Chester Wong

The final part of Wong's three books recounting his experiences at West Point, the regular Army, and Army Special Forces fills in the gaps in the first two volumes and provides more insight into why a Chinese-American from Cupertino, California wanted to attend West Point in the first place, and the sad story of why he left the Army after 8 years instead of following his initial decision to re-enlist. As someone who never served in the military but who works with lots of Veterans, including retired Marines, this series of books gave me a much better appreciation of the sacrifice and determination necessary to succeed in a demanding military position. It also made me understand why some soldiers, like Wong, could relish the time they spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the constant danger they were in. Wong doesn't gloss over some of the bad aspects of the military, including a chapter that touches on torture in Iraq, and there are some military characters he presents that are not very capable or likable. But overall, he does a great job in portraying the dedication and honor of most folks in the armed services, and in the end, this book improved my opinion of them.

For most of us, the most important message of Wong's book is that through our own efforts we are capable of doing a lot more than we think we can. It has been quite an experience seeing Wong go from one of the worst students in his first year at West Point to one of the most accomplished members of his graduating class. This series of books is highly, highly recommended!… (mehr)

The second volume of Wong's adventures at West Point and the U.S. Army Special Forces is almost as fascinating as the first and fills in some of the gaps in the first volume. We learn more about why he went to West Point in the first place, more about West Point's seemingly juvenile rituals, what it is like to eat a dead dog you find floating in a river, the distractions of having an Iraqi translator with big breasts, what it feels like to have a pair of boots that actually fits, the wonders of Lasik surgery, and a host of unforgettable things about Army life. What shines through is Wong's willingness (with names changed and some deliberate obfuscation for security reasons) to be so brutally honest about everything, including his own feelings and shortcomings. After reading these two volumes, I have a much better idea of what it means to be a soldier--especially a Special Forces soldier. I can't wait for Volume III.… (mehr)

This is a very engrossing and informative book about the life of a US Army Special Forces ("Green Beret") Captain, who happens to be Asian-American. The book is told in self-contained chapters that shift back and forth from his time at West Point to assignments in Korea, the Philippines, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan as well as sniper school, Special Forces School, and just about any other challenge he could find. Some are harrowing stories of assaults on terrorists and show a cool disregard for life, while others are genuinely humorous, such as how he managed against the rules to have a car for almost his whole time at West Point or his attempt to regain his stolen cellphone in Manila through a precise military-type operation using a few Philippine Special Forces troops. Throughout it all, Wong writes in a conversational, engaging style that sometimes tends to mask the seriousness of his subject. He is good about owning up to his own mistakes and likes to point out the absurdities of military life, while also recognizing the purpose of many things that might seem absurd to civilians (like me). Once I started reading this, I couldn't put it down. There are two follow-up volumes and I suspect I will try to read them as well. Wong (not his real name) says he is writing this for his family, his children, and his children's children so they will understand what he did. It is definitely a warts-and-all portrait, but the genuine pride he takes in his country, the military, and his achievements is quite stirring.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a very human picture of the life of a Special Forces soldier.… (mehr)