Reviews for Us Guys: the Army, the 60’s
Congrats on a great slice of life telling before Nam and after Nam. That point-of-view has never been expressed in books before in dealing with military memoirs. I read it in one sitting. Kudos for documenting this part of the VN experience that hardly ever gets told.
I really wish other veterans would follow suit in doing what you three gentlemen did. Not only does it fill-in a gap, but it also enriches the entire story of the four main characters. Thank you for re-directing the focus away from the war and turning it instead upon Marty, Tom, Don and yourself. Very smart, very insightful and very much needed.
I read it cover to cover !! Brought back many memories !! Again great book !!
I served in the US Army from November 1966 through October 1968 with a tour in Vietnam. “Us Guys: the Army, the 1960’s” was a great read. It rekindled memories long forgotten. The focus on specific incidents of the overall military experience with recollections of youthful days were nostalgic and at times humorous. The book was an easy, one sitting read and should be a must for anyone who served in the 1960’s.
Great book, John. A refreshing change and testament to the success and friendship and comradeship of Veterans!! Thanks
I loved the story. It took me back to my time in the army. I was at Phu Bai in Nam and the way you told the story, it seemed like it was just yesterday. A great story and well written!
Loved the way each had their own story and yet they were similar in many ways. It lightly told of young men being lifted from their lives and asked to do the unthinkable. The book was written in a way that was very easy to read and light-hearted.
I’m shocked at how well they recalled everything- enjoyed the book and glad someone has brought these memories back.
I started your book today, it’s great, the story of every young boy in the 60’s.
I loved the book, I have a beach house at St James Plantation and I could not put the book down. Job well done, my friend.
I finished your book last night. I don’t think I have ever read that many pages in one sitting before. It was most interesting. Very easy to read and I didn’t get lost once. I laughed a few times as well!
I have to admit that when I got home I started reading the book and was really impressed and kind of brought back a lot of memories of the neighborhood. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It was very interesting from front to back. Great job on the insights of how all of us felt back then and how we feel now. I too lost my girlfriend to another guy when I got home. She broke up with me while I was there believing I was marrying an Austrailian woman whom I met on R&R. My friends told her that and she believed them. It brought back a lot of memories and I wanted to thank you on a fine piece of writing. Thanks again and tell those other guys WELCOME HOME! I was with the 84th engineers company C outside of Qui Nhon near a little town called Phu Thai from Dec. 67 to Dec.68. Sometimes I had to travel to Phu Cat airbase to pick up potable water.
Great Book! I have read many books about the Vietnam War and it is nice to read one with no combat stories just the good memories of four long-time friends who lived through it. I would highly recommend reading it.
I loved this book. Non fiction. Pictures of the men who wrote it and it’s not about the war. It is about them and their friendship.
I served in the military for four years from 1998 to 2002 and this book gave me such flashbacks. It was a delightful read, though short, and really gave me an idea of the different things that all four men went through. Though we tend to forget, Vietnam was not a popular war and for a soldier to have to hide the fact that he is a soldier…Well. Although some chapters were short, I really got a feel for what each man experienced as he served his country. I rejoiced when they came home and I also thought about my friends that I left behind when I came back home. I think it’s great that you are able to reconnect with friends after so many years.
Following is from Vietnam Veterans of America magazine, June 2017
John Leone’s Us Guys: the Army, the 60’s is short, but well-written. Leone is a master of understatement, which serves to enhance his sharp wit. This nonfiction book is about four men who became friends fifty years ago after serving together in the Army: Leone, Martin Alexander, Tom Lovetere, and Don Garceau. They remain friends today.
Leone calls this a “scrapbook.” He says the stories in the book are not momentous, nor do they deal with calamities. They are about everyday things. There’s something poignant about everyday activities, though, when they are surrounded by war. The stories fasten on small transactions between different cultures in the war zone, memories, and experiences.
The four guys helped start the 187th Assault Helicopter Company, but were sent to different units when they arrived in Vietnam. Throughout the book, Leone talks about each man in individual chapters; there also are contributions written by each guy.
Leone has the ability to tell sharp, detailed narratives, most of which are funny. In the section about the Dominion of the Golden Dragon—the unofficial Navy award given to people on ships that cross the International Date Line—he writes: “To be sure, King Neptune was there with a beard looking astoundingly like a mop from the mess hall, as was Davy Jones, similarly regaled.” The rest of the story had me laughing out loud, as did the photo of the men and an official-looking crossing certificate.There are other photos of the guys, past and present, as well as images of helicopters, Vietnamese markets, and beaches.
Photos of Vietnamese coins and paper money at first appeared to be a yawn. But as I looked at them, I was transported to Vietnam. Handing a coin that has scalloped edges and exotic engravings to a person whose language you don’t know can last in the mind forever. Proust with coin, you might say.
Reviews for Memory Lane: the 60’s
Thank you John for being back many memories of growing up in Bellmawr. This is a must read for our generation who have been so busy we have forgot what fun we had as teenagers.
Wonderful book! Really took me back to those fun, uncomplicated days!
Aug 01, 2018 Mary Ellen rated it liked it
Our Town
This book was a hoot! Many thanks to John Leone for sharing his memories. I am a Triton graduate too, class of 1974. Lived in Bellmawr from 1956 to 1976. Great little town. Hope to see you on FaceBook, John.
John,
Loving your book. It’s a lot of fun reminiscing. I got into lifting weights at around 13 years old. My dad had a garage with an attic. My best buddy at the time, Rob (eventually our heavy weight on the Pennsauken High School wrestling team)and I combined our weights and “procured” others from the Jewish Community Center. My dad had some extra roof jacks (shaped like the # 4 upside down) that we nailed to the studs (that were 16” apart) built benches with 2x4s that he had as scraps and that was our bench press. We had to slide in under the bar to get into position looking up at the fiberglass insulation that we also “procured” to keep us warm in winter. Dad had a big pot belly stove down below that was good for sweating it out in the winter months. It was our “He man woman haters club”. We had a pin up poster that we taped to the pull down shade in the front window. We thought we were being sneaky rolling it up when he came up for a visit. But the shade was white and with the lights on, pretty obvious.
At age 15 we were hanging out at Weber’s Root beer Stand when a big muscular man came up to the counter and gobbled down two burgers in two gulps. He was Al Berger (Mr. America in 1941). He owned the gym across the street. Rob’s older brother was a member. Needless to say we were the first “kids” to be allowed to join. He taught us body building and power lifting. I spent many hours in that gym until I went away to college. Loved every minute of it.
Mosquito fog and Good Humor right afterward. A great combination. Moms and Dads just happily sat on their porches watching us ride our bikes into the fog…..and no helmets. 🙂
Val Vasilef would stop by sometimes. 10 sets of 2 reps adding 10 pounds each set got me to a 560 pound squat. Probably why I have an artificial hip now. I recruited a lot of my high school buddies to Al’s gym. Those kids drove Al Crazy! We’d all meet at McDonalds after our workouts and proceed to each 2-3 quarter pounders with cheese, fries and a shake and I just couldn’t get over 154 LBs. Took a lot of Hoffman’s Quick Weight Gain too. It should have been called Hoffman’s Quick Gas Gain!!
Going to work on my new boat. Have a great 4th of July. I’ll be back into that book in the am with my cup of tea.
Ref your book on Memeory Lane!!!!! It‘s wonderful!! I finished it up last night, had a bit of trouble reading your poem. I kept getting all weepy… Well done, John!!
With the Vietnam War only arriving near the end, the bulk of the book deals with such early sixties subjects as rock and roll and there are references to “Teen Angel,” “Under the Boardwalk,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” and “My Boyfriend’s Back.” That old standby, “Soldier Boy,” pops up on page 333.I recommend this book to those who don’t let anything about the 60s elude them.
I am just finishing the book,” Memory Lane the 60’s” by John Leone. Such a feel good book, love the memories, many of which i remember. Such an innocent sweet time. Love this book