holding on as the war raged, and how their love for each other kept them going, will enjoy this book immensely. I highly recommend this book for adults only, due to its mature content.

Review by Grace Tiscareno-Sato (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

During 1968-1969, nineteen-year-old college student Carole, thinking she's pregnant marries her enlisted soldier, Bill, one day before he departs for the Vietnam War. Carole then transfers to the tumultuous UW-Madison campus amidst the riots and antiwar protests. This memoir is based on over 300 authentic letters written by the couple skillfully woven together with short stories, poems, and 31 photographs written from the female point of view of "the girl left behind." The couple's dialogue through distance is a love story, a war story, and a coming of age story as they navigate an ocean apart to keep their long-distance relationship alive. During Bill's R&R, they meet in Hawaii, but have difficulty saying goodbye again. Nine months later, Bill returns home all in one piece, but soon experiences his first traumatic nightmare where he believes he's back in Vietnam, requiring a visit to the hospital. It takes thirty years for Carole to discover Bill has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and seeks counseling for him from the local Veterans Administration . After seven years of therapy, Bill is awarded a 50 % service-connected disability and starts doing a local talk-TV show. The book ends with an Epilogue in 2007 with the couple questioning the morality of war while attending an Iraq antiwar rally with their fifteen year old twins. On a beach in Santa Barbara, California, 3,000 white wooden crosses symbolize the lives lost in yet another war. Carole wonders "Will war never cease?" Then she remembers their letters tucked away in a shoebox in the garage where they remain collecting dust until "the time is right to tell our story, this story, of The Hardest Year" which may help other veterans and their families who still struggle with the aftermath of war. There is a line drawn map of Vietnam, a glossary of terms, and extensive end notes of significant historical information.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 274

Word Count: 77000

Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way by D.D. Smith

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MWSA Review

Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way soars above the typical "there I was..." first-hand account of a Navy flier's life and service. The account follows the conventional timeline beginning with the author's childhood in Minnesota and following his 20-plus year flying career that culminated with his tours as the Navy’s chief test pilot.

Most memoirs published by military fliers provide a detailed account of the writer’s professional service, usually enlivened by personal stories and accounts of wartime exploits, harrowing or otherwise. Reading Above Average, however, is like sitting at an Officers’ Club table littered with empty beer bottles, listening to the author’s sea stories.

This autobiography hits all the traditional milestones, starting with a nomadic childhood and youth that encounters the life-changing opportunity of the NAVCAD program. The narrator’s career as a Naval Aviator includes combat deployments in the crucible of Vietnam and later sea tours leading to the professional challenge of serving as a test pilot. Detailed incidents in the flak-filled skies over North Vietnam are balanced with even more harrowing accounts of near-death flight test experiences.

While the author always treats the demands of flying and flight test with absolute sincerity, he never takes himself too seriously. He emerges from his two decades of Naval service as one who understands that he is lucky to be alive and grateful for the opportunities he has encountered. The result is an account of a remarkable lifespan that afforded him the chance to accomplish what John Gillespie Magee described: “a hundred things you have not dreamed of.”

Any reader looking for a glimpse into the life of a naval aviator and jet pilot will enjoy the story of this man’s life and will easily be able to ignore the broken hyperlinks and minor editorial shortcomings of the publication.

Review by Peter Young (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Way beyond the usual Vietnam War shoot ‘em up! Does it have electrifying high adventure? Oh yes – the eye-popping action of combat naval aviation and the harrowing dangers of testing the world’s hottest jets. But the book is much more. It is a cleverly written and refreshingly honest story of the author’s life and times as he struggles his way from rural Minnesota to the blazing skies over North Vietnam. 138 combat missions. The Navy’s first Chief Test Pilot. Piloting the first EVER flat spin in an F-14 that nearly killed him. That says it all. No swaggering bravado here; this is a fresh, insightful look at life, luck and guts – in Vietnam and beyond.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 344

Word Count: 102,000

100 Days Smart: A Kindergarten teacher shares lessons on life, learning, and community during the COVID-19 outbreak in bella Italia by Karin Tramm

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MWSA Review

Kindergarten teacher, Karin Tramm documented her experiences teaching military children in a DOD school in Northern Italy during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her book, 100 Days Smart, takes us on the journey with her via diary-style entries that cover the 100 days after her school reverted to online learning only. Written with humor and insight, the book is relatable to all of us who experienced the pandemic in a multitude of different ways.

Those who are not teachers will see how difficult the transition was not only for the teachers, but for the children and parents as well. Using narration, emails, chats, and texts, Tramm shares the early moments of desperation, the anxiety of the unknown, the desire to stay connected with family and friends, the helplessness of not being able to be “there” for others, the joy of small victories, the learning curve of technology to make things work, the isolation of quarantine, and the peace that comes from accepting life and adapting to what it gives us.

Much of the humor comes from the kindergarten chats, a rare treat to readers who do not teach kindergarten. The wonder, excitement, and absurdity of the situations as seen through youthful eyes allows the reader to appreciate the young students whose world was turned upside down in a single day. 100 Days Smart is an endearing and heartwarming read.

Review by Betsy Beard (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

100 Days Smart chronicles the first hundred days of the COVID-19 outbreak on the American Army base in Vicenza, Italy, only miles away from the epicenter of the European crisis. Beginning on the 100th day of school, the last day before pandemic lockdown, this narrative journals the very different lesson plan that coronavirus had in store for Vicenza Elementary School in 2020. The experiences of DoDEA teachers, military connected students and their parents living through the startling onset unfolds through personal accounts and communications with colleagues, family, and friends. One hundred days later, when Italy began to ease out of the most draconian lockdown in all of Europe, emerged a glimpse into the old yet new world.

This story reflects the resilience, strength, and flexibility of our military connected families. Written with a nod to classic children’s literature, 100 Days Smart explores the fears and frustrations, the hopes, heroes, and lessons learned, beginning that fateful day in February 2020.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 256

Word Count: 85,000

Navy Dog - A Dog's Days in the US Navy by Neal Kusumoto

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MWSA Review

In Navy Dog, author Neal Kusumoto takes readers on an unforgettable journey aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift. Kusumoto, a retired Navy captain and former skipper of the Vandegrift, weaves a heartwarming tale that effortlessly combines his love for his ship and crew with the endearing story of the Vandy’s four-legged shipmate and mascot, a Navy Dog named Jenna.

Kusumoto’s admiration and respect for the Navy and his fellow sailors shine through from the opening pages to the conclusion. His vivid descriptions of life at sea bring the reader right into the heart of the action, creating an immersive experience that is both enlightening and entertaining. Through Kusumoto’s keen storytelling, we gain unique insights into the day-to-day realities of Navy life. We learn about some of the Navy’s terminology and history, sail with his crew while crisscrossing the Pacific Ocean, and visit exotic—and often dangerous—ports of call.

By the time you reach its conclusion, the book will have fostered a better appreciation for the sacrifices and camaraderie shared by those who serve at sea—no matter how many legs they have. It’s also very likely that Kusumoto’s shipmate, Jenna, will have wound her way into the reader’s heart as she managed to do with her fellow sailors and Marines.

I highly recommend this heart-warming book to anyone who wants to learn about the Navy and how it eventually learned to live with its first mammal mascot in decades.

Review by John Cathcart (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Having Seaman Jenna as the mascot on the USS Vandegrift was never meant to be a statement or to put the ship on the radars of four-star admirals. Jenna came onboard unannounced, a Christmas gift that brought instant joy to the crew and transformed a grey ship into a home for 225 sailors. Her addition was not approved by the chain of command, and she was the first dog on a Navy ship since WWII. This orphaned Shiba Inu and the displaced crew shared countless adventures and trials during her five years onboard. Jenna dodged being eaten in Korea, sidestepped Hawaii's strict quarantine law, avoided being shot in Australia, charmed a Chinese admiral, and nearly initiated an international incident in Pakistan. Jenna became a symbol of the ship and created a bond amongst the crew that remains strong decades later...long after her death.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 336

Word Count: 63,412

Mokane to Mole City: A Manchu Vietnam Memoir Bravo Co. Nov. 1968-Nov. 1969 by Stanley J. Adams

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MWSA Review

Mokane to Mole City is a sincere, unembellished account of a nineteen-year-old from smalltown Mokane, Missouri, drafted into the military in 1968. It was not his choice to go into the military and it was not his choice to go into the Army. Those decisions were made by the draft lottery and a marine sergeant’s walk down a red line, sending boys in the induction center that day into the Marines on one side and the Army on the other. After three months of training, they would be combat-ready men. Stanley J. Adams introduces his memoir by recounting two recurring dreams that have haunted his nights since returning home from Vietnam. This is also where he introduces his wife, Rita, who encouraged him to begin his road to recovery by telling his story and searching for the men with whom he served. The memoir then centers around his tour of duty as an infantryman assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu), Bravo Company from November 1968 to November 1969. “It seems like the daylight always saved us” writes the author, coming out of his nightmare with the break of day just as he and his brothers in arms did after nights of battles and patrols.

Between the covers of this book are two stories. Book One is the author’s memoir of his Vietnam experience and his homecoming. Those who lived through the Vietnam era know their version of those days. Adams’s memoir takes the knowing deeper. Without sensationalizing his experience, he invites the reader to feel in their own way what he experienced.

The pages in between are tributes to the men with whom he has reestablished contact, their reunions, those who lost their lives in Vietnam, and those who made it home and have passed in recent years. Stan and Rita maintain contact with the families of the deceased and foster ongoing relationship. The tribute section is a compilation of the author’s personal journey and information gathered from other relevant sources. Photos and newspaper clippings of young soldiers and their headstones put faces to names and honor their sacrifice. An index of terms, abbreviations, and acronyms assist the understanding of non-military readers.

Ultimately, the author’s words transfer from the battleground to life in general: “Courage is picking up your gear and going into battle when you know you could be killed; bravery is what you do when you get there.” With courage and bravery, Stanley Adams has steered his fear, loss, and pain into the light of day. He has also shone a lasting and meaningful beam on those who put themselves on the line for the rest of us. Thank you.

Review by Janette Stone (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Drafted in late May 1968, Adams, barely 20 years old, was quickly transformed into an infantry rifleman on the front lines of the Vietnam War, where he survived a year of combat with the famed “Manchu” Regiment, 25th Infantry “Tropic Lightning” Division. Sent in as replacements for those Bravo Co. soldiers who were killed in the Thanksgiving Day Battle of 1968, Adams and his fellow soldiers were charged with building “Mole City,” a combat patrol base camp near the Cambodian Border, to purposely bait the NVA and disrupt their supply lines through the region. He had been “in country” for less than a month when the NVA attacked Mole City during a Christmas truce, just before midnight on December 22, 1968. The Manchus fought valiantly through the night as their ammo supplies dwindled, and as a last resort, artillery was called in on Mole City. In 2003, Adams began reaching out to the families of fallen comrades and reconnecting with his fellow Manchus – many of whom suffer some form of PTSD as a result of the horrors they experienced in Vietnam. As these surviving warriors age, they are now burying their Manchu Brothers. Fifty years later, through a photographic history featuring 250+ color pictures, Adams recounts his journey from a rural Midwestern town to the jungles of Vietnam, sharing what it's like to fight – and not die – for your country.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 272

Word Count: 73,398

They Served to Keep the Peace by D. Ray Bowe

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MWSA Review

In the memoir, They Served to Keep the Peace, author D. Ray Bowe tells his life story from early childhood until he enters into civilian life after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force. Bowe is one of three brothers from rural Tennessee who serve their country to escape poverty and less-than-desirable home life.

These young men venture into a world they’ve never experienced before. While in service to their country, the boys travel, meet new challenges, and grow into men with skills honed by the military. Returning home, they find it hard to land a civilian job. Ray Bowe attends college and attains two bachelor’s degrees, one in Christian Ministry and the other in Pastoral Studies.

The author gives tribute to many young men besides his brothers who left middle Tennessee to serve their country during the cold war. They all “served to keep the peace.”

Review by Nancy Panko (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

This book is a compilation of the stories of three brothers, and the many others they knew, while they served in their respective Air Force units alongside other branches of the military and support groups worldwide, during the most confrontational time with Russia and the communist block of enemies. The writer’s early years, interactions with his family and neighbors while growing up on the ridges and hollows in rural Tennessee, and experiences throughout entry to everyday life in the military, draw the reader through this highly relatable story as retold some sixty years later. While centered mostly around Dorris Ray Bowe’s life, and his brothers’ military service and activities, these stories could be about any one of the thousands of men who served in the late 1940’s into the early 60’s.

Most boys select policemen, fire fighters, cowboys, or truck drivers as heroes or role models. Times when they saw soldiers were probably dismissed as just another part of life for those children; but for Dorris, as he walked more than a mile to and from school each day, watching the vehicles and military on maneuvers in his section of the country was special! Not only had he seen soldiers on the road but got to stand beside one of them in a neighbor’s yard. As he observed the neatly pressed uniform and those spit-shined boots, he thought of how big and strong this man looked. To him, the soldier appeared as tall as a giant and Dorris wanted to be just like that someday.

This image took root and began to grow in his heart and mind. Over time, it matured as he watched news clips and movies about the wars. The “Atom Bomb Threat” had citizens building shelters near their homes in the cities of most states. Yes, during the ‘Big War’ (WWII), the young boy tried to focus on learning the “Three R’s” that confronted him in the 2-room schoolhouse each morning. Amidst worries as to that conflict’s final outcome, he experienced sorrows as classmates lost family members in the ongoing war.

As circumstances and times changed on the home front (and on the world scene) most of the fighting stopped and some of those young men came home wearing decorated uniforms, telling their stories, and displaying their war souvenirs. The shooting war was over, but the settlements and boundaries were bitterly disputed. The atomic bomb was now the topic of concern. America had used it against Japan who, in retaliation, had attacked and sunk the American fleet in Hawaii without warning.

Anxieties mounted as we learned other countries stole the formula to re-create these destructive weapons. While Americans and others slept, those in uniform trained, traveled non-stop day and night, and stood watch on many fronts. These brave men and women held the line in difficult places and situations wondering if what they did accounted for anything. It did! These stories are about the men and women who served to keep the peace.

The majority of the Bowe brothers’ story unfolded while the Korean conflict was in full swing and throughout the Cold War. Some of his neighbors that had been drafted to serve in the Army came back physically wounded, others psychologically, or both. This book tells their story, including the dis-appointments and heartaches over the interruption of the “American Dream” resulting from the disruption of their lives.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 180

Word Count: 87839

The Making of an Army Psychologist by Bob Worthington

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MWSA Review

To say that retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Elliott Robert Worthington lived a full life is an understatement. A three-tour combat veteran with service in three military branches, a family man, a PhD with multiple degrees and related job descriptions, over two thousand publications, a pilot and a businessman, Bob Worthington never shied away from an opportunity to learn something new. Last in a trilogy depicting his military life, The Making of an Army Psychologist: from Fighting in Vietnam to Treating Fellow Veterans, is a professional memoir bordering on narrative inquiry that exemplifies how change presents opportunity. Sparing no details, he takes the reader on a journey through numerous PhD application rejections, promotions up the ranks and demotions down, to end up Chief of Psychology Services at Brooke Army Medical Center. As a former school counselor, I connect with his clinical methods, his listening with hearing, his digging deep into a patient’s past, his fact checking and his commitment to team building and empowering others.

Driven by an intense curiosity, Bob’s first research project, conducted not long after the conflict officially ended, challenged the popular belief that Vietnam veterans would have difficulty adjusting to life at home. Validated by a study some twenty years later, his research revealed that the majority of veterans maintained stable relationships, raised families, and resumed their studies and careers. His research further shed light on the impact of childhood trauma and substance abuse as precursors to an inability to cope postwar rather than their military service. As a two-tour Vietnam veteran, Bob took returned prisoners of war under his wing, revealing how the life “the real heroes” hung onto during their internment was, for many, unrecognizable when they returned home.

So what if some sections of the book are redundant or long winded, the narrative lacks an arc, or that several minor technical issues interfere with an otherwise perfect flow to the writing. Bob Worthington’s memoir is a valuable guidepost for military personnel aspiring to a career in psychology, a wonderful reference for those in the field of clinical practice interested in knowing how those skills transfer to business, defense cases, and team building. Bob Worthington passed away five weeks before this review was written. I’m disappointed to have missed the opportunity to have a conversation with the remarkable human being whose memoir I am privileged to review.

Review by Janette Stone (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

In the early 1970s the US Army was undergoing traumatic change.  The Vietnam War ended, almost 600 American POWs were released by North Vietnam, the draft was terminated, and the Army was in dismal shape.  Doctoral educated behavioral scientists, former combat soldiers, were brought on active duty to assist the Army to navigate the necessary changes to become an effective force for future challenges.

Simultaneously the profession of psychology also faced change.  Clinical psychologists, no longer satisfied with only seeing patients in a medical setting, branched out into other areas such as management, sports, aviation, industry, organizations, and community.  The field of psychology was growing, expanding, and entering new areas where behavioral science knowledge could make a positive impact.

The psychology education of Worthington is described, a former decorated combat infantryman returning to the Army as a clinician, becoming a senior psychology consultant to the Army, assisting to make the Army better.  He became a pioneer researcher in PTSD and Vietnam veterans, served as a sport psychologist for the US Olympics, managed a clinical service and mental health center, became a pilot and aviation psychologist, treated patients, and conducted military research, authoring numerous journal articles and book chapters.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 268

Word Count: 95,000

Life Lessons From the Color Yellow by Patricia Walkow

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MWSA Review

Patricia Walkow's Life Lessons from the Color Yellow is a captivating and thought-provoking book that will leave a lasting impression on its readers. Written by an author experienced with life, this book offers stories told from various points of view from various locales. All stories are mined from the author’s personal history and span the globe from California, New York, and Peru to the Italian seaside. Yellow appears as a symbol throughout the lives of the characters that inhabit the pages. Through a series of engaging and well-crafted stories, the author explores the many ways in which yellow can be seen as a symbol of hope, positivity, and transformation.

The book is comprised of eight stories from different points of view and at various stages within life. The author has a gift for storytelling, and each story captures the protagonist’s life intimately. Walkow’s characters whether a young inquisitive child, a woman recalling a summer romance, or a neighbor mourning the loss of an almost friend are genuine characters readers will want to meet.

Readers looking for a quick absorbing read should pick up a copy.

Review by Elvis Leighton (May 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

An unusual memoir, Life Lessons from the Color Yellow relates memorable people and events in the author’s life. Like puzzle pieces, the stories coalesce into a comprehensive image that reveals what shaped the life and philosophy of the writer. As she wrote these stories, Ms. Walkow was surprised to find the color yellow kept surfacing as an important element. She decided to publish the stories in this small, yet deeply rich volume of memorable tales. 

Each story reveals something the author incorporated into her spirit. There is a lesson from an elderly gardener, a premonition about a dog walking against a yellow wall, and the evolution of the meaning of a yellow kitchen. The reader will discover love surrounded by lemons, a woman who only wore yellow, a golden meadow that heard the dreams of teenage girls, and a yellow box that held a young woman’s future. 

From betrayal to love, from heartbreak to happiness, in memoir, narrative non-fiction, and essay, yellow is an essential element in each of these tales.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 130

Word Count: 16,177

Raging Love by Jim King and Lori Ann King

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MWSA Review

Raging Love, a memoir/biography by Jim and Lori King, tells a poignant story of an abused boy who grows into a young man, always seeking approval to fill the void left by his abusive parents. Jimmie D. King was a bright boy, eager to learn but small for his age. He became a target for bullies in school, unable to escape the abuse in what should have been a safe environment.

King bares his soul in Raging Love when he speaks of the simmering rage from years of abuse and how it served him in every sport he played. In therapy, Jimmie finds that rage is not well-received in social settings and personal relationships. He digs deep to face his inner demons, emerging a better human being able to coach and challenge others to their full potential.

Raging Love is a story of a man’s evolution through determination and hard work. Although the book takes a convoluted path through Jimmie’s life, making many detours, the reader sees that perseverance has many dividends.

My favorite quote in the book is: “People aren’t defined by the storm they face; they’re defined by how they react to the storm.” This book is not only for athletes, but for anyone seeking a way out of darkness.

Review by Nancy Panko (May 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Raging Love is about athlete Jimmie D. King’s rise to fame as an angry, chronically injured powerlifting champion to a happy, healthy cyclist and bodybuilder. The reader will witness a man who learns to be at ease with himself through mentoring and coaching others to become a better version of themselves. Raging Love gives us a glimpse at the life and athletic career of Powerlifting National Champion Jimmie D. King. With stunning candor, King shares his intimate and deeply personal perspective—including his challenges and struggles with bullies, physical limitations, childhood abuse, disappointments, oppression, and racism—and how he evolved and adapted over seven decades to stay as close to the ball as possible while learning to serve and develop the talents of others. Far more than a sports memoir, Raging Love is a gripping tale of perseverance and purpose and a reminder that finding one’s path is, above all, an evolution from psychological discipline and mental toughness to forgiveness, spiritual peace, self-knowledge, and self-love.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 160

Word Count: 50,000

Flight : An Air America Pilot's Story of Adventure, Descent and Redemption by Capt. Neil Graham Hansen and Luann Grosscup

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MWSA Review

Flight: An Air American Pilot’s Story is a rip-roaring tale of flying throughout Southeast Asia for the CIA's clandestine airline, Air America, during the Vietnam War. Practically the complete arc of the U.S. involvement in Indochina can be seen through the author's eyes during his time with Air America, from 1964 into the early 1970s.

The descriptions of harrowing flights though poor weather, small airfields, and often under enemy fire are fast paced and very detailed. Adjectives such as "earthy" or "gritty" are too pale to describe the voracious and chaotic non-flying activities of the author and some of his dysfunctional Air America comrades. Readers who do not care for strong language, graphic sex, and excessive alcohol use should be forewarned.

The author most likely suffered the same post traumatic stress that plagued Vietnam combat troops, and he suffered some of the same tragic post-war consequences as many of those veterans. His personal journey is both illustrative and inspiring in a low-key way.Readers with an interest in the Vietnam War, clandestine services, the history of southeast Asia in the 1960s and definitely flying will enjoy this book.

Review by Terry Lloyd (May 2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

Neil Hansen began his aviation career as a pilot for Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa. He spent more than a decade in Southeast Asia as a captain for Air America, the CIA's airline that operated there during the Vietnam era and the 'Secret War' in Laos. Neil reveled in the risky flying that fed his adrenaline addiction.  Upon returning to the States, ultimately unable to find work and unable to let go of the Air America exhilaration rush, he saw the profession he loved come to an end when his trajectory veered off course.

This historical aviation narrative incorporates the pathos of a war zone, humor, and candid insight. Neil pulls the reader directly into the cockpit, onto dirt mountaintop landing strips, into the raunchy brothels of Laos, alongside his first toddling steps into Buddhism, aboard the plane he flew out of Cambodia hours before it fell to the Khmer Rouge, down the road of self-destruction and beside him as he regains a foothold on the path to integrity.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 329

Word Count: 114,000

We Had to Get Out of That Place by Steven Grzesik

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MWSA Review

In his book, We Had to Get Out of that Place, Steven Grzesik gives us a good view into his life as a soldier fighting the war in Viet Nam. While he does provide some basic background of his life before his time in the army and a little afterwards, the focus of the book is his two tours of duty in Viet Nam. For a person who didn't want to go, didn't want to be there, and had no career military ambitions, Grzesik volunteered to become a Ranger to get out of the infantry and away from a role that he thought would certainly get him killed. Already through most of his tour of duty, becoming a Ranger sent him right back to Viet Nam for a new tour of duty. This time, however, he was with an elite group of soldiers. He became more confident and mature. Later, in his second tour, when the army was looking for helicopter gunners, Grzesik once again volunteered. His nearly two years in Viet Nam gave him a plethora of stories to include in his book. He even acknowledges that he developed a drug habit and barely escaped hard jail time for his drug use.  This is an interesting book that fans of military history should enjoy.

Review by Bob Doerr (April 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

My book is a descriptive narrative of two tours of the Vietnam war. The title, ‘We Had to Get Out of That Place’ is a word play on the song titled ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ by Eric Burdon and the Animals. It was a favorite of the combat soldier. 

The back cover has my photo and a bio as well as three reviews from notable people. 

For reasons explained in the book, I was lucky enough to get multi-angled views of the war because I served as a combat infantryman, in a rear engineer unit, as a long range patrol member with the original 75th Rangers, and as a door gunner on a helicopter for approximately 250 hours.

My story is told as a linear timeline of amazing events in and out of combat. There is some blood, gore and politics, but not much. There is beauty, passion and great sadness. The book starts with me as a child of the 60s, broken and disillusioned by drugs and the false promises of the ‘Age of Aquarius’. It ends with me, a changed grown man, angry at my own country for betraying its soldiers. My book is complete at 80,000 words.  

Anyone who reads it will enjoy it. It is exciting and colorful, but most of all, it is the truth: my  experience, unadulterated and unexaggerated.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 207

Word Count: 80,000