One of
the meanings of the saying “to ride the tiger” is to finish a job until the
end, no matter how dangerous, because getting off the tiger would have much
worse consequences. This pretty much sums up Robert Parker’s life. This book
takes the reader on a ride of their own as he writes graphically and candidly
about his life as a Green Beret in Vietnam and his struggles with emotional and
mental issues when he came home. I know very little about Vietnam so I was
interested to read Mr. Parker’s first-hand account of what it was truly like
for the soldiers, something the history books never really acknowledge. The
whole book is hard to read due to the content but the descriptions of the war
itself, knowing the story isn’t fiction, was very disturbing. The torment Mr.
Parker went through in his mind as he did his job was almost as horrible as
what he was ordered to do to the enemy, including women and children. In a time
before PTSD was a recognized disability, Mr. Parker came home unready to deal
with living a normal life. The fact that he befriends quite a few unsavory
characters, including mob bosses, adds to a life story that should be fiction
but is entirely true. It is a gripping account of life experiences that
thankfully most of us will never have to deal with but we should be aware of
them. Everyone should read this book because it will open reader’s eyes on so
many levels. I read the digital form of this book and it translated well to my
ereader. The bright red cover is eye catching but it’s the content that will
really catch a reader’s eyes.
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