MWSA Book Review

Of Their Own Accord

Author:  Gary Dolan

Publisher:  Writers' Collective  

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

The quote right on the book cover says a lot about where the author is going to take the reader: “I’d follow Dolan into hell, and tell the devil to turn up the heat” (from fellow ranger Gary Norsworthy).  This book is loosely based on the true life exploits of the author and those he served with in Vietnam with his Ranger unit.  It is written as a novel and the story line carries lots of energy.  Although there are profanities in the printed descriptions of the action and the men; they are clearly there to enhance the story line and give an authentic feel to the story.  This may limit this book to a more mature audience (Certainly not recommended for children).

This book is an all meat and potatoes action book; but it also shows us a softer side through the loyalty and respect that these airborne soldiers had for each other.  That side of the story becomes the thread that holds this unit together through difficult situations and times.

Author Gary Dolan has a thriller that will satisfy those who love this genre of books. This book has heroes and villains and good guys and bad guys and with some it is hard to tell which. This book will give you a look within one of the most elite units of the war and into some of their covert operations. Someone once said to me in Nam back in 1967, “Welcome to the jungles of hell!" Well, this is that kind of story.