Shane Comes Home

A Most Amazing Young Man Shane Comes Home is a book about a most amazing young man, Marine Lt. Therrel Shane Childers by Rinker Buck. I purchased the book because his family comes from Cabell County, West Virginia, the place I live and worked as a deputy sheriff. I do not know the family but I patrolled the area they came from, Salt Rock, WV. I knew the roads well, Smith Creek, Madison Creek, the "Dog Fork" of Madison Creek, Hickory Ridge, and WV State Rt. 10. I thought I would read a little about the area I knew so well and maybe the mention of some of the people I know, but I was in for a pleasant surprise. Rinker Buck does an excellent job of telling the story of the first American to loose his life in combat in the Iraq War. The story of this amazing Marine is so well told I couldn't put the book down. There is little about the war, it is about the unpleasant job of notifying the parents of a fallen hero. It is about a young boy growing into a man who was loved by everyone he met. I am only sorry I never had the pleasure of meeting Shane, but after reading the book I feel like I have known him all his short life. Anyone who is fortunate enough to read this book is in for a real treat. Fred E. Moskey, Retired Cabell County Deputy Sheriff. [email protected]

I didn't think I wanted to read this book at first, but am glad I purchased it and read it. Another reviewer said that it was about the man, the military and his family and this is very true.The book goes into all of Shane Childers life from childhood to his final moments interspersed with the details and goings-on of the preparation for the funeral. That was the letdown in the book for me. After all the talk about the ceremony, etc., the funeral services itself was only described in like 2 paragraphs. I thought for sure every detail of the funeral service and committal would have been mentioned. But it seems as if every biography I read goes right up to the death of the individual and then one paragraph or so about the funeral. Writers don't seem to think the readers care about hearing about the ceremonies and burials, but I for one do. This was a real personal account of one man's life and I was glad to get this close to an actual situation. It does bother me SO much though that the author NEVER capitalizes Marine, Marine Corps, etc. I don't know proper grammar perhaps but I think that a Marine is a title and the Marine Corps is an organization and should be capitalized, even if in proper grammar it shouldn't. Make sense?? A soldier is a soldier, a sailor is a sailor---but a Marine is a MARINE. Very good reading!!

Living in San Clemente, CA, I remember the local reports of Shane's death. He lived in SC when he deployed to Iraq. When I learned he was a Citadel grad (I'm from VMI) during one of Rinker's radio interviews, I had to buy this book and did by the end of that day. That said, I was very leery of how a New England columnist would present a topic as dividing as the Iraq War has been. I was not disappointed. Rinker left the divisive politics aside and focused on the man, family and Corps behind the hero. He provided and incredible story of a true American hero. No doubt, Shane is a hero. This work certainly could have been be written about many more of the countless heroes in this day. Rinker provides a first hand insight how the families of our heroes deal with their greatest loss. This is a must read.

Shane Comes Home captures the eccense of a life well lived. It is a an accurate account of growing up in a country where not everybody is supportive of our war effort, yet avoids any partisan bias towards the war. It is extremely well-written with a touch of humor and irony, and an easy read. Though throughout the book the author makes a few references about Shane leaning a little to the Right, that is not unexpected from an educated military man. If there is ever a soldier, or a person for that matter, I would like to emulate it would be Shane Childers. He is an almost super-hero character, constantly on the move saving people from harm, all the while trying to find out who he really is. This book is for anybody who enjoys a good story, not just for soldiers or military folks. I highly enjoyed it and recommend it for its pro-American stance, regardless of your politics.

Having known Shane personally I am amazed and greatful of the rare talent the author, Rinker Buck possess. He has managed to capture the man that Shane was without actually ever knowing him personally and be able to tell the story of a brilliant, intelligent dedicated Marine. I am certain that those who read this book will come to appreciate the man, the marine, the hero that Shane was. If anyone deserved to be remembered and honored this way, it was definetly Shane!