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The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles: Forged in Fire and Blood by [Angel Giacomo]

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Angel Giacomo
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The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles: Forged in Fire and Blood Kindle Edition

by Angel Giacomo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings
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  1. Part of series
    The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles
  2. Print length
    183 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 12, 2021
  6. File size
    2600 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Readers' Favorite

Five Stars

Readers' Favorite Award - Rated Five Stars - Reviewed on 04/01/22 by Tom Gauthier for Readers' Favorite.

Tom Gauthier states, "As a veteran, trained by the very generation of soldiers pictured in this story, I could feel, smell, and taste everything Giacomo wrote. My very real bias came from the fact that I served in Combat Intelligence and my "final examination exercise" in school was the simulation of manning the CP of a unit about to come under attack by the Communist Chinese in Seoul, Korea, receiving the same reports from the field in the same sequence over a twenty-four-hour period. Though I missed MacKenzie's war by six years, Angel Giacomo delivered memories that took me back sixty-four years. Giacomo's Forged in Fire and Blood is militarily correct, humanly sensitive, skillfully written, and pure pleasure for this old veteran to read. My recommendation of his work could not be higher."

Editorial Reviews

Review

 
"Swell job on this. You are helping me re-live part of my own life. I'm so impressed with your professional commitment. Book is fab. Right on target and very cool. I'm beginning to think that you went to West Point instead of me. You may have a real seller on your hands here. I couldn't put it down. " -- Dr. Russell W. Ramsey, Lt. Colonel - U.S. Army (retired) - USMA 1957 - Vietnam - 8th Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division - 1965/66

Military Writers Society of America Review
The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles: Forged in Fire and Blood by Angel Giacomo is a gripping novel about seventeen-year-old Jackson MacKenzie, raised in a military family, who enlists in the Army in December 1951. However, the story begins on April 1, 1985, when Jackson is working on his godfather's farm. Without giving away a crucial part of the drama, Jackson is severely injured and in his struggle for survival, has a flashback to that day in 1951 and the succeeding years of his life.

Readers will follow the resilient young man through his tour of duty in Korea, where he exhibits extraordinary intelligence and the ability to strategize and lead others. Jackson garners the attention of his superior officers, who recognize his unique talents and leadership abilities. Despite being wounded in combat and suffering deep personal losses, MacKenzie grows in maturity beyond his chronological years. He achieves rank increases as quickly as he qualifies for them and ultimately an appointment to West Point, one of his ultimate goals. What he faces at West Point is, in some aspects, similar to what he experienced in the army, except for the vindictive hazing. Jackson handles the power-crazed retaliation perpetrated against him with the same regimental bearing and steadfastness typical of great leaders.

In the words of General Douglas MacArthur, "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent."

Author Giacomo has the talent to insert the reader onto the battlefield and into the heart and mind of a young man as he faces unique challenges throughout his life both in service to his country and in civilian life. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book.
Review by Nancy Panko (February 2022)
 
Reviewed by Tom Gauthier for Readers' Favorite
Opening with the now-retired military protagonist, Jackson Joseph MacKenzie, suffering from a potentially deadly snakebite, Forged in Fire and Blood is a flashback to his extraordinary career, from the teenage soldier in combat in Korea to his appointment to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. We meet MacKenzie's entire family, also serving and who are mostly senior officers. Angel Giacomo has written a story that delightfully comes at you like drinking water from a fire hose. Picture Audie Murphy partnered with Forrest Gump in a staccato-paced delivery of action, wounds, decorations, return to action, and an improbable but plausible series of interactions with commanders at high levels. That being said, it is not a comic book. Forged in Fire and Blood is a no-holds-barred crawl through the muck of Korean War combat, overlaid with the coming-of-age of young Jackson, delivered in shocking event after shocking event. We follow the struggles and decisions of this boy who builds his own identity under the loving shadow of heroic parents and relatives.

Forged in Fire and Blood is a veteran's book, a soldier's book, delivered at a pace reflective of Drill Sergeant's command or battlefield maneuver orders. Succinct, no wasted words or emotions. Angel Giacomo tells this story with the pulsating cadence of a marching unit, mixing the action with the mental struggles of a boy forced into manhood as the title foretells. Giacomo does not waste words on long descriptions of characters or detailed technical explanations, yet never leaves you in the dark as to who they are or what's being used. This is a full-out attack on the action, the wounds, the decorations, and each time they return to action. The interactions of young MacKenzie with commanders at high levels seem improbable from a veteran's point of view, but fully plausible in the context written.

As a veteran, trained by the very generation of soldiers pictured in this story, I could feel, smell, and taste everything Giacomo wrote. My very real bias came from the fact that I served in Combat Intelligence and my "final examination exercise" in school was the simulation of manning the CP of a unit about to come under attack by the Communist Chinese in Seoul, Korea, receiving the same reports from the field in the same sequence over a twenty-four-hour period. Though I missed MacKenzie's war by six years, Angel Giacomo delivered memories that took me back sixty-four years. Giacomo's Forged in Fire and Blood is militarily correct, humanly sensitive, skillfully written, and pure pleasure for this old veteran to read. My recommendation of his work could not be higher.

From the Author

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." - General Douglas MacArthur

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B094XBM6NX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ 1st Battalion Publishing (May 12, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2600 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 183 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

About the author

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Angel Giacomo

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After a successful career in law enforcement as a field officer, explosives detection K-9 handler, and fatality traffic investigator, Angel Giacomo gravitated into writing. She has a degree in Political Science and History. A big believer in helping veterans, Angel supports a number of veteran organizations. Her first book, a military thriller, The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles: In the Eye of the Storm was published in 2020.

Angel has had many different careers. Her life has been a learning experience of over 50 years. Examples of her experience range from handling a bomb dog, loading cargo planes, sitting at a computer entering data, playing the trombone, washing dishes at a restaurant, and sacking groceries.

She has attended FEMA classes in Terrorism, Suicide bombers, and Nuclear/Biological, handled explosives, and shot different weapons from the M1 Garand to the AR-15, and many different pistols.

A jack of many trades and master of none. Or maybe a few.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
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Top reviews from the United States

Martin S Lesher
5.0 out of 5 stars a life to live
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 15, 2022
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Vicki Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 27, 2022
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Ready Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars A serious novel with a satisfying ending
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 29, 2022
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TheUptownWriter
5.0 out of 5 stars Just got done, excellent
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 5, 2022
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TheUptownWriter
5.0 out of 5 stars Just got done, excellent
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 5, 2022
My favorite parts of this book had to do with Jackson MacKenzie's time with his horses--and even going on to the Olympics! The description of his early military service plus time at West Point all rang true. The author spends time verifying facts and making this story as true to real life as possible. The book gives a glimpse into military culture that allows someone from the outside to understand it more fully. Some of the battle scenes (Korea) were relatively graphic so be forewarned but if you've ever watched the nightly news or some popular movies you can handle it.
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Eli Britt
5.0 out of 5 stars Be Prepared
Reviewed in Italy 🇮🇹 on May 16, 2021
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