So, I was fortunate enough to get to read Semper Cool: One Marine's Fond Memories of Vietnam by Barry Fixler. I am pretty naive about Vietnam and what happened there. I knew that it was brutal, but I didn't have any idea how brutal and I probably still don't even know the half of it.
I really like the way the book was written, kind of little stories within a story. It really kept my interest peaked. I went through a whole range of emotions too. I was laughing, crying and at times very scared for all military personnel involved.
I found the author to be a great storyteller. He doesn't sensor, he tells it like it happened. There is a lot of swearing and it can be pretty graphic, that said, it would not have been the same book had he censored.
I would recommend this book to just about anyone (certain people may not be able to handle the swearing.)
Barry Fixler has done some amazing things since he served in Vietnam. He raised money for a soldiers family when that soldier was essentially dropped by the VA when recovering. He fought off armed robbers at his jewelery store (see the video here.) Now he is pledging to raise $1 million for wounded combat vets from Iraq and Afghanistan, amazing!
So, please go buy this book to help support a great cause and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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