Very Crazy, G.I.!: Strange but True Stories of the Vietnam War [Mass Market Paperback]

Kregg P. Jorgenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2001

AMERICAN BOYS AT WAR IN VIETNAM--AND INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS YOU WON'T FIND IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

In this compelling, highly unusual collection of amazing but true stories, U.S. soldiers reveal fantastic, almost unbelievable events that occurred in places ranging from the deadly Central Highlands to the Cong-infested Mekong Delta.

"Finders Keepers" became the sacred byword for one exhausted recon team who stumbled upon a fortune worth more than $500,000--and managed, with a little American ingenuity, to relocate the bounty to the States. Jorgenson also chronicles Marine Sergeant James Henderson's incredible journey back from the dead, shares a surreal chopper rescue, and recounts some heart-stopping details of the life--and death--of one of America's greatest unsung heroes, a soldier who won more medals than Audie Murphy and Sergeant York.

Whether occurring in the bloody, fiery chaos of sudden ambushes or during the endless nights of silent, gnawing menace spent behind enemy lines, these stories of war are truly beaucoup dinky dau . . . and ultimately unforgettable.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

AMERICAN BOYS AT WAR IN VIETNAM--AND INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS YOU WON'T FIND IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

In this compelling, highly unusual collection of amazing but true stories, U.S. soldiers reveal fantastic, almost unbelievable events that occurred in places ranging from the deadly Central Highlands to the Cong-infested Mekong Delta.

"Finders Keepers" became the sacred byword for one exhausted recon team who stumbled upon a fortune worth more than $500,000--and managed, with a little American ingenuity, to relocate the bounty to the States. Jorgenson also chronicles Marine Sergeant James Henderson's incredible journey back from the dead, shares a surreal chopper rescue, and recounts some heart-stopping details of the life--and death--of one of America's greatest unsung heroes, a soldier who won more medals than Audie Murphy and Sergeant York.

Whether occurring in the bloody, fiery chaos of sudden ambushes or during the endless nights of silent, gnawing menace spent behind enemy lines, these stories of war are truly beaucoup dinky dau . . . and ultimately unforgettable.

About the Author

Kregg P.J. Jorgenson spent seven years in the U.S. Army; three as an infantryman, four as a journalist. After surviving a number of missions as an LRRP with Hotel Company, 75th Infantry (Airborne), Jorgenson transferred to Alpha (AKA Apache) Troop, 1st of the 9th Air Cavalry unit, where he walked point for its reaction force, the Blues. He has the singular distinction of having been shot while on a patrol that was mounted to show TV journalist Richard Threlkeld what the "real war" was like, then being interviewed by Threlkeld as he was evacuated. He is also the author of Acceptable Loss: An Infantry Soldier's Perspective and MIA Rescue: LRRPs in Cambodia.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 229 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804115982
• ISBN-13: 978-0804115988
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.7 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Vietnam War
  • #62 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > World > General
  • #85 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > General

More About the Author

Kregg P.J. Jorgenson is a former combat veteran, K-9 officer, and Mixed Martial Artist. His book: Stalking the Dragon- 10th Anniversary Edition, received the 2010 Reader Views Literary Award for humor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very funny book about the vietnam war, February 27, 2004

By 

Anders Kjær - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Crazy, G.I.!: Strange but True Stories of the Vietnam War (Mass Market Paperback)

Admittedly, some of the stories contained in "Very Crazy G.I." are strange, some even incredible. But the whole collection of short stories almost oozes red dust and dense jungle. Sometimes touching on LRRP and Special Forces themes, at other times delving into pure myth. Make no mistake: This book is hysterically funny, from a military advisor teams field trip with reluctant ARVN troops, to the story about an R&R trip to Thailand. Spanning most of the war and a wide variety of themes, it's a smashing read! As diverse in origin as the subtitle: Beaucoup dien cai dau.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SE Asia Stranger Than Fiction, March 15, 2001

By 

Mark Harju (Everett, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Crazy, G.I.!: Strange but True Stories of the Vietnam War (Mass Market Paperback)

Every vet has "war stories" to tell, and Kregg has put together a fine collection of unique first-person experiences from Vietnam. Reading this book brings to the reader a full spectrum of emotions as Jorgenson shares some truly unique narratives from that conflict. Some of the stories are hysterically funny, some are heartbreaking , and a couple are downright scary.

It's a good read, and I'm looking forward to the next volume.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Book from Jorgenson, January 3, 2010

By 

Joseph Crowson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Very Crazy, G.I.!: Strange but True Stories of the Vietnam War (Mass Market Paperback)

Jorgenson has put out several great pieces of literature about the Vietnam War and this is another one to add to his list. Although not action-packed on every page, it is full of interesting tid-bits about the war that are humerous and comical. A must read for 'Nam Fan's.