Semper Cool: One Marines Fond Memories of Vietnam


Even though nearly 40 years had passed since his last patrol as a squad leader in Vietnam, Fixler's combat instincts were still razor sharp. The widely broadcast surveillance tape shows Fixler turn the tables on his would-be-killers and go on the attack.

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To Fixler, the shootout was not heroic despite the numerous awards he received, but rather a result of the mental toughness he gained fighting in the trenches of Khe Sanh, rice paddies of Con Thein and Quang Tri and jungles just south of the DMZ. This is a story about a young man who enlisted in the Marines to gain his father's respect and discovered the value of life, extraordinary examples of brotherly love, and core values of America: The wrenching, sometimes hilarious and always thought-provoking memoir of a mischievous teenager who enlists in the U.

Marine Corps seeking adventure and his father's approval and finds both, plus more danger than he ever could have imagined. Barry Fixler gets molded into a Marine at Parris Island and sent to Vietnam, where he is assigned to a company that would soon etch its place in Marine Corps lore at the legendary Siege of Khe Sanh. With its vivid imagery, Semper Cool thrusts readers into a grunts-eye view of the blood, guts, tears and laughter of war, as told by a Marine who returned home a proud, patriotic man.

His pride in his country and as a Marine is clear throughout the book. The book is written in a simple and rather plain manner, but that isn't necessarily bad. As a reader, I got a real feel for who Barry Fixler was and what he was going through. He didn't coat the truth with sugar or try to paint himself a hero--although he certainly is that in his own right. Semper Cool is not just about the author's experiences during the war, but also his story about how he became a Marine and how it shaped his life.

He also writes about being a victim of an attempted burglary, and how he turned the tables on the thieves. The author's inspiration for writing the book, however, was to raise money for American Iraqi and Afghani war veterans with medical needs, as well as for their families--all his profits on the book go to the cause. All too often they fall through the cracks and receive little to no aid from the government and country they serve. Fixler's fundraiser at his jewelry store to help the family of one such soldier was a huge success, Americans coming from all over to donate money and volunteer their services.

Stories like that always warm my heart. Dec 28, Serena rated it really liked it. If you were dead, that meant you were headed straight into the deep shit. Marines after hearing crazy stories from his father, a WWII veteran who survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor, about the rigorous training marines endured even during war and the antics they engaged in. Read the full review: This book was well written and I enjoyed it very much.

I got it threw Amazon. Please keep up the good work. I think about the Veterans every day some gave all and some of us were just lucky I guess. What an amazing account of the memories this book has brought to me. I lost many good friends in this atrocious war. The only thing I can offer to our wounded warriors is the craft I do in making lapghans for wounded warriors and pray they are distributed to the veterans and to know that I pray every day for them and thank God for the brave men and women who put their lives on hold to ensure that we can maintain our freedom.

I work very closely with another Viet Nam veteran to ensure the lapghan What an amazing account of the memories this book has brought to me. I work very closely with another Viet Nam veteran to ensure the lapghans go where they are needed.

Semper Cool: One Marine's Fond Memories of Vietnam

Thank you Barry for sharing your memories. The only thing I can offer to our wounded warriors is the craft I do in making orphans for wounded warriors and pray they are distributed to the veterans and know that I pray every day for them and thank God for the brave men and women who put their lives on hold to ensure that we can maintain our freedom. I work very closely with another Viet Jam veteran to ensure the longhand go where they are needed.

Feb 12, Jennifer rated it it was amazing. Semper Cool is one Marine's tale of his experiences during Vietnam. Fixler begins by walking us through the robbery of his jewelry store, then he quickly goes straight into the life of a young officer and beyond. His retelling gives readers a clear image of Vietnam and what it must have been like for not only him but the many other men who served the U.

Adding photographs as part of the retelling was a fantastic way to give further insight into a era before my existence. I enjoyed the journey b Semper Cool is one Marine's tale of his experiences during Vietnam. Overall, Semper Cool is a remarkable story of one Marine's fond memories of Vietnam but Fixler gladly introduces a number of other Marines.

I applaud the giving nature of this Vietnam veteran, not only for giving so freely the details of his experience but for helping wounded veterans by donating all of the proceeds of his book sales to The Barry Fixler Foundation. A young man fights for our freedom as a U. Marine in Vietnam This memoir follows Barry Fixler and tells his account of the young men who were called to service in Vietnam - men who were barely out of High School, who had no idea what they were in for. It's a true accounting of the horrors they faced and the high cost of this war.

It contains a bit of humor as well ; but it never strays far from the theme and the reader is drawn in to the stories that often tell of heartbreak, fear, and darkness A young man fights for our freedom as a U. It contains a bit of humor as well ; but it never strays far from the theme and the reader is drawn in to the stories that often tell of heartbreak, fear, and darkness. Truth is stranger than fiction they say, and the horrors of Fixler's truth should ignite a fire in his readers as he ends with a promise to donate all proceeds from the book to wounded warriors and makes a call to action for readers to support veterans who are often forgotten or who simply fall through the cracks.

This memoir is not for the faint of heart, and its gorrie details will likely leave a lasting impact.

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Mar 30, Kevin McAllister rated it it was ok. Translated it means always faithful. The fact that Barry Fixler decided to call his memoir as a marine in Viet Nam, "Always Cool" is a good indication of this books' many shortcomings.

Let me start off by stating that I mean no disrespect to The Marines, but with the exception of the very last chapter when Fixler actually did demonstrate faithfulness to The Marines creed Semper Fi, to me this book was a complete waste of time and The Marine's creed is Semper Fidelis, often shorted to Semper Fi. Let me start off by stating that I mean no disrespect to The Marines, but with the exception of the very last chapter when Fixler actually did demonstrate faithfulness to The Marines creed Semper Fi, to me this book was a complete waste of time and definitely not cool.

Right from the first page this book was pretty much nothing but Fixler bragging about the man he shot during an attempted holdup of his jewelry store, all the mischief he committed as a youngster, and how he was more of a man than anyone else because killed more men in the battlefield and slept with more women in the bedroom.

Sorry dude, not cool. And frankly, not very interesting at all. An experience that must be read I love the way the story is told.

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That straightforwardness and no apologies for it Because that's the way it was!! The story is very vividly told and as the author himself tells us, and I do believe him, the experiences were all minimized for more than exaggerated in order to make the story easier for civilians to stomach.

Thru his words we can in our minds eye and our hearts feel what An experience that must be read Thru his words we can in our minds eye and our hearts feel what it could have only just be a snapshot of all he saw, felt, feared and conquered Dec 11, Jeff Dawson rated it it was amazing.

Barry pulls no punches describing what it means to be a Marine. He entered the Corp and performed his duty with grit, guts and tenacity.

Semper Cool One Marine's Fond Memories of Vietnam 9780982518403 by Barry Fixler

He was not one of the whiners or druggies many people associate with the Vets. Cannot recommend this book enough! Its amazing in a way considering how Barry came through it all and loved the ending how he came through for another marine. Barry doesn't hold back on the confusion and horror he went through with Vietnam Dec 12, Konner rated it it was amazing. I thought that this was an amazing book. The only reason I first got interest in it is that I had to read a book with some history in it.

This seemed like a cool looking book. I didn't know what a great book I was getting myself into.

I would say this is definitely one of my favorite books. It really makes you think on what it is to be an american. After reading this book, I realize how proud I am to be an american. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. One of the young men on front cover was a relative who was killed in Viet Nam in I am happy to have a copy of this book, however.

Even though nearly 40 years had passed since his last patrol as a squad leader in Vietnam, Fixler's combat instincts were still razor sharp. NEW First Edition stated, full number line hardcover, Even though nearly 40 years had passed since his last patrol as a squad leader in Vietnam, Fixler's combat instincts were still razor sharp when the two gunman attacked him at his jewelry store in N.

The widely broadcast surveillance video shows Fixler turn the tables on the armed robbers and go on the attack killing one of the thugs. To Fixler, the shootout was not heroic despite the numerous awards he received, but rather a result of the mental toughness he gained fighting with the Marines in the trenches of Khe Sanh, and jungles just south of the DMZ.

Semper Cool is a coming-of-age story about a young man who enlisted in the Marine Corps to gain his father's respect and discovered the core values of America: