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Amazon #1 Best Seller in its category for several months/recipient of multiple book awards
A painfully accurate description of life as a combat infantryman in the jungles of Vietnam.
For those who never served, it’s an eye-opener. For those who did, it’s a reminder of that life long ago.
“Cherries” offers an unvarnished account, and after reading it, readers will better understand the trials these young men faced throughout the year.
The narrative grips the reader throughout.
In 1970, John Kowalski was among many young, inexperienced soldiers sent to Vietnam to fight in a war already mired in controversy. Their veteran counterparts called them “Cherries,” and the recruits were thrown into a brutal reality. Most were unprepared to handle the intense mental, emotional, and physical challenges of combat. Facing enemy fire and witnessing death firsthand sparks a deep, irreversible change.
The author excels at storytelling. Readers will cringe, weep, laugh, shudder, and feel like they’re there, and they won’t want to put it down.
Don’t miss this riveting war story by award-winning author John Podlaski.
The Third Edition now includes thirty-eight personal photos.
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Amazon #1 Best Seller in its category for several weeks.
2020 Rave Review Book Club Awards: BOOK OF THE YEAR
John Podlaski tells a military story like few others can. He is a gifted writer who will bring all your senses to life.
Written with great attention to detail, putting the reader solidly in John’s shoes.
An amazing story that brought a night of terror into perspective.
Step into the shadows of the Vietnam War and join two young soldiers, alone in a listening post (LP), in Vietnam’s pitch-black jungle. The night seems to go on forever, and during lulls, John Kowalski’s mind wanders back to frightening situations he and his friends experienced growing up. Innocent but equally terrifying at the time.
As kids, we instinctively run fast to escape imaginary or perceived danger. In childhood, imaginary monsters lurk in the dark. In war, the monsters in the darkness are real.
Thirty enemy soldiers stop for a break just a few feet away. If they run…they die. If they fight…they die. They must confront their fears and find the courage to stand their ground. A gripping tale of survival and bravery.
Review by Gary F Jones:
This long short story or novella follows a young man’s response to fear from age 7 to his time in Vietnam in the early 1970s. The story alternates between what scared him as he grew up in Detroit and what terrifies him in Vietnam’s Iron Triangle jungle. The tales are engaging and pleasant to read.
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2025 International Impact Book Award Winner / Amazon #1 Best Seller.
John writes powerful descriptions of people, places, and things.
Gripping story that keeps you in the moment. The author paints a vivid picture that has you right in the middle of the action.
Thrilling, with a lurking sense of constant danger and death.
In this page-turning story of bravery, fear, anger, and determination, the soldiers come to life.
Realistic and gritty. The author is a great storyteller
“When Can I Stop Running?” and “Surviving the Night” are forerunners to this book.
Only a couple of hours had passed since returning to the firebase. Now, the sleep-deprived, weary First Platoon soldiers must go back out on another patrol to search two areas of hostility from the night before. A thorough search might reveal items overlooked in the dark.
It was supposed to be an easy patrol, two klicks out and two klicks back, count the dead bodies, then return by lunch. At least, that was the plan.
The soldiers soon found themselves surrounded and in serious danger, all because their battalion commander’s thirst for body counts and fame drove them to take unnecessary risks. Outgunned and alone. Will they all survive? Get your copy to find out.
Sixpack, Polack, LG, and the bunch are back in this new installment from the award-winning author of “Cherries: A Vietnam War Novel.”
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Realistic and well-written
A great story by an excellent writer.
Podlaski draws readers into the meat of his stories immediately.
John Kowalski makes it home from the Vietnam War in one piece, and his battles are finally over. Or so he thought. Home for less than a week, John must defend his family from two unwelcome thugs hell-bent on revenge.
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Detail-rich story that keeps the reader engaged
Great introduction to the life of a young man heading to war
Thought-provoking memoir with smiles and tears
Mr. Podlaski is well known for his accounts of his time served in the Vietnam War. However, this short story allows readers to see the beginning. He shares the emotions of being drafted into the U.S. Army on 2-27-70 and how it impacted not only him but also his family.
If you want to know what these ‘soon-to-be soldiers’ experienced at the Induction Center, then this book is a good place to start.
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The author’s style of writing engages all the reader’s senses
This evocative, descriptive micro-read will trigger memories
Author, you got me believing in the bogeyman again!
As a reward, two fourteen-year-old boys are offered a great first-time opportunity to sit up front in the open and watch a movie at a local drive-in theater. Little did they know the movie would affect them in ways neither had imagined nor would ever forget.
Pick up a copy to find out what happened.
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The story follows Polack and LG during an overnight watch at a Listening Post (LP) outside their new firebase in Vietnam’s Iron Triangle jungle. Their task is to serve as an early warning system, detecting enemy movement so the firebase can respond quickly. The darkness is so intense they cannot see their fingers, yet they must stay alert despite the harsh conditions—creepy creatures, insects, rain—and the ongoing threat of attack. Soon, they realize they are not alone.
The author vividly depicts the action, engaging all your senses. It’s a powerful story of resilience and bravery. Don’t pass this one up.
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Written with great attention to detail, putting the reader solidly in John’s shoes.
Cleverly Written, Dynamic Storytelling
John survived Vietnam, but first, he survived Detroit
This collection of short-story memoirs depicts growing up in 1960s Detroit, capturing the author’s childhood adventures — alone or with friends — often marked by both fear and excitement. Vivid descriptions bring his experiences to life, revealing the innocence of boys who chase adventure despite the consequences.
From the terror of monsters in the basement to a severe case of the yips after watching Night of the Living Dead — the first day at camp, a diving challenge into dangerous waters, the invasion of a cemetery after hours, and investigating a haunted house — these are adventures many readers will recognize from their own childhood. Filled with humor, loyalty, bravado, and the universal experience of boys on the edge of growing up.
Readers may recall their own childhood moments, especially those spent running from danger in the dark.
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This anthology features 23 randomly chosen posts from my website, showcasing the challenges many infantry soldiers faced during the Vietnam War and after they returned home. These stories are rooted in my personal experiences and include many ‘firsts’. Each chapter includes photos that illustrate the discussion.
I hope that, after reading this, people who are unfamiliar with the military and the Vietnam War will better understand what we went through while serving our country. Thank you for your interest and support! I am certain that Veterans will relate. Welcome home!
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Pricing:
Cherries: A Vietnam War Novel……$13.00
When Can I Stop Running?…..$8.00
Death in the Triangle……$8.00
Unwelcomed…..$6.00
2-27-70…..$6.00
Unhinged…..$6.00
Surviving the Night…..$8.00
Running in the Dark…..$8.00
Memories of Nam: An Anthology: $10.00
SPECIAL BONUS: PURCHASE ALL NINE BOOKS AS A BUNDLE FOR $60.00 AND SAVE 18%
*All pricing is in US Dollars and does not include postage.
To order, email the following information to john.podlaski@gmail.com and include “Book Purchase” in the subject line.
Book Title(s):
Name of person to sign book for:
Veteran, yes or no.
Your full mailing address:
Email address: Needed for audiobook drawing (see below).
I will determine the postage cost and send you a PayPal invoice. Once I receive payment, I will mail your order via USPS.
NOTE: I WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL DRAWING FOR ALL BUYERS ON DECEMBER 10TH. TEN WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF MY CHERRIES: A VIETNAM WAR NOVEL AUDIOBOOK FROM AUDIBLE.COM (ONE CHANCE PER ORDER).
