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Too Young To Die: Memories of Tommy and the Vietnam War
Too Young to Die is a true personal story about a very close friendship that developed in the midst of the love, loyalty, sacrifice, horror, deceit, greed, and governmental excess that was the Vietnam War. It is an autobiographical sketch of one very unlikely young Jewish man, bonded to a man who was 10 years his senior by their partnership as a sniper team. In a very introspective, transparent, and often humorous way, the author recounts their harrowing experiences on dangerous missions throughout the theater of war in Vietnam and Laos. They were essentially outsiders in the 5th Special Forces unit to which they were assigned. Nonetheless they tried to honor themselves and their country by doing their duty despite the dangerous and uncomfortable wartime jungle environment with which they coped. This difficulty was eclipsed only by the military administrative incompetence that seemed to work to facilitate their demise before they even started. But more importantly, it is also the story about the author’s survivor’s grief and the guilt he bore in the aftermath of that ill-fated war that cost the lives of millions of people; his cherished partner being one of them. It was a war, like any other war, that produced yet another generation of military men and women who will forever be haunted and tormented by the very horrors they so courageously survived.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2018
125 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 18, 2019
Vietnam war biography
Good book, strange approach to getting into Vietnam as a sniper. Many veterans would question the idea of a guy in a white suit recruiting some kid with no prior military experience and training him in some very elite specialized schools. The book is very informative and I will leave it at that.
Good book, strange approach to getting into Vietnam as a sniper. Many veterans would question the idea of a guy in a white suit recruiting some kid with no prior military experience and training him in some very elite specialized schools. The book is very informative and I will leave it at that.
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April 29, 2019MWSA Review
LTC Mark Mayerstein gives the reader a realistic and historical look back at his unit and his own personal experiences during the Vietnam War. His memoir is written in a comfortable style which allows the reader to become a virtual participant in what he faced when he was much younger.
Lots of emotions are shared as he reflects on friends he lost and battles he was a participant in. This is definitely a personal journey through some very turbulent times in our nation's military history.
The book is well worth reading and sharing with military veterans so they can grasp what others have done and what sacrifices were made.
I enjoyed and felt it has something special to offer those who love to read the military genre. History and emotion told from the heart!
Review by Bill McDonald (April 2019)
LTC Mark Mayerstein gives the reader a realistic and historical look back at his unit and his own personal experiences during the Vietnam War. His memoir is written in a comfortable style which allows the reader to become a virtual participant in what he faced when he was much younger.
Lots of emotions are shared as he reflects on friends he lost and battles he was a participant in. This is definitely a personal journey through some very turbulent times in our nation's military history.
The book is well worth reading and sharing with military veterans so they can grasp what others have done and what sacrifices were made.
I enjoyed and felt it has something special to offer those who love to read the military genre. History and emotion told from the heart!
Review by Bill McDonald (April 2019)
October 23, 2018
Excellent book
I did not know what to expect when I started this book. But after I got further into it the better it got. It brought me to tears as I am a Vietnam veteran. I can understand how hard it must have been to relive that war. It is hard for me but it never ever goes away.
Thank you for writing this book. It is the best book about Vietnam I have ever read. May God bless you.
I did not know what to expect when I started this book. But after I got further into it the better it got. It brought me to tears as I am a Vietnam veteran. I can understand how hard it must have been to relive that war. It is hard for me but it never ever goes away.
Thank you for writing this book. It is the best book about Vietnam I have ever read. May God bless you.
September 8, 2018
Jack
Mark Mayerson is a man whom I would gladly drink Jack Daniels with...I could have worked with him. He would have welcomed me in his foxhole. This read is a particularly good one and I strongly recommend the book. And yes, men do cry. Thanks Mark, and God speed.
Mark Mayerson is a man whom I would gladly drink Jack Daniels with...I could have worked with him. He would have welcomed me in his foxhole. This read is a particularly good one and I strongly recommend the book. And yes, men do cry. Thanks Mark, and God speed.
December 10, 2018
Good Reed. Very accurate of conditions in Vietnam. Only the lucky survived.
Many survived that wouldn't have do what these brave men did. Americans should be proud of these men and should not have demonstrated against the war that the veteran had no choice in.
Many survived that wouldn't have do what these brave men did. Americans should be proud of these men and should not have demonstrated against the war that the veteran had no choice in.
February 9, 2019
An Amazing Recounting Of One Mans War.
This book reads like a novel but isn't one. It's the unvarnished truth and the story of a sniper team in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. This book will inspire you and sadden you but the whole time it will hold your interest.
This book reads like a novel but isn't one. It's the unvarnished truth and the story of a sniper team in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. This book will inspire you and sadden you but the whole time it will hold your interest.
March 3, 2019
A great n realistic personal story., Although I disagree with Trump. Anyway an engrossing n realistict story
Another point of view from a veteran with a different type of experience, doesn't matter, in d end everyone was profoundly affected.
Another point of view from a veteran with a different type of experience, doesn't matter, in d end everyone was profoundly affected.
October 11, 2018
Glad he found Christ
Very riveting book. Great sense of humor. Author cracked me up on numerous occasions. As a grand father I get his take on his grandkids!
Very riveting book. Great sense of humor. Author cracked me up on numerous occasions. As a grand father I get his take on his grandkids!
December 24, 2018
Wow what a book so detailed about his life before and during Nam and after life at home. Thanks for writting this book and all the pain involved!!!!
December 28, 2018
Excellent story of a Nam i never knew
Never heard of this type of operation. It was extremely interesting and from my experience accurate details.
Welcome home brothers.
Never heard of this type of operation. It was extremely interesting and from my experience accurate details.
Welcome home brothers.
January 9, 2019
Okay
Not very good. I would not recommend it. Hiring civilian snipers in the war seems strange to me. Move on
Not very good. I would not recommend it. Hiring civilian snipers in the war seems strange to me. Move on
January 12, 2019
Quite Full of His self
The author is a Red neck Robot! One-sided drivel, don't waste your time! This guy would give his grandmother a ticket for jaywalking!
The author is a Red neck Robot! One-sided drivel, don't waste your time! This guy would give his grandmother a ticket for jaywalking!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews