Things I'll Never Forget: Memories of a Marine in Viet Nam

After reading this book, I immediately started thinking of another comparable book written by a Marine’s experience in the Second World War: Eugene Sledge’s “With the Old Breed”. Two generations of Marines experiencing the same drudgery and misery of combat in the unbearably hot tropics of little known locales in the South Pacific. James Dixon’s memoir comes across as honest, poignant and thought-provoking. Like Sledge’s memoir, THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET was written decades after Dixon’s combat service … a cathartic effort that reminds us of what happens when ordinary American citizens volunteer for wartime service.I have found some of the most memorable war memoirs to be authored by individuals who aren’t career military. While I own many wonderful books written by career military individuals, most of them carry a terse, serious and technical tone accompanied by a hint of “government approval” and a degree of reverence for the branch they served … not a lot of negativity. On the other hand, the memoirs of those whose civilian lives were temporarily interrupted by wartime service seem to be more personal, raw, revealing and relatable. I have found such books typically offering an unfiltered opinion of the good and most importantly, the bad/awkward/stupid/absurd elements of their military experience … there is no tip-toeing around issues that a careerist may avoid talking about at all. Like any war, the Vietnam War was rife with stupid decisions, mistakes, accidents, atrocities and problems … and Dixon does a good job letting us know the impact of these “SNAFUS” in the field. But Dixon’s story is not all negative; he does a good job of mixing the good with the bad to reveal a more believable account of his time “in country”.THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET is a straightforward account of Dixon’s 13 month tour in Vietnam. While the author provides some background to better acclimate readers on what lead a Quaker who recently graduated from high school to join the Marine Corps (guaranteeing a ticket to Vietnam), the bulk of this book is dedicated to his time in the Corps and Vietnam. Dixon (whose career as a high school teacher spanned almost 30 years) has the skill to tell his story in a way that should relate to most readers. His book is divided into chapters designated to highlight specific and memorable events, he prefaces each chapter with a few paragraphs that give readers a contextual understanding of a particular wartime experience he is about to divulge. Those little intros are great lead-ins and very effective in providing a better understanding of how he looks back on many of his experiences … very relatable.I found the entire book engrossing from beginning to end. The book never becomes tedious or long-winded; Dixon is able to present a clear, colorful and detailed picture in a concise manner that never left me asking questions. The best part of the book, though were the experiences he shares so freely … some of them personal and embarrassing … we get it all. The accounts of the men he served with provides a bulk of the stories and clearly illustrate how these men (no matter what the look like, where they come from or how educated they are) truly become a band of brothers in combat. We also get the insight and wit of someone who followed orders, but often was dumbfounded by the ridiculous, unbelievable things he would see and be ordered to do. As a gov’t employee myself, I am frequently shocked and annoyed by inept leadership and the stupidity of some orders (the “gov’t way”), but death is not a consequence for my co-workers and I. Dixon puts us in his rain-soaked boots and we slog down the muddy booby-trapped jungle paths with him … waiting for the inevitable ambush. We get a grunt’s perspective of everything and realize how primitive instincts still held value on the battlefield. One thing Dixon nails throughout the book is the oppressive nature of the weather … you feel that perpetual slimy sweat that a tropical 120 degree temperature seeping through the pages … pure misery. He conveys the desperation of being forced to use the unreliable M-16 battle rifle and losing buddies in a firefight because their rifles kept jamming. THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET is full of experiences big and small that evoke a clearer idea of what it was like living on the front line in Vietnam … whether it be how to make the C-rations more palatable, the ability to sleep in a foxhole full of water or the body parts of fallen Americans … Dixon provides the details. The combat described is visceral, intense and episodic; the cumulative impact of the firefights gradually destroys the sense and sensibility of Dixon and his fellow Marines. I also liked how the author brought three female classmates from home into the storyline as a means of illustrating how their lives freely moved on while his was stuck in a hellish standstill. What makes this book so similar to Eugene Sledge’s memoir is that it is so personal, revealing and every story is richly detailed.In the epilogue of his book, Dixon doesn’t hold back on his feelings about how returning Vietnam veterans were treated. There is understandable resentment now that the “thank you for your service” rolls off the tongues of so many when someone’s military service is discovered … like a mindless, clichéd, Pavlovian response to anyone and everyone military. As with rest of this book, Dixon is simply being up-front and after reading all that he went through, it’s hard not to empathize with his feelings.I thoroughly enjoyed reading THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET because I felt James Dixon gave me a personal guided tour of his Vietnam War experience. Well-written, entertaining, thought-provoking and educating (I especially appreciated his clarification of the Vietnam “veteran”) from beginning to end, Dixon’s story is definitely a worth read. This book provides an intimate look at who represented America in Vietnam, how they fought and died and more importantly, how they managed to cope. I find this to be one of the better war memoirs I’ve ever read.

The author doesn't hold back much if anything about how he feels, what he experienced. Its a good read, and unfortunately an excellent reason to not bother serving your country. Thank you Mr. Dixon for this book.

This Is an excellent book for all those who were too young, too old or medically unable to serve. It depicts life in the Marine Corps during war by someone who was actually there. I liked the stories of the friendships made and lost. I liked the stories of the crazy people, the smart people, the not so smart people, and the "Lifers ". I also liked the explanations of the weapons, ordnance and slang used to describe different types of people. The book was easy to read and really kept my interest.

Definitely must read for anyone who wants to know about war. Especially Vietnam. Great read for anyone who grew up during that era.

I am trying to find the words to express my feelings about this book. I am from the generation of people my parents age served in Vietnam. I’ve know veterans and am related to veterans of that war and have never asked them their experiences and I am glad I haven’t as it’s their story to offer up. This is an amazing book that left me wanting g to know more and more. The epilogue brought me to tears.

As a Vietnam vet and a reader of several personal account books by others who served, I'd say Mr. Dixon's personal account of his experiences is worth your time to read it. It captured my interest early and I wanted to return to the book whenever I put it down. I see some reviewers made claims that Marine Dixon may have fabricated some things. It's too bad some said these things without offering a hint of proof.The Vietnam war is about 55 years ago depending on when you pick the start date. It's so surprising to me how many Americans today, that are 35 - 45 years old know nothing about this war. People younger than this don't know and don't care. In my opinion, those folks with no knowledge need to read this book, and others like it, to help become better informed voters in the ballot box.We continue to fight our wars without gaining from our Vietnam experience. Nothing good came from this war. The Vietnam experience should have prevented our Iraq experience. It didn't. Perhaps if Mr. bone spurs president would read about Dixon's experience and how Navy guns and airforce firepower are needed to capture a village of 50 people(virtually destroy it and its citizens) it would help in his decision making.I agreed with Mr. Dixon's comments about "Thank you for your service" position. After my leaving Vietnam in March, 1971, the discharge in Oakland still lingers with me. People thanking me 47 years later for my service is flag waving that shouldn't be happening. This kind of patriotism, in my opinion, only perpetuates the idea that our wars are noble and necessary. Vietnam wasn't noble or necessary.By Mr. Dixon's opinion I was a non-combatant puke. From his experiences he's correct from his perspective. From my perspective I was one lucky draftee who arrived in country with an MOS of 11B who won the lotto. They needed truck drivers and I appeared able to shift gears.Read this book and get some straight talk about front line experiences of a Marine.

It was a good read of a soldier’s time from boot camp to his discharge back to the states. Firefights & life for a soldier are described in some detail, although the firefights were lacking in information compared to other veterans books.

I read a lot of war books and this was a good one to help you understand how it really was over there.

This is an awesome book that displays very well the heartfelt emotions of someone who spent a tour in Vietnam, living through what for those of us who were not there, is unimaginable. Growing up in the 60s, we were all exposed to the first “TV war” and the propaganda that came with it. However, for those who were there, it was another world entirely. I’ve read probably a hundred books, written by Vietnam veterans, and this is one of the most gripping. I salute the author for his courage.

Read this book!One of the best books on Viet Nam that I have read. Vividly captures the daily life of the infantry soldier - making the best of horrific conditions. This book must be the nearest thing to actually being there. ( even if 50 years later) ( though you certainly would not have wanted the experience !)A mesmerising account.

This was recordedIn diaries and sound very true. The sadness comes from so many lives lost by youngsters.All very different from my time in the military!

Der Autor dieses Buches schildert seine Zeit als Soldat in der amerikanischen Armee während des Vietnam-Krieges zu Zeiten der amerikanischen Intervention.Ich habe es in keiner Weise als reißerisch geschrieben oder dergleichen empfunden; an manchen Stellen schreibt der Autor über die Erlebnisse fast zu pragmatisch; in diesen Stellen machte er auf mich einen stoischen Eindruck. Ich denke, dass ich meine Kenntnis über den Vietnam-Krieg durch diese Lektüre weiter abrunden konnte, da ich die Sichtweise eines Journalisten wie auch die eines Politikers in verschiedenen Quellen bereits kennenlernen konnte.Der Autor schreibt, was ich bewundernswert finde, auf eine Weise leidenschaftslos, aber nichtsdestoweniger anklagend, über die Resonanz, die sein Dienst in Amerika fand, als er aus Vietnam zurückkam: das man ihn und seinesgleichen, die von Staats wegen an diesen Ort geschickt wurden, als eine Art von Mörder brandmarkte.Um einen Einblick in das Erleben eines Teilnehmers der Kämpfe zu bekommen, kann ich dieses Buch empfehlen.

I would really like to thank the author for sharing his memories of the Vietnam war and training camp. I have really found the book very interesting. I think the history has to be known and told by the ones who participated in it. Congratulations, a wonderful book.