Title: The Boys on Cherry Street: From the Crazy Innocence of College to the Loss of Innocence in Vietnam
Author: Ron Boehm
Publisher: Ron Boehm Books
ISBN: 978-1-966615-20-0
Pages: 292
Genre: Memoir
Reviewer: Jason Lulos
Hollywood Book Reviews
The Boys on Cherry Street is a sincere and oftentimes downright funny memoir of author Ron Boehm’s journey from innocence to experience. Boehm recounts his college days comparable to Animal House and his tour in Vietnam as a Marine pilot. There is obviously a stark contrast between the carefree days of college life versus the harrowing experience of war. But Boehm treats them both with fondness and nostalgia as they were both such formative times in his life. The halcyon humor of his college life translated into coping humor in Vietnam. It is this interesting blend of humor and sincerity that makes this an honest book full of perspective.
After graduating from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans in 1961, Ron moved on to Southeastern Louisiana College. His collegiate career was marked by some studying and much good-hearted, and often dangerous, mischief. He and some friends moved into a house on Cherry Street during this time; hence, the title of the book. The “cherry” theme suggests a time of blooming, full of fire, and the innocence of youth. Fire and innocence might best describe his college days. He and his roommates spent a lot of time blowing things up, hunting small and big game for food and for fun, and constantly pranking one another. Some of these stories border on legendary or mythical. Thus, his college tenure somewhat fortuitously but not completely prepared him for war because these stories are always linked in some way with chaos and hilarity.
After college, Ron became a Marine, destined to fly jets. In this section of the book, the tone is appropriately more serious and somber. But humor was never far because as Ron notes, “I believe it was that very sense of humor that was a coping mechanism used by many of us to deal with those stressful times. Ron quotes someone’s account of war as “Hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror.” One could imagine how humor would be necessary to handle such an experience. Ron flew 124 combat flights in Vietnam that also included time with the “grunts” on the ground. Ron renders these experiences with comedy, tragedy, sincerity, and pride. It really is a balanced mix of conflicting emotions that must accompany such a chaotic time. Hijinks were nearly as prevalent in his war time as they were in his college days. Coping mechanisms to be sure. And there was the occasional “antenna check” – a victory roll or low flyby after a successful bombing mission letting the grunts know he had their backs.
This is a great book. Entertaining and informative. Great balance of the humorous and serious. Boehm frequently praises the pilots, grunts, and anyone who he served with or anyone who served for that matter. The book ends with a list of Boehm’s college roommates, friends, and those he served with, complete with their rank, service, and medals. While this is a fascinating and entertaining memoir of Ron’s own life, it is also an homage to all those who served in Vietnam. I highly recommend this book whether or not you’re interested in military memoirs. It is largely about the vibrant times of youth. Ron Boehm weaves a powerful story of brotherhood,dreams, and the tragic transformation brought on by Vietnam. This is a moving portrait of innocence gained, lost, and remembered.