Nick Popaditch

Written for Marines as an inspirational story, this is really well done in all respects. Popaditch is a little too gung ho for my taste but the book content is great, moves well, and is very detailed. Maybe a bit too detailed except for Marine Corps people themselves. I have a hobby interest in military books, mostly for historical purposes. Popaditch covers his family life, deployments in the first Iraq invasion and then later in the 'second' battle of Fallujah where he was wounded by a rocket propelled grenade to his head. Much of the book is taken up with dealing with the Military Medical discharge and Marine Corps values and the Corps close knit family unity and support systems. Anytime you deal with active duty military people you have to include those who are wounded and suffer from wounds that will never heal. Just like in the civilian world. Recovery from injuries is hard enough in the regular world, but having to do so after combat is harder still. The lower down the rung you are in the military establishment the less chance you have of getting immediate help that service people are entitled to. Although I would blame polititians and career military brass for so many enlisted falling through the cracks, Popaditch doesn't. Popaditch loves Camp Pendelton and 29 Palms, is a christian but admires Catholic funerals, served as a drill sgt., and was a tank commander of an M1A1 for the Marine first tank battalion. He was awarded a silver star for his action protecting dismounted Marine riflemen with his tank out in front.… (mehr)