Customer Reviews

M

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

M (company) is about real people, and real experiences. Read it, and I guarantee it will take you back to your days in basic training, and/or Vietnam. John Sack selected a new company of trainees at random while they were processing through the Reception Station at Fort Dix, stayed with them through 8 weeks of basic training, 8 more weeks of advanced infantry training (where he selected the title for his book - M - for M Company, 1st Training Regiment) and finally to Vietnam. I can attest to this, for I was there, and yes, I have about 2 and 1/2 pages written about me in his book! You will laugh, and you will cry, and you will love M!

I was there (Ft. Dix Basic Trainee, 9/66-11/66) and Vietnam service (6/68-6/69). This is an excellent, well-written grunt's eye (i.e. worm's eye) of the American Army that fought in Vietnam, who they were, how they did (superbly), and how they fared afterward. A gem.

I thought this was going to be a good book about Vietnam, but, now that I've read it, I can see that my hopes were too high. Did you ever read the beginning of a book and think to yourself, "it'll get going here shortly..."? Usually, when I feel that way, I read a respectable portion of the book and then decide whether to finish it or drop it. With this book, since it was so short, I finished it, but never stopped wondering when it would get going.

I think the author needed to either write a longer book and better develop the characters and story or pare his effort down to a smaller focus on maybe one character. As it is, he produced a not very well developed story populated by not very well developed characters. A formula for a forgettable book, in my opinion. I've read a number of excellent books about Vietnam, but I can't say I'd rate this as one of them. I really can't recommend it.