Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient

Before he earned the Medal of Honor, he was still an unordinary person: things like major head trau from falling out of a second story window onto his head on a paved driveway at 18 months and coming away with a fully functioning mind and body after many weeks in the hospital. Childhood and family issues are detailed up until he decided that US Marines were "just Crazy" so he decided to become a Green Beret instead. Right. Then follows a detailed account of the rigors of military training including the medical and veterinary hands on experience specialized for green berets. So he decided upon being a medic. during those three years he became seriously involved with alcohol and doesn't shrink from detailing the lowlights. Then he went to Nam and a real gut learning experience is also detailed. He started by working in hospital, sick call in villages in the central highlands, including the leprosarium where he learned respect for the long term doctors and nursing sisters there and an appreciation for the artistic works of the Montagnards. Read the rest of the book for his detailed accounts of being a combat medic if you have made it this far. I could relate somewhat being a nurse of his vintage and losing friends there, but I am not sure how ordinary folk will deal with his realities. A very moving reality. He obviously lived through it all and made a new life for himself but he continued to give back to the veterans who made it through and needed what he could give. I requested and received a free ebook copy from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley. Thank you so much!