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Reviews
of "One Young Soldier"
A Novel
by Gary DeRigne
 HUMAN
DIMENSION OF BATTLE
- Col. Jonathan B. Dodson, United States Army (Retired) - Springfield, VA
DeRigne
has captured the human dimension of battle in Vietnam like no one else
except for his peer as an author, Jim Webb, in his classic novel of Marine
combat, "Fields of Fire." DeRigne is an Ernie Pyle type of writer who takes
the reader into the hearts and souls of combat soldiers and demonstrates the
emotional connection he has with those about whom he writes. As a
former Infantry "grunt" who also served in the 1st Cavalry
Division in Vietnam, I found DeRigne's descriptions of the psychological
aspects of infantry combat incredibly real.
"One
Young Soldier" will transcend the limits of particular wars and
conflicts and the test of time, much like Guy Sajer's "The Forgotten
Soldier" and Charles B. MacDonald's "Company Commander."
This novel is simply gripping! You will not be able to set it down, but will
read through it in one sitting.
Combat
in Viet Nam - Mark Limpic - United States Marine Corps (Retired) - Kansas City
I have read Gary Derigne's book "One Young Soldier" several times
and still wonder how he was able to put into words what it was really like
for a combat infantryman in Viet Nam. As a Marine combat veteran of that
war, I was surprised at how much similarity there was between my own
experiences and Gary's.
Mr. DeRigne goes beyond the violence and fear one
endures in combat and describes other factors such as the leadership,
camaraderie, boredom, lack of sleep, filthiness, sickness, lack of water and
food, insects and on and on. For those who served in the rice paddies and
jungles of Viet Nam, this book will bring back memories and will be
emotionally difficult to read. I also feel that this book will certainly
'enlighten' those who haven't served in combat and want to know what it was
really like.
Beyond Viet Nam, "One Young Soldier" will
help many readers realize what our troops are currently going through in the
War on Terror and make you appreciate the sacrifices they are making. The
stress of Combat is a terrible burden on those who do the fighting and those
who love them.
I would like to thank Mr. DeRigne for writing this
outstanding book and I highly recommend it.
Semper Fidelis!
A
soldier's view of conflict - David Kessler - California - Veteran of the U. S. Army in Vietnam
I found One Young Soldier a captivating read. We
follow Mick from his early childhood through high school and into the grit,
grime and horror of the Vietnam War. This is a first hand account of the
life of one young man thrown into an almost unbearable situation. Most of us
will thankfully never know what it's like on the business end of war. This
book paints us a very clear picture from the boredom to the terror with a
little humor along the way. We see some of the best and worst of Mick and
his fellow grunts as they slog through their tour of duty in a very foreign
land. This book is a must read for anyone who was in Vietnam in any
capacity, and for anyone who wasn't.
Lessons
about yesterday for tomorrow
- Jean Jacobs - Kansas City
This is a haunting, compelling narrative about the atrocities of war--even those
our government created in the handling of our soldiers in the field. Gary
DeRigne brings the day-to-day realities of the Vietnam war alive again. The
descriptions are vivid and terrifying, but involve the reader so thoroughly
that the book cannot be closed. Unfortunately, throughout the reading,
images from news stories of today in Iraq come to mind. Nothing seems to
have changed. We are still wasting the lives of our courageous and valuable
young adults as we engage in meaningless and catastrophic international
clashes. May this book help us all grow in wisdom and strategic integrity.
A
Powerful and Action Packed Story!!! - "JHawk" - Lawrence, KS
This story about a young man's tragic journey to
Vietnam grabbed me and wouldn't let go! I still can't stop thinking about
it! The story is so sincere and heartfelt yet filled with such shocking
details that it makes you feel like you're right there with him. Once you
get into it, you can't put it down. A must read!
A
Journey with "One Young Soldier"
- "Socrates Ann" - Gardner, KS
I could not put this book down. A very interesting
and detailed story that keeps you reading until the end. This book takes you
along on a journey with "One Young Soldier" through the Vietnam
War and the effect it had on everyone involved. If you were there, it will
take you back; if you had someone there, it will give you a deep insight
into the horrors of war.
Great
Book. I will Never Forget It - J. Michael Kelley - Kansas City
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I
will never forget it. It is the first book I have read on Vietnam. My father
let me post this review under his name. I want him to read the book now so
we can discuss it.
Compelling,
an absolute must read for everyone
- "Hope Waiting" - Kansas City
Compelling book, an absolute education for society.
This amazing and absorbing novel speaks to the truth of war. An awakening to
those who have never served in the military, beginning with the arrival at
training to the nights of official orders of total quiet, the expectation of
death shrouding soldiers at every moment and finally, the return to every
day life after experiencing the horrors of war. This is where another often
bitter reality sets in and is too often ignored and misunderstood by family,
friends, society in general. Mental health disorders are not easily
understood. Today our returning soldiers are faced with these same issues,
how are we dealing with it? How is our government dealing with it?
The
Definition of Insanity - Brad Williams - Ankeny, IA
Gary DeRigne offers an excellent historical novel
that profiles his experiences as a young soldier in Vietnam. Unfortunately,
the Bush Administration continues to ignore the wisdom of DeRigne and other
Vietnam veterans who had the courage to fight this senseless conflict. I
encourage all aspiring politicians to read DeRigne's novel. Maybe then we
can avoid another McNamara, Johnson, Nixon, Bush, Cheney, et. al. Then
again, maybe not...
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