COYOTE JACK a Memoir by Jack Thomas

Reviewed by Charles E. Gibb, Ph.D. Book Reviewer for
the “Military Writers Society of America."
Book Title: COYOTE JACK by Jack Lyndon Thomas
ISBN 0-9659843-1-1
Publisher: LONDONJACK PUBLICATIONS, Houston Texas
PRICE; $28.95
Available on AMAZON.COM at a discount.
When I first
started reading this “Memoir” I thought “On no! Not
another autobiography about Vietnam.” I was wrong. Jack
goes into great detail to give you the unvarnished
account of his service as an Infantry Officer in
Vietnam.
Jack
attended OCS and Infantry schools, but he actually
leaned his skills in leadership early in life. His
father, a strong willed man had told his sons, "You
would be surprised how much you can get other folks to
do for you IF they admire you and love you.." In OCS his
conduct is so outstanding that they keep him there for
awhile after graduation to help train the next group of
OCS candidates..
In Vietnam, he listens, observes and gets to know his
men before going on combat missions. Through his
ability to listen to those more experienced in combat
than himself and an ability to quickly analysis a
situation, he doesn't; lead his men into traps like
officers do and get their men killed. He takes the
path less traveled.-- but through his efforts they
escape many ambushes. The troops want him as a leader
because his units have the least causalities. One day
while on point (leading the troops) he is asked by one
of his men to move to the middle of the line because his
men doesn't want to die. Usually the "Point Man" is the
first to take a round in a combat situation. He
receives two Bronze Star medals for his leadership in
combat. He refused the Purple Heart medal because he was
embarrassed that a shell fragment hit him in his
groin. .
Jack
was one of those rare officers who could tolerate combat
under the most trying of conditions. He was not afraid
to lead his men to dangerous situation because he had
learned his craft well.. . He said that had he missed
seeing war “I would have missed an incredible journey.”
I
highly recommend this book to all those who want to know
what war in Vietnam was really like. I served as a combat
officer in Vietnam and I enjoyed this book immensely.
FOUR STARS. |