Things I'll Never Forget

Memories of a Marine in Viet Nam

By: James M. Dixon

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Things I’ll Never Forget is the story of a young high school graduate in 1965 who faces being drafted into the Army or volunteering for the Marine Corps. These are his memories of funny times, disgusting times and deadly times. The author kept a journal for an entire year; therefore many of the dates, times and places are accurate. The rest is based on memories that are forever tattooed on his brain. This is not a pro-war book, nor is it anti-war. It is the true story of what the Marine Corps was like in the late 1960’s, when the country had a draft and five hundred thousand Americans were serving one year tours in battle-torn South East Asia. If you served in Viet Nam you will want to compare your experience with the author’s. If you know someone who went to Viet Nam, you will want to listen for yourself what it was like. If you lost a loved one or friend in the war, you will want to listen to this and share it with others.

©2016, 2018 James M. Dixon (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Excellent Read!

I joke to people when I tell them that I am a souvenir of the Vietnam War....however I am serious. I am of Vietnamese descent and if it were not for my father bringing my mother and I home from that war, I'd surely be squatting in a rice patty right now. Bravo to all of the combat veterans of the Vietnam War.

One of the best...

books on the Vietnam War about life as a US Marine Corp grunt. Hopefully, our youth will want to read this and become a bit more smarter about that nasty conflict.

Must read

God bless all of my brother and sister veterans, in and out of zippered bags.

I enjoy this account of the war in vietnam

I thought the narrator was enjoyable to listen to. The story of this man was enjoyable and makes you appreciate the opportunity we have.

Semper Fi brother

A appreciate this story by Mr. Dixon. As a Marine in Viet Nam and a radio operator for 13 months, 10 months as the communications chief for a combat company, I shared a similar history with the author. I found some of the reviews to be very harsh and nit pickie. Everyone’s experience was a little different. I caught a few inaccuracies but maybe it is my memories and not his.
I differ from the author in that I joined the Marine Corps knowing what to expect and have never regretted that decision although I got a very rare two year enlistment and had two years of college behind me when I joined. Ten days after I left Viet Nam I was on the street as a civilian.
I never tried to conceal the fact that I was a Nam vet and was willing to fight anyone who called me a “baby killer” or spit on me. I also appreciated when other vets welcome me home and even young people who thank me for my service. To not respond favorably to those people is to disrespect their feelings. What else are they going to do?
Mr. Dixon did not claim to be a hero. He is just a guy who joined the Marines too young and did what his country asked him to do. He kept a journal that he used to base his book on. I am sure in the long run it helped him to heal but dredging up that past had to be difficult for him.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about what day to day combat life is like. Very well done

Enjoyed

My father served two tours in Vietnam with the Army but never said much about it. He just told me to never join the Army (did four year stint in the USAF instead). This book provided a feeling and perspective on service to country at a vary difficult time.

Great description of the Marine grunt experience

The mixture of humor the terror and sadness is on full display from his 13 months in Vietnam
Highly recommend it

Amazing Book!

This book describes what it was like to be an infantryman in Vietnam. The book was extremely well written and Malcolm Hillgartner is an extraordinary reader! I absolutely recommend this book if you want to understand what it was like to be in combat in Vietnam.

Great job

Out f’in standing, way to tell it the way it was!! So many were forgotten,except by those who served with them!!

understanding of what daily life of a grunt

The daily grind of the Vietnam American grunt was cruel and horrible. Learning how many great Americans that didn’t do drugs, volunteered , kept within the rules of engagement, and did their duty to the fullest is amazing. Vietnam vets do not get the credit they should get. They went through hell.