Friday, September 7, 2012

The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty

January 20, 1968

We're going to move out while it's still dark, try to get a jump on them. Everybody's  packing as much ammo as they can carry. Most of us even have LAW's-light anti-tank assault weapons. The terrain's too rough for tanks, but we can use the LAW's to take out bunkers. If we need them. Grenades, bandoliers filled with magazines for our M-16s..., extra belts of M-60 ammo for the Machine guns, bayonets, Kabar knives.... but it doesn't even feel like boys with Toys this time - it feels like Men with Weapons. Nervous men, but men. If they want to take us on, we'll be ready. I hope. Last night I wrote letters to everyone in my family, just in case.

12 comments:

  1. Kurt,

    I'm interested in seeing what you think of this book. Do you find the Vietnam War-- or war in general-- an interesting topic for literature? Is your post an excerpt from the author's journal?

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  2. I do find the Vietnam War an interesting topic for literature. It is from the back cover of the book. so far this book seems to be an actual journal.

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    1. You can contact the guy in the book where he lives is in the back.

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  3. This in my mind is a great book, front to back.

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  4. I did not know that you can contact the guy, but is he still alive.

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  5. This book is starting to show the real way of war. As well as it is starting to get into showing how the soldiers felt about the war. The emotions in this book is starting to make me feel as I was there fighting along side these men. This book has gotten me to feel as if my friend has just died next to me. This book has almost got me to cry at times.

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  6. The story is starting to slow down. Almost all the main character friends are dead their is only four guys left. Even thought the story is getting slow the emotions between characters is getting more and more intense.

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  7. Kurt, Can you please tell me what page you're on? I think I'm behind in my Reading notes for you because of your absences. Thanks.

    I'm glad you like the emotions in the book; the author must be good at evoking the mood. Is there a lot of dialogue? I think that can make the action seem very real.

    Thanks,
    Missy

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  8. I am getting to the end of the book now. Patrick's friend got back from Medcharley at the main base after he got shot. That made Patrick feel better but you can now see what the strain of war has done to him. Patrick also goes on to talk about how he is now an main target for the VC because he now is carrying an M-60 instead of his M-16.

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  9. Patrick is now starting to talk about the up side of being in the war. He is now also talking about thing he enjoys over there. Things like how they make food and what they listen to for music. He talks about how music keeps the troops moral up. He also has started to talk about what they do for fun like sports.

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  10. I have now just finished this book. I found this book to be a vary good because it makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters. plus you get attached to the characters and I have to say the end is sad. I would recommend this book to any one who wants to read about the Vietnam war.

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