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Hurricane Street
" Hurricane Street ...[is] another raw expose on the cost of war. The book, which he calls a prequel, drills deep into the 17-day drama of a 1974 sit-in and hunger strike staged by Kovic and a band of fellow wounded veterans who took the federal building on Wilshire Boulevard by storm...The book is an unflinching anti-war declaration, written in blood and the sweat of too many haunted nights by a Vietnam Marine Corps sergeant who later opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
-- Los Angeles Times "The author of Born on the Fourth of July (1976) recounts the brief 1974 movement he initiated to change how Veterans Affairs hospitals cared for wounded soldiers...The great strength of this book is that the author never minces words. With devastating candor, he memorializes a short-lived but important movement and the men who made it happen. Sobering reflections on past treatment of America's injured war veterans."
-- Kirkus Reviews "[A] compelling snapshot of early 1980s activism....Without social media or cell phones to boost the signal, it was Kovic's flair for the dramatic and ability to marshal reporters that turned the protest into a battle victory....Kovic's updates on the fates of his fellow veterans provide a memorable and bittersweet conclusion."
-- Publishers Weekly "The author of the bestseller Born on the Fourth of July writes an impassioned and timely memoir about the 1974 American Veterans Movement that will strike a chord with veterans and their families today."
-- Publishers Weekly , Top 10 Pick for Spring 2016 "Kovic, a Vietnam veteran paralyzed from the waist down and the author of the seminal war memoir Born on the Fourth of July (1976), looks back to the spring of 1974, when he led a two-week hunger strike in the Los Angeles office of U.S. Senator Alan Cranston . . . Kovic's personal tale is also a timely topical book as veterans' mental and physical health care remain woefully insufficient."
-- Booklist "Kovic has also penned a new book, Hurricane Street , that will be released on July 4th. The new book recounts how in 1974, the author and other injured veterans staged a sit-in and hunger strike to demand better treatment for vets."
-- Rolling Stone "Renowned antiwar activist Kovic, a Vietnam veteran, delivers a powerful memoir detailing his organization of the American Veterans Movement (AVM) during the mid-1970s . . . This chronicle will resonate with those interested in the all-too-human effects of war and the challenges faced by our wounded warriors."
-- Library Journal "Forty years after the release of Born on the Fourth of July , the 1976 memoir that became the 1989 Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Cruise, author Ron Kovic gives us Hurricane Street , a memoir about his 1974 movement to change the way Veterans Affairs hospitals cared for wounded soldiers."
-- Parade In the spring of 1974, as the last American troops were being pulled out of Vietnam, Ron Kovic and a small group of other severely injured veterans in a California VA hospital launched the American Veterans Movement. In a phenomenal feat of political organizing, Kovic corralled his fellow AVM members into staging a sit-in, and then a hunger strike, in the Los Angeles office of Senator Alan Cranston, demanding better treatment of injured and disabled veterans. This was a short-lived and chaotic but ultimately successful movement to improve the deplorable conditions in VA hospitals across the country. Hurricane Street is their story--one that resonates deeply today--told
-- Los Angeles Times "The author of Born on the Fourth of July (1976) recounts the brief 1974 movement he initiated to change how Veterans Affairs hospitals cared for wounded soldiers...The great strength of this book is that the author never minces words. With devastating candor, he memorializes a short-lived but important movement and the men who made it happen. Sobering reflections on past treatment of America's injured war veterans."
-- Kirkus Reviews "[A] compelling snapshot of early 1980s activism....Without social media or cell phones to boost the signal, it was Kovic's flair for the dramatic and ability to marshal reporters that turned the protest into a battle victory....Kovic's updates on the fates of his fellow veterans provide a memorable and bittersweet conclusion."
-- Publishers Weekly "The author of the bestseller Born on the Fourth of July writes an impassioned and timely memoir about the 1974 American Veterans Movement that will strike a chord with veterans and their families today."
-- Publishers Weekly , Top 10 Pick for Spring 2016 "Kovic, a Vietnam veteran paralyzed from the waist down and the author of the seminal war memoir Born on the Fourth of July (1976), looks back to the spring of 1974, when he led a two-week hunger strike in the Los Angeles office of U.S. Senator Alan Cranston . . . Kovic's personal tale is also a timely topical book as veterans' mental and physical health care remain woefully insufficient."
-- Booklist "Kovic has also penned a new book, Hurricane Street , that will be released on July 4th. The new book recounts how in 1974, the author and other injured veterans staged a sit-in and hunger strike to demand better treatment for vets."
-- Rolling Stone "Renowned antiwar activist Kovic, a Vietnam veteran, delivers a powerful memoir detailing his organization of the American Veterans Movement (AVM) during the mid-1970s . . . This chronicle will resonate with those interested in the all-too-human effects of war and the challenges faced by our wounded warriors."
-- Library Journal "Forty years after the release of Born on the Fourth of July , the 1976 memoir that became the 1989 Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Cruise, author Ron Kovic gives us Hurricane Street , a memoir about his 1974 movement to change the way Veterans Affairs hospitals cared for wounded soldiers."
-- Parade In the spring of 1974, as the last American troops were being pulled out of Vietnam, Ron Kovic and a small group of other severely injured veterans in a California VA hospital launched the American Veterans Movement. In a phenomenal feat of political organizing, Kovic corralled his fellow AVM members into staging a sit-in, and then a hunger strike, in the Los Angeles office of Senator Alan Cranston, demanding better treatment of injured and disabled veterans. This was a short-lived and chaotic but ultimately successful movement to improve the deplorable conditions in VA hospitals across the country. Hurricane Street is their story--one that resonates deeply today--told
224 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2016
About the author
Ron Kovic
10 books53 followersRon Kovic served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War and wrote Born on the Fourth of July based on his experiences as a Marine and his subsequent activism.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 6, 2016
When I review a memoir of any sort, I do my best to disconnect the writing quality from the person and his/her story. As I sit here contemplating my rating for this book. I'm finding that separation is an impossibility. The writing style is fine, though not overly compelling. But the story is compelling, as is the author. And I've realized that, with this book, the writing quality is secondary to the story told.
Ron Kovic lived through a tumultuous time in our history. He was at the forefront of the drive for change in a system so broken that winning the fight for any sort of change at all must have seemed a monumental challenge. Kovic and the men he teams up with are all war-damaged, still adjusting to their new bodies and the new limitations. Yet, they are not about to lie back and give up. They don't wallow; they fight. We see this all through Ron Kovic's eyes.
What must it be like for a paralyzed war veteran to be neglected and abused in the very hospital designed to nurture him? Ron Kovic will show you exactly what that was like. His treatment as a disabled war veteran, and the treatment so many of our veteran's still endure, is shameful.
Ron Kovic's strength of spirit is inspiring. I admire his resilience and persistence. His story is a part of our history that we all need to see through his eyes.
Ron Kovic lived through a tumultuous time in our history. He was at the forefront of the drive for change in a system so broken that winning the fight for any sort of change at all must have seemed a monumental challenge. Kovic and the men he teams up with are all war-damaged, still adjusting to their new bodies and the new limitations. Yet, they are not about to lie back and give up. They don't wallow; they fight. We see this all through Ron Kovic's eyes.
What must it be like for a paralyzed war veteran to be neglected and abused in the very hospital designed to nurture him? Ron Kovic will show you exactly what that was like. His treatment as a disabled war veteran, and the treatment so many of our veteran's still endure, is shameful.
Ron Kovic's strength of spirit is inspiring. I admire his resilience and persistence. His story is a part of our history that we all need to see through his eyes.
March 5, 2017
Another easy-read from Ron Kovic, author of "Born on the Fourth of July." This book offers an in-depth look at the real struggle of the disabled Veterans who returned from Vietnam. Hopefully, the situation has improved as the wounded continue to return from Afghanistan & Iraq. I pray for a world where there are no more wars & no more wounded. In the meantime, reading this book helps one to develop a new understanding of the challenges, mental & physical, faced by our wounded Veterans.
September 23, 2016
An excellent first person account from a paralyzed Vietnam veteran and the struggle to not only to deal with injury/pain/psychological stress, but also to receive proper, respectful care from the VA. Inspiring and heartbreaking all at once.
August 1, 2016
This book brought attention to Veterans fighting for our country not receiving proper care. I really enjoyed reading it as it is well written.
July 14, 2016
Powerful, introspective, and honest. Mr. Kovic's humanity and the humanity of those he calls "brothers" is touching and self evident in this book.
December 5, 2019
No words.
August 2, 2022
Emotionally intense and sad book that in many ways is better than Ron's first "Born on the 4th of July". Ron developed his writing skills. An important book to read to learn about the reality of War and the scam of it all. What did all these Combat vets lose the majority of their bodies for? For what? The truly sad part is nothing has been learned from Ron's experience and documentation that dates back to 1974 when he began being an Activist and wrote "Born on the 4th of July". In both books updated editions Ron writes about seeing Iraqi war vets in the VA who gave up most their bodies and for what? Despite the VA conditions have significantly improved since 1974 these combat Vets are broken men for truly nothing (but enriching Wall St, Military Industrial Complex and Politicians. Ron doesn't go into that but the reader should connect the dots).
It's deplorable how the military industrial complex uses combat soldiers to enrich themselves and the government did so little for the veterans that Ron had no choice but to become an important Activist. Ron started his (now it would be called an NGO) "AVM American Veterans Movement." Ron was rightfully complaining of the vile conditions the injured Vets were subjected to. Can you imagine losing 3/4 of your body forever changing your life and then having to endure torture from substandard VA hospital conditions, especially in the 1960s and '70s.
Military Industrial Complex (government, military contractors, Pentagon, Wall St) use combat Marines and Soldier to enrich themselves then toss them aside and then treat them like vermin when they return from war. This should be required reading in school (NOT CRT!). I'm a Marine and every person going into the army or Marines should read this! Men like Ron Kovic gave up their bodies (becoming BROKEN MEN) and for what?
It's inspirational what Ron has done. Ron Kovic's resiliency is incomprehensible bc he never gives up and pushes on and on living each day. Few men, myself included, could do this.
People can be diabolical. American Veteran's Movement that Ron created was undermined by his own associates. Abysmal and weird how this often occurs. A founder of something gets his own creation stolen from him by his Judases by greed and jealousy. Same thing happened to Steve Jobs at Apple. On a different note a takeaway I have is how organizations are formed and the Brain Pioneer behind the organization can be undermined by jealous people. People have agreed and are motivated and power by jealousy and power (even broken men in wheelchairs). Folly of human nature (which is why communism will ALWAYS FAIL bc the big lie communism to the simpleton masses is Utopia (that liberal low IQ idiots want to believe. Communism doesn't acknowledge or address human nature! Greed, jealousy, thirst for power will always persist (as it did by Ron's associates proving this). I suppose that'll never changes unfortunately.
Very sad indeed that even people in that condition (permanently disabled) still had evil emotions superseding the sublime that they stabbed Ron in the back. The book's ending was very sad (the saddest book ending I ever read).
It's deplorable how the military industrial complex uses combat soldiers to enrich themselves and the government did so little for the veterans that Ron had no choice but to become an important Activist. Ron started his (now it would be called an NGO) "AVM American Veterans Movement." Ron was rightfully complaining of the vile conditions the injured Vets were subjected to. Can you imagine losing 3/4 of your body forever changing your life and then having to endure torture from substandard VA hospital conditions, especially in the 1960s and '70s.
Military Industrial Complex (government, military contractors, Pentagon, Wall St) use combat Marines and Soldier to enrich themselves then toss them aside and then treat them like vermin when they return from war. This should be required reading in school (NOT CRT!). I'm a Marine and every person going into the army or Marines should read this! Men like Ron Kovic gave up their bodies (becoming BROKEN MEN) and for what?
It's inspirational what Ron has done. Ron Kovic's resiliency is incomprehensible bc he never gives up and pushes on and on living each day. Few men, myself included, could do this.
People can be diabolical. American Veteran's Movement that Ron created was undermined by his own associates. Abysmal and weird how this often occurs. A founder of something gets his own creation stolen from him by his Judases by greed and jealousy. Same thing happened to Steve Jobs at Apple. On a different note a takeaway I have is how organizations are formed and the Brain Pioneer behind the organization can be undermined by jealous people. People have agreed and are motivated and power by jealousy and power (even broken men in wheelchairs). Folly of human nature (which is why communism will ALWAYS FAIL bc the big lie communism to the simpleton masses is Utopia (that liberal low IQ idiots want to believe. Communism doesn't acknowledge or address human nature! Greed, jealousy, thirst for power will always persist (as it did by Ron's associates proving this). I suppose that'll never changes unfortunately.
Very sad indeed that even people in that condition (permanently disabled) still had evil emotions superseding the sublime that they stabbed Ron in the back. The book's ending was very sad (the saddest book ending I ever read).
July 31, 2016
a quick read-- but about difficult times. Seems so long ago that Vietnam was raging and soldiers were coming home in pieces, in boxes, and the reasons and ends for the war were not in sight. Deja vu, anyone? This book, the second by Kovic ("Born on the Fourth of July"), describes his attempts to improve care especially for spinal cord injured veterans, by organizing protests and strikes. Got through it but the memories were very very sad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews