Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Jim Rowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2001

A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away, a young American soldier lay bleeding on the battlefield of a small Southeast Asian country. At that very moment, halfway around the world, his mother awoke from a dream in which she had been watching the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. In the dream, she witnessed details of the battle in which her son was wounded and later told family members of her dream, including her own mother who lay dying of cancer in a hospital in Louisiana. A series of incredible events would follow the dream, and within 48 hours of being wounded the young soldier had left the steamy jungle behind and stood at the bedside of his beloved granny as she took her last breath.Thirty-two years ago, I was that young soldier. Today, I still have difficulty telling the story of my Granny and my mother's dream. But the recent tragic death of an old friend in the cold waters of an Alaskan bay has prompted me to recall the story of my grandmother and my friend, the Eskimo, who lay beside me in the heat of battle on that day, long ago. Granny and the Eskimo were guardian angels, and they saved my life that day in Vietnam.In Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam, I attempt to tell my children about a part of their father's life during the Vietnam War which had intentionally been kept from them. Although the story was written for young adults, people of all ages and walks of life will find themselves on an emotional roller coaster. Indeed, the reader will find Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam a hard book to put down until the last page is turned and the last tear is wiped.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Rowell is a retired Police Captain currently living on a small farm outside Atlanta, Georgia. Like most of his fellow Vietnam veterans, Jim returned from that jungle war, finished college on the GI Bill, married his high school sweetheart, and put the war behind him. He successfully raised two children and put them through college on a police officer's pay. Granny and the Eskimo was first written in 1991 for his children. It was a part of their father's life, which he had managed to keep suppressed in his memory since returning from the war. Now Jim has dusted off the old manuscript, and with the advent of the Internet and 1st Books Library has decided to make available to the whole world the story of Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; illustrated edition edition (October 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759647976
• ISBN-13: 978-0759647978
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,098,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Great Personal Closeup of the Vietnam War, January 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam (Paperback)

Mr. Rowell has written an interesting account of his tour in Vietnam, featuring his relationship with The Eskimo, plus revealing glimpses of his childhood featuring his relationship with his grandmother. The story explores the belief that these two people were "the angels" who kept him alive during this coming-of-age period. This belief is bolstered by a psychic event experienced by his mother. Interesting reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will make you wonder. . ., November 26, 2001

By 

J. Rowell "JR_Jacket" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam (Paperback)

If the title alone doesn't intrigue you, the content certainly will. Rowell has captured in Granny and The Eskimo a most extraordinary true story about family, friendship and a behind-the-scenes power that sometimes guides one's life in ways people could never imagine. An easy-to-read page-turner, the book is not a book about the Vietnam conflict, but rather an honest account about one man's emotional journey. That journey may have had its roots in Southeast Asia, but its path wound not just in geographic places like Vietnam and Alaska, but across spiritual areas that leads the reader to truly ponder fate, miracles or some sense of a guiding hand. I think readers will make a personal connection with this book--I know I did.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Granny & the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam, January 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam (Paperback)

I found this to be an excellent, down to earth, account of one "grunt's" experiences on his Tour of Duty in Vietnam. Jim Rowell put a Human "face" to all the "forgotten" Vietnam Veterans who fought, bled, & died with great courage in that war that Politicians wouldn't let them fight to win.

Mr. Rowell gave people like me, who've never had to be in combat, a small glimpse of the fear, fatigue, & frustrations faced by our Veterans in this war. He also brought out the one thing they all had in common that helped them survive, their loyality & devotion to the other men in their unit.

I found myself drawn to the "kindredship" that these men shared, & from some of my own experiences in life, understand why this was such a vital part of their lives.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get past the slanted, "pigeon-holed", sterotyped, images we've been fed by certain segements of our press & Government, & learn what really went on in Vietnam!!