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An Accidental Soldier: Memoirs of a Mestizo in Vietnam

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The VietNam Disaster
An honest book review
SHAMELESS LIAR
How can our entire Company not remember this
A wannabe without any honor what so ever

An Accidental Soldier: Memoirs of a Mestizo in Vietnam
Manny Garcia
Manufacturer: University of New Mexico Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0826330134

Book Description

“I was born in a log cabin just like Abe Lincoln, except our cabin was a rental.” Starting with this account of his humble origins, Manny Garcia, who describes himself as “a left-handed, rather contrary Mestizo-American,” has written a memoir that begins in late 1947 in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado and takes him to Utah and a stint as a Mormon and ultimately to Vietnam.

In late 1965, a cocky, naïve, alienated teen-ager, Garcia joined the army almost accidentally, enlisting for three years. At eighteen he became an Airborne Ranger, a combat infantryman with the crack First Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles. His book shows you the war from the point man position, up close and personal, at eye level.

“I returned to the body and checked for booby traps. I noticed the guerilla's small bare leathery feet. I rolled the body over and realized the corpse at my feet was an old woman. Her hair was pulled back and tied in a bun, like how my grandmother used to wear her own hair. This was my first kill. I killed a woman before I made love to one. I killed a woman before I was old enough to vote. I killed a woman before I bought my first car. I killed a woman and I was an Eagle Scout. I killed a woman while I was on probation to the Juvenile Court. I killed a woman before I knew she was a woman. I killed a woman while working for the United States Army in South Vietnam. I had killed before I had lived. The afternoon in the jungle was bright and hot. I stood there sweating, bewildered, dumfounded, and completely absorbed by the power.”—from An Accidental Soldier

“A valuable contribution to the growing list of Viet Nam narratives told from communities whose histories have yet to be fully recognized.”—Jorge Mariscal, University of California, San Diego

This is a forthright and piercing account of one soldier's participation in the war in Vietnam. Grounded in facts but still full of humor, it is a tale that follows a young man from Colorado through the horrors of war and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

The VietNam Disaster.......2007-05-04

I use this book in a university-level class and have Manny visit the class where the students have the opportunity to cross-examine him on the book and race relations in general. The students generally find the book useful, some saying it is the best book they have read. It is a hard read. Is it truthful? What actually did happen in Viet Nam during those absolutely horrible and useless times with so many lives on all sides thrown away? The Swift Boat fraggers made it clear that any criticism of the US forces in Viet Nam was unacceptable and as with many conservatives, any lie will suffice to stifle criticims of the military and their overbloated worship, What DID happen in Viet Nam? Memories are funny things. Many veterans have nightmares of their experiences in Viet Nam. Are these real memories? Maybe so and maybe not. Did they happen? Did they happen to Manny? I think they did happen and probably to Manny, or near him and they live in his memory like monsters. War is a terrible waste, but so many love it, so many worship it. So many equate military duty with patriotism. Any country that equates military service with patriotism is a danger to the whole world. Our arrogance keeps costing us our money, our lives, our reputation. If there is no other message in Manny's book, that is it. The US has taught the world so many lessons and has forgotten them all.

An honest book review.......2007-04-03

Regardless of it's literature categorization, this is a heartfelt, wonderfully written book, and it does it's purpose: it makes the reader consider war from all perspectives, and has you question the bases of ethnic conflict. Job well done.
Shut the hell up; we can honor the army and simultaneously criticize the institution of war. I feel like we should write a book review NOT ONLY about the author's integrity, but about the craftmanship behind the writing.
And again, job well done, Manny Garcia.

SHAMELESS LIAR.......2006-01-07

As the 1st Lieutenant who led Mr. Garcia's supposed platoon, 1967-68, I would like to point out that none of the incidents he describes, coincide with the experience of any other members of the platoon, or after-action reports of operations. In fact, no one, including myself, can remember having served on the line with him, and we were a close-knit group. It is a work of fiction, not the facts, and should be seen as such. For those unsung heroes of the 3rd platoon of B company, who really did bear the burden of some of the bloodiest battles of that war, it is shameful that this man is attempting to profit from his fictitous heroism. As has been documented in Stolen Valor, all men who served, wished to be seen as heroic and brave, and many who were not, later, falsely claimed to have to have been Audie Murphy. I think this phoney hero owes the "real" members of the 3rd platoon, an apology and should pull his book from the shelves. Hopefully Amazon will do it for him for perpetuating his false "non-fiction" DAVID BELDING, CAPTAIN,US ARMY RETIRED

How can our entire Company not remember this .......2006-01-06

I can honestly say that I rarely read any books. Being made aware of it through my 2nd Platoon Buddies from "B" Co. 2/502 Inf, 101st ABN. Div., it immediately got my undivided attention , because it was listed as "non-fiction". -- THAT WAS LIE #1. This book is just packed with 1/2 truths, innuendos, lies, & egotistical exaggerations, that IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY A person we would always refer to as a "R.E.M.F."
These characters usually secured a job in the rear area, listening to(& collecting) stories from THE REAL GRUNTS IN THE BOONIES, inserting themselves into stories years later, as if no one would ever be living to notice the LIES.
Well, mr."Rambo wanabe" manny garcia, MANY OF US ARE STILL ALIVE & here to tell those who read your phony stories, in a book they THOUGHT was "NON-FICTION" , "THEY WERE DUPED" !
One TRUTH , in your book, however, did point out that MANY , MANY, times we were far from up to full manpower strength. We DID HAVE TO combine platoons to get (close to) full manpower. In fact, on one occassion, one trooper you refer to as "Jay" Wunder( real name, Ray Wunder),from the 3rd Plt. was with our 2nd Platoon, when "The gooks in the wells" incident occured & Jimmy D. Hale (2nd Plt.) & 3rd Plt. Ray Wunder's name & the story was documented in our own "Screaming Eagle" Magazine. Many of us have this copy, & believe it or not mr. garcia, I have almost every ORIGINAL copy of every (S.E. Mag.)issue for the entire time The 101st ABN.Div. was in V.N.--- Thanks to a considerate, "REAL" 101st WW II HERO , Fred Patheiger, (now dec'd.). Well, isn't it amazing, with all of your "single-handed" attacks & heroic actions, -- I couldn't find your name written about -- EVEN ONCE!!
I only wish there were some legal action we ( REAL "B" Co. 2/502 V.N.Vets from 67'-68') could take against you calling this book "non-fiction",but you, "stating that" you are a lawyer, I'm sure you've done some of your "SLEAZY LAWYER CHECKING"& have that "covered".
We, from the 2nd Platoon, will be passing your book of trash, to each other, so don't expect very much $$$ from us !
Hoping to meet you someday, mr. garcia,
( ALONG WITH THOSE REAL HROES FROM "YOUR" 3rd Plt.)

Paul "JOE" Penkala
[...]

A wannabe without any honor what so ever.......2005-12-05

I first became aware of manny Garcia's book due to having served with the proud and noble 2/502 Strike Force Battalion. A number of men whom I had trained with back in the States were assigned to Bravo Company as I and others were assigned to Alpha and other company's within the battalion during part of the time frame Manny Garcia claimed to have committed all of his one man army exploits. Many of us who were fortunate enough to have survived our horrible year of duty while proudly serving in the 101st Airborne Division and our Country have managed to find each other and keep in touch thanks to the internet.
As you have become well aware of in recent months, this is the first time any of us, especially the great Bravo Company men have ever heard of this poor excuse for a soldier and wannabe. How can the University of New Mexico support and stand behind this poor excuse for a human being and claimed former soldier when it is rather apparent his book is obviously based upon lies, insults, fabrication and total fantasy. [...]
The paper is only worth cleaning one's bottom for he does nothing but insult everything we men who served in the 2/502 hold sacred, and that is loyalty to one's fellow brothers and comrades. Honor, loyalty, duty and trust were and are paramount to each and every one of us who fought and served beside one another. We still live by those rules to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. This Garcia gump wannabe honors no one including our Country.
I read his book as we 2/502 brothers are passing it around to one another so as not to put any more money into your worthless pockets. I had to put it down a number of times out of total disgust for his writing style and continuous disrespect he expressed for his fellow Americans be they soldiers, pilots or parents of dead soldiers.
We did not kill elephants, nor did we fire up all of our ammo before each re-supply as he stated. You have already heard from some of my other comrades who Garcia insulted and attempted to degrade that no one went on one man recon missions and no part of the 2/502 made a parachute jump into an NVA hospital. The list goes on and on. The man is a complete liar and the Rangers will back that fact as well as the National Archives in Silver Springs, Maryland which will show through records of no heroic exploits by this wannabe.
Come out, come out from your hiding place Manny Garcia and quite hiding behind your shameless excuse the military messed up your records. You are an embarrassment to the Mormon Church and to your people. Meet the news media and face their questions like a man since you were not one in Vietnam. You cannot continue to dishonor the 2/502 Battalion or the 101st because you are beneath contempt. You were not a man then, nor are you a man now.
Charles R. Gant DMOR
Governor 502nd Regiment 101st Airborne
Liaison Alpha Company 2/502 Strike Force Widow Makers

An accidental writer: Manny Garcia the author of An Accidental Soldier, Memoir of a Mestizo in Vietnam speaks about the war, his book and his career ...(Entrevista): An article from: Semana

Average customer rating:

An accidental writer: Manny Garcia the author of An Accidental Soldier, Memoir of a Mestizo in Vietnam speaks about the war, his book and his career ...(Entrevista): An article from: Semana

Manufacturer: Spanish Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008E824O
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Semana, published by Spanish Publications, Inc. on October 12, 2003. The length of the article is 1563 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: An accidental writer: Manny Garcia the author of An Accidental Soldier, Memoir of a Mestizo in Vietnam speaks about the war, his book and his career ...(Entrevista)
Publication: Semana (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 12, 2003
Publisher: Spanish Publications, Inc.
Volume: 9 Issue: 554 Page: S2(2)

Article Type: Entrevista

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