Customer Reviews

The Old Sergeant

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The sergeant is a battle-hardened old combat veteran who leads a platoon of Soldiers through the sacrifices and trials of war in Iraq. Tough as iron, the Sarge teaches them (and us, the readers) about courage, duty, honor, leadership, and what it means to be a Soldier. The sergeant's name is never mentioned in the book, and this is perhaps fitting. He represents any non-commissioned officer who thinks of his troops and his country before himself.

The stories in this book are all short. Many of them are just a page or two long. But every story makes a powerful point, and -- somehow -- every one of them manages to thoroughly engage the reader. Don't miss this one. The Old Sergeant is an excellent read.

- Jeff Edwards, award-winning author of Torpedo

Author Steven Newton gives us a book of short stories that all hang together for one much bigger story as seen and told through the eyes and emotions of "The Old Sergeant." His brilliant writing style is a cross between Ernie Pyle and O'Henry and is a wonderfully insightful (and at times touching) look at war and people. It is thought provoking and will give readers something to chew on long after they finished the stories.

Newton does not take the easy and expected twists and turns in his stories. He allows us to see a more human and emotional side of him as expressed through his lead character the Old Sergeant. This is a totally different kind of book of war short stories that makes for an easy read. The author obliviously has writing talent. These stories capture all that energy in a finely written 187 page book that is an entertaining read.

This is certainly one of the best collections of military related short stories published in the past five years. Put this book on your buy list! It will make a great gift book for all veterans.

These stories remind me of sitting in Grandpa's living room listening to tales of WWII.

Join "The Old Sergeant" as he trains his men, goes on missions with them and in his own way gives a bit of himself to each of them.

While there's no doubt the brutal reality of what our Soldiers are facing on a daily basis, author, Steven J. Newton, takes you along for the ride in such a way that you come away from each story feeling like you know a bit more about the man behind the Sergeant and the challenges our Soldiers face day in and day out.

I can't think of a more realistic way to portray just a sampling of what life looks like for our servicemen and women. You'll laugh and cry with the men. You'll become infuriated right along-side them and you'll feel the depth or their love and compassion as well.

This is a book you can take anywhere, read a little or a lot and always come away sated.

This would make an AWESOME gift for everyone who wears the uniform, supports the troops, or simply enjoys the military story telling. You can't go wrong with a word from "Old Sarge."