Customer Reviews

Stay Safe Buddy: A Story of Humor and Horror During the Korean War

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Cheek returned me in time to 1952 and 1953 parts of which
I spent in Korea. The characters were people exactly like the
ones I knew. A Novel but most of it rings very true to the times. I could not put the book down. Very fast and enjoyable
reading.

On the promise that he won't see combat, John Lefter enlists for a 3 year hitch in the Army Security Agency. I guess, since we are talking about the Army, you know what happens. He ends up in Korea. It doesn't take long until Lefter is in a bunker real close to the front lines. A lot of things happen then and most of them were not good.

Once I started Stay Safe Buddy, I had trouble putting it down. I went everywhere with Lefter. I shared a lot of his pain and hangovers. I even shared his hatred for Major Soss. This is a great tale of the way things were during the Korean conflict, or war or whatever you want to call it. Just read it!

Recommendation: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Tim Hancock is the Director of MWLA, a Reviewer and Author

I took the book STAY SAFE, BUDDY with me on our 2-week vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and sat up late one night to read it. It was so interesting that I couldn't stop reading until I finished the entire book.

I cried a lot and laughed too. That Mewman was some crazy guy. He also was a hero. I could feel the concern when the soldiers used the phrase, "Stay safe, Buddy." The book is a very good read.

Barbara Byzick
Atoka, Oklahoma

Having spent some time in Korea myself, I was utterly amazed by the author's ability to recall and describe people and situations with so much accuracy and authenticity. The book brought back a rush of memories. Most importantly, it illustrates that major projects, such as wars, consist for the most part of human relationships, sometimes significant and sometimes not, but always interesting. The author was obviously a "doggie" who knew what was going on around him. I purchased several copies for friends.

Dear J. Charles:

Just finished reading our book "Stay Safe, Buddy." Enjoyed it immensely. Having spent 14 months over there with 1st Weapons Company and then Chalie Company, 1st Marine Division, I could visualize the terrain as I read. My wife thought I was nuts beacause I would suddenly break out laughing in the middle of the night. I could see many of my buddies in similar circumstances.

Having been a Corpsman wht the Marines, I can visualize myself as Doc Teele except that I wouldn't know what to do as a full bird colonel.

Again, Thanks for writing the book. It made me remember.

Semper Fi, Buddy.
John "Doc Steele"

One evening at, 11:30 PM, I decided I would read a bit on Stay Safe, Buddy. At 3:30 AM my eyes were blurring so I had to put the book down. I could not wait to get back to the book. I really enjoyed reading Stay Safe, Buddy and experienced a wide range of emotions from tears to "belly laughs" as Lefter called them.

At one point in my military service I was Officer In Charge of the Classified Message Center at Division Artillery and Crypto Custodian. As a result, I could identify with many of the characters in the book, their jobs and the situations which were so realistically portrayed. The author revealed to us a part of the military combat situation that is seldom discussed because of it's security nature. It was a story that needed to be told and the author did a magnificent job of letting us in on combat experience in Korea. This book is a must read for any Korean Vet or any Vet for that matter.

I recently read a newspaper article about a group of Infantrymen leaving their unit position on a patrol. As they parted one of the troopers hollered, "Stay Safe, Buddy" so the expression is still alive in the combat zone.

I can't even imagine the emotions the author went through while recalling his experiences. My thanks for him doing so.

Just finished and am emoting over it. It was good. It grabbed me pretty hard. Thank you for your great effort to put it together and get it out. It was clever and creative the way you did it. The general story was great. Many of the small asides caused me to think a lot about different things. I saw useful lessons there to be learned or remembered. I admire your talent, drive and your making and keeping friends. Thank you very much.

I emoted a great deal over this novel. It grabbed me pretty hard. I was in Korea at the same time as the author but did not know him.The general story was good and easy to read. Many of his "asides" caused me to think of lots of different things. I saw useful lessons to be remembered or learned. I hope many people read it.