Diary of an Airborne Ranger: A LRRP's Year in the Combat Zone

This guy spent more time whining and complaining about stuff then actually really detailing or explaining anything. When he did mention any sort of combat it was all macho I'm the toughest A lot of stuff written in here that would have had him stripped of rank as well as kicked out if he had really done a lot of these things to officers like he wrote. Two stars due to haven been in myself this was the most dribble drab stuff I ever read. I understand it's a diary and one if not the only diary of its kind of this period but all the praise for it is awful. So many pages of whining and so many pages of supposed actions against officers that would never fly. Not sure why so many reviews say 'great detail', there is barely any detail. There's barely any substance. You get a page with five sentences, the rest is blank. Another page maybe has 8 sentences, the rest is blank. Sometimes you get a entry that took up 2 pages. I don't know. It didn't do anything for me. I couldn't even relate military wise because he did so much that was against regulations an was never in trouble so it was too much for me to believe. You don't learn anything at all from how the war was going, how the country was, nothing. Whine whine whine. Other people are in combat. Whine whine whine. I beat up a officer. Whine whine whine. I beat up a NCO. Hey we had some light dust up with a small force of "gunkies" More whining. More fights with ncos an officers. I especially enjoyed the few times he pointed his weapon at nco/officers an threatened them an nothing happened? This may do it for some folks but not at all for me.

I was wanting to hear more about personal experience of combat in Vietnam. I wanted to compare my own experiences and found what I was looking for! I would perhaps have liked the Author to elaborate more on Practices and Procedures and lessons learnt!

It was my privilege to have known Frank Johnson while serving with him in Vietnam. There were many times we set across from each other on our bunks and thanked God we were still alive. Frank indeed was a warrior and a man of great courage but there was also another side that was warm kind and gentle. A man that would take the time to listen to your problems, to help you when you were down and to support you when you needed a friend. This book is an accurate accountant of places and events that took place as seen through the eyes of Frank Johnson.With great pleasure I recommend you read this book. It is a supreme insight into what it was like for a 19 your old to have been exposed to the horrors of war. Burgess Wetta

This book really gives you the first hand account on what happen day by day to this soldier. What a great history lesson. It isn't soften down by someones memories of the Vietnam War but gives you the actual feelings that happen on that day. I find that when I am reading I get lost in the moment and feel like I am right in the jungle with this soldier. I was only 10 yrs old little girl when this was taking place. I looked up my birthday because I wanted to see what this guy was doing on that day when I was celebrating my birthday. Gave me a strange feeling. Thank you to ALL the war veterans who have fought for our freedom.

A LRRP'S YEAR IN A COMBAT ZONE...This was an excellent book. I just bought the book 2 days ago, and just finished it tonight. I had to read it every chance I got. The hell these guys went through, detailed explicitly in this book, is amazing. The honor and courage that these men showed, went above and beyond the call of duty. Definitely a must read, especially for those who have been in the military, and especially for those who have seen combat...it has certainly brought back memories for me.....

I found the book to be very informative to what Frank Johnson witnessed, felt , and recorded for possible furture use. After thirty-one and a half years, he has given use the opportunity to share those memories on an almost day to day account of his life with the Rangers in Vietnam. Along with all the other LRRP books, this is another one for those that like to read about LRRPs during the Vietnam Era. It will be difficult to lay this book down, like most that I have read.