Title: Steel Pot: A Vietnam Memoir Volume 1
Author: Curt Stocker
Publisher: Olympus Story House
ISBN: 978-1968069346
Pages: 850
Genre: Nonfiction / History / Biographies & Memoirs
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
War hurts all those involved, no matter what side of a conflict they are in or who is caught in the crossfire. Unless a person has lived through such a war, no one can ever truly understand what such wanton violence and trauma can do to a person’s mind and body, and for my philosophical purposes, their soul as well.
In author Chris Stocker’s Steel Pot: A Vietnam Memoir Volume 1, the author explores his own personal experiences immersed in the infantry unit of a PSYOPS division during the Vietnam War. From the horrors of war which the author witnessed, to the impact it had on his and others‘ lives, the author delves deep and honestly into the impact of war on those who lived through it. The book also takes the time to explore the marijuana subculture that developed for soldiers during the Vietnam War and how it developed the impending legalization of marijuana across the United States.
The honest and straightforward way the author writes and the narrative style of writing the author deploys into this book is so creative and engaging. While all based on true events and experiences, the narrative approach gave me the chance to connect to both the author and the cast of “characters“ the book introduces. The balance the author found in showcasing the events of the Vietnam War he experienced with the detailed look at the war and the marijuana culture developed was thoughtfully paced, and allowed me to be immersed into that era of history.
Readers who enjoy nonfiction books, especially those who enjoy history driven memoirs and biographies which are narrative driven and explore the history of the Vietnam War, this is the perfect read. The way the author explores the relationships US soldiers had with Vietnamese soldiers and the vivid imagery that was used to bring the Vietnam landscape to life on the pages make the entire book feel very immersive. The detailed and heartfelt introspective narrative Curt Stocker developed to explore his experiences during this time and the unique perspective on the marijuana culture that developed as someone who came into the war having been a marijuana user beforehand provided an in-depth story which readers will instantly connect with.