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Showing posts from October, 2024

Bravery Under Fire

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I Walked with Heroes, the book authored by Jerry Guzzetta isn’t just a stack of tales and anecdotes that resemble any movie scene, rather it is a great storytelling masterpiece that outlines the sacrifices military personnel make, and the grit they show once they step foot on the battlefield. We’ll look into the segment where one of those brave men covered in the book is highlighted. The resilient story of Sergeant Gary M. Rose, who portrayed extraordinary selflessness to ensure that his comrade is protected from the enemy’s outburst of gunshots, and other destructive weapon, risking his life to safeguard others. Sergeant Rose went deep into the enemy territory to ensure the safety of his fellow soldiers, which in itself is an act of bravery, but what adds another layer of great resilience, and courage is the wounds he had caught due to the attacks, and despite those wounds causing him intense ache and pain, he continued on his way to rescue his camaraderie, travelling as long as 5...

Honoring Roy P. Benavidez

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  The book I Walked with Heroes pays tribute the valiant soldiers, and his former comrades in the Vietnam War. The segment speaks of the hero, Roy P. Benavidez, and his extraordinary courage on May 2, 1968, during a critical mission in Vietnam is a profound reminder of the selflessness embodied by those in uniform. Benavidez’s actions not only saved lives but also exemplified the indomitable spirit of a soldier dedicated to his comrades. When faced with overwhelming odds, Benavidez didn’t hesitate. He took it upon himself to assist a beleaguered Special Forces team, exposing himself to intense enemy fire to bring his fellow soldiers to safety. His unwavering determination and leadership transformed a dire situation into a tale of heroism, proving that true valor often emerges in the darkest moments. This narrative extends beyond a single act of bravery; it encapsulates the essence of what it means to serve. In the realm of Special Forces, heroism is often defined not by persona...

A Legacy of Sacrifice in I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes, written by Jerry Guzzetta explains the details and scenarios of Vietnam war. A conflict where chaos reigns and bravery shines. He particularly covers the story of the Hatchet Force, that emerges as a testament to human spirit and camaraderie. The upsetting mission detailed in this segment of the book highlights the harsh truth faced by soldiers during the conflict, outlining the sacrifices made by those who were present. Amidst all odds, a dedicated Australian Canberra pilot disobeyed the orders, and crossed into dangerous to provide crucial air support. This act of courage highlights the bonds that was formed between allied forces, showcasing a profound commitment to saving lives, even at the risk of their own. The author Jerry Guzzetta doesn’t shy away from the brutal truths of war. Sgt. Jamison, a medic driven by compassion, ventures into enemy fire to assist a wounded counterpart, only to be struck down in a moment that points out the sacrif...

The Hero from School I Walked with Heroes

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  Jerry A. Guzzetta, the author of the book I Walked with Heroes pens the story of the American soldiers who were present during the Vietnam War. The book presents a perspective which is rather hidden generally, and the author aims to bring light to the experiences he and others witnessed during the conflict. The book, and this section specifically is a dedicated to all the heroes Guzzetta shared the battleground with, acknowledging their resilience, bravery, and patriotism for the country. This story is about a warrior, a friend and a patriot who remains very close to the heart of the author even today. The inspiring life of Larry Mootheart. As the author describes, Mootheart and him were in the same school, and the former, was a sort of bully who used to push around other kids for fun. Guzzetta shared an incident where Mootheart jumped the line, passing one of his friends. This small incident made Guzzetta confront Mootheart on the way home from school. They both lived three bl...

The R.O.N Bar in I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes , written by Jerry A. Guzzetta is an intriguing tale about the life of soldiers the infamous Vietnam War. Being a veteran himself, the author tries to present his perspective on the conflict that differs the general narrative told by media, which often glorifies the war instead of portraying the real, horrific side of it. The book portrays the perfect picture on the conflict, and its happenings in details. This particular set piece in the book is based on the famous R.O.N Bar, which was connected to the two-men room of the author. The bar is used as a gathering, and a refugee place for the soldiers, and described to be rough and ragged. This bar carries great significance in the context of the story, and serves as the unofficial headquarter of brotherhood for them. The soldiers in the Vietnam War would often get together for a drink, have fun, and release their stress at the bar. The bar had importance for the author specifically as well, because...

Operation Tailwind: I Walked with Heroes

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  In the midst of an intense Vietnam War, an important mission conducted by the U.S military, the Operation Tailwind unfolded. The operation sparked a debate and ignited the controversy for decades. In this section of the book I Walked with Heroes, the author Jerry A. Guzzetta takes us deep into the experiences of the operations, and how Michael E. Hagen, and the author himself found their paths crossing in the chaos of war. The segment begins with a flashback into the high school days, where Hagen and Guzzetta were just fellows, and never even thought that they’d cross paths during a war outside the country. The book gets back to September 11, 1970, where the two men united at Command and Control Central in Kontum, Vietnam.   This narrative shifts from the past to the present say here, where the two men fought valiantly for their survival, and showed great resilience for themselves, and their country. The operation aimed to create a diversion behind enemy lines, allowing ...

Blue’s Grace in I Walked with Heroes

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  At every stage in your life, you’ll come across people with intriguing personalities, and striking appearances, immediately attracting you towards them, and pushing you to befriend them. One such incident, and a story of an inseparable friendship is covered in the book I Walked with Heroes by the author Jerry A. Guzzetta . The author perfectly describes their friendship to be unbreakable, as they saw some of the deadliest times together. The story delves deep into their companionship. Despite being physically different to the author, Albert Blue became his sight to seek inspiration, and later a great comrade. Blue was a tall, strongly built individual, while Guzzetta was short and a bit lighter than him, the striking differences in their physical appearances didn’t make them apart though as the author explains further. The two quickly became friends and developed great understanding for each other, They began their journey together at the Command and Control Central (CCC), whe...

The Untold Stories of Vietnam: I Walked with Heroes

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  The Vietnam War is often remembered for its battles and political controversies, but underneath that, there’s a lot to look into it. With a plethora of personal accounts covered in the book I Walked with Heroes by Jerry A. Guzzetta, it aims to bring in the different picture of a grueling conflict, where friendships and bond was created by someone who was thought to be an enemy. Imagine a soldier in the midst of a conflict is resting against the wall, and sharing a sip of wine with the village’s oldest guy named Ghun, sounds unreal at first, but the author Guzzetta is an example of that. The writer recalls these moments, where he was seen sharing a drink with old guy during a deadly conflict amidst the humidity and thick air in Montagnard. The experience as shared by the author describes and reflects on the overlooked story from a war-zone, where the villager Ghun’s wisdom reveals the struggles of his people i.e. Montagnard and fighting a war that was never theirs. This inter...

Meeting the Montagnard in I Walked with Heroes

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  War, apart from the tons of horrors and scars can also bring to you some strange yet fond memories, one’s that you find yourself to be proud off, and one’s that give you the feeling of doing something for people. In the book I Walked with Heroes , the author Jerry A. Guzzetta describes such an incident where he got to interact with a commoner amidst a war, knowing about them, their religion and culture. This section of the book begins with the author being in the midst of a war in village near the city Kontum, Vietnam. The description of this unique interaction begins here where the author was busy in combating the North and South Vietnamese threats, and came across the oldest man in the village named Ghun. Ghun was the only English speaker there, alongside the U.S military, he fought valiantly to attain freedom from the oppressors. Knowing the Montagnard The author Guzzetta details about his interaction with the Montagnard village, and the oldest there named Ghun. He outli...

The Capture of USS Pueblo in I Walked with Heroes

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  During dire times in a state of war, any loss, be it small-scaled, or large-scaled counts heavily on the side bearing it. Wars are not won by mere bravery, and presence of the best accessories, they’re won with an activeness, a presence of mind, and more importantly by understanding an enemy. In this section of the book I Walked with Heroes , the author Jerry A. Guzzetta speaks of the time when the United States were thumped by the North Korean forces, who captured the all-important USS Pueblo, heavily affecting them in that war. The Capture On 23 rd January 1968, USS Pueblo was conducting a regular survey near the east coast of North Korea, roughly 120 miles away from the capital city Pyongyang. It was at this moment, when the North Korean forces surrounded the Pueblo, and opened fires. This was to be the turning point in the context of a war happening just westwards of North Korea in Vietnam. Once the Pueblo was surrounded, everyone on board had understood that it is going...

Reflections on a MACV-SOG Mission I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes written by Jerry Guzzetta is an outstanding trip down the history lane that covers the dark, harsh realities of conflicts and pays a tribute to soldiers who laid their lives for the sake of their country. This book, delves deep into the actual events that happened during the infamous Vietnam War, and uncovers the reality of the situation and condition of the U.S military. In this segment of the book, the author takes us through a specific operation that was conducted in the conflict. The operation was led by Staff Sergeant Boronski. The Mission Begins Ramsey was a part of the RT Pennsylvania, a squad that was led by Staff Sergeant Boronski. The objective of the squad was crystal clear, which was to interrupt the telephone lines that were suspected to be utilized by the enemy forces for regular communication. The area in which the mission was to be conducted was a ten-thousand-square-meter long hilly area, known as Tango-7. The two conducted an...

The Walker-Odintsov Connection

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  Espionage has always been a lethal weapon in warfare, it is used to neutralize the enemy forces, and secretly keep an eye on their movements, and plans. The book I Walked with Heroes written by Jerry Guzzetta explains the eye-opening incidents of Walker and Odintsov who were secretly a part of the enemy’s forces. This segment of the book looks into the closest aid of the spy John Walker, who was internally involved with the enemy forces to receive and send crucial information and insights about the U.S forces and operations causing them a great dent in the conflict. In January 1980, a Maryland State Trooper was patrolling the main highway when he noticed a car moving unusually slowly. A quick check of the vehicle revealed diplomatic tags, belonging to Ivan Odintsov. The trooper’s sixth sense came in, as he observed the driver’s unusual behavior, making turns to avoid the patrol car and speeding through a stop sign. When stopped, Odintsov presented a diplomatic passport and a ...

The Significance of Cambodian Territory I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes is an exciting tale that brings back the realities of a war that made millions suffer across the globe. The author Jerry Guzzetta, being a veteran of this particular war, shares his personal anecdotes, and also recounts the situation his fellow militia was in during the war at different parts of the region. This certain segment speaks about the document that highlights the significance of the Cambodian territory in the Vietnam war. Cambodia is the neighboring country of Vietnam, with the countries sharing borders on its southern parts. The Importance The importance of a neighboring country in any modern warfare is as significant as the countries directly involved in a conflict. The author Jerry Guzzetta recognizes the pivotal role Cambodian territory could play in their war against Vietnam. The North Vietnamese Armed Forces benefited greatly from this particular border. The armed forces had recently shifted their moving routes from the sea t...

Fighting Spirit of the Montagnard I Walked with Heroes

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  In the book I Walked with Heroes the author Jerry Guzzetta writes about the realities of war that are often neglected, and the dark secrets of war that are often overshadowed by the glory of victory and triumph in them. This book comes from someone who has been a witness of these incidents, and pays a tribute to all the soldiers who’ve laid their lives for the sake of the freedom of their country. This certain segment of the book speaks about the Montagnard, and their fighting spirit to attain complete freedom from the oppressors. The Montagnard were a people indigenous to the lands in the central parts of Vietnam where they were spread across different provinces. The author interacted with them during the Vietnam War when they were siding with the U.S military in their fight against the North Vietnamese Armed Forces. (NVAF) Concerning Montagnard Montagnard were a group of people who were true to their roots, they stuck to their beliefs in an era where globalization and mod...

The Enemy Within I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes is an exquisite masterpiece of storytelling written by Jerry A. Guzzetta. A veteran himself, Guzzetta presents an image of the Vietnam war that stands different to others, providing insights on the missions he and his comrade was part of, and what they went through during, and after the conflict. The book is also a recognition to the soldiers who laid their lives for the sake of freedom of the United States. This particular segment of the book speaks of the enemy that was growing within the ranks of the U.S military. An enemy that caused immense damage without any one pointing a finger at him, and by the time people knew he was the one, the damage had already been done. The infamous John Walker. This segment in the book not only details about the betrayal, but also shed light on John’s life in an attempt to pin-point the moment betrayal housed in his heart. A Childhood to Forget Describing about John Walker’s life, the writer talks about his fo...

The POW in Vietnam I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes written by Jerry A. Guzzetta is an outstanding tale that is based on realities of battlegrounds. The author, a war veteran himself, explains in details his, and the experiences of his comrade to portray the actual events from the perspective of survivors, and fighters. The author aims to bring down the often-glorified image of wars, and conflicts, and present the reality and its dark side. This particular segment of the book discovers the controversy of POW (Prisoners of War) in Vietnam, and discusses about the conversation a close aide had with the then-President of the United States of America. The author opened the segment with a phrase “No man left behind”, and emphasized that it should be reframed to “No man left behind anymore” which outlined the fact that many of American soldiers were still left behind in Vietnam. This was another sad reality in the context of this war, as the government was trying to build a perception of all the men ret...

The Hero Howard in I Walked with Heroes

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  The book I Walked with Heroes written by Jerry A. Guzzetta describes and depicts the life of a militia while being in a war zone. The story is a perfect display of the life of military personnel during wars, and how they survive near death experiences on a daily basis for the sake of their country. The author Guzzetta presents personal stories, and anecdotes from his comrade to compile this book that brings to us the realities of war. The particular section of the book discusses the inspirational story and life of the warrior Howard. The writer’s purpose of penning this book wasn’t just to highlight his own achievements on the battlefield, but also acknowledge the heroics of other individuals who served the country. This section talks about Howards. The segment begins with the author and another one of his friends sitting in a bar when Howard walks in to join them for a drink. The author then describes the bravery and courage Howard and his forefathers possessed, explaining ...

I Walked with Heroes: The Other Aspects of Warfare

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  The book I Walked with Heroes written by Jerry A. Guzzetta is an exploration of the term “War”. Often treated as something filled with glory and ambitions, The author aims to provide another angle to the word’s meaning, depicting the darker, and the more brutal reality of conflicts and wars. The book is also a heartfelt tribute by the author to the veterans of war who’ve laid their lives for the country. The section of the book touches the readers, and informs them about the other aspects of warfare, and how the soldiers and combats kill time, and find refreshments amidst the time of disaster. The author writes about his experiences in Vietnam, where he encountered numerous things and met some of the most unusual people having an influential position. Recalling the time when he and another one of his comrades used to share a room that had a bar next door, with some beer and other refreshments that would ease their nerves in a situation of a war for some time. He humorously moc...

I Walked with Heroes: Worrying About the Wrong Son

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  I Walked with Heroes by Jerry A. Guzzetta is an outstanding tale that delves deep into the struggles and sacrifices the narrator, and other heroes of the war went during their time in Vietnam. The story flips the coin and explores the dark side of conflicts, and tells how it can negatively impact the individuals and their families. The author also pays his homage to the veterans of war, who lived and died for the country. This particular section of the book talks about the narrator’s mother, and her rather obvious reactions when she found out about Guzzetta Jr. being appointed to serve in Vietnam. The author explains that no one in his family initially supported him when he decided to join the armed forces. He vividly recounts their reaction when they found out about his training at the Green Beret, something most of the people never knew until a famous film portrayed it. The author, followed his heart and joined the military leading his mother to be constantly concerned about...

I Walked with Heroes: The Early Days

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  Jerry A. Guzzetta, the author of the book I Walked with Hero’s explained tales of bravery, courage, and a patriotic feeling that doesn’t stop anyone from dying for the country. Guzzetta meticulously describes each and every detail of his life as a military personnel, and also shed light on the realities of war people often neglect. This story binds readers with its accurate portrayal of the term “war”, its impact, and consequences. In the early segments of the book, author Guzzetta recounts his early life in an intriguing way. He precisely painted the picture of his childhood, family, the Italian heritage and culture that was deeply rooted in his familial bonds and norms to portray his background perfectly. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, his family quickly moved to California when he was a mere five-year-old, with him narrating the striking differences between the cultures of the two cities he lived in. A Sicilian Italian family by descent, the author outlines the rich family gat...