What do you think?
Rate this book
One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake UP: One man's story of what it meant to be a PJ
One man’s story of what it meant to be a PJ.
In 1966, the political leaders in Washington and the Pentagon made the decision to escalate the war in Vietnam. In doing, the demand for a trained military far exceeded the supply. In an attempt to meet this demand, the Selective Service was required to draft thousands of young men into the military and send them to Vietnam to fight in United States’ most controversial war. Most young men were sent with little or insufficient training, where the commanders were required to put their troops into reckless jeopardy to satisfy the political ambition of a few.
One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, follows a young man’s account of his four years serving in the Air Force. This novel follows him and his best friend as they volunteer to cross train into the elite career field of Pararescue. They spend 14 months of grueling training where only the best and those with the desire to push themselves to the limit, successfully succeed in becoming a PJ.
When he graduates and proudly wears the burgundy beret and Pararescue Flash, he knows it is only a matter of weeks; he will be assigned to a Pararescue flight crew in Vietnam. The book follows his 13 months in Vietnam where he quickly learns the horror of war and how he must adapt to not only keep his sanity, also return alive. His story contains several of the rescue missions he and his PJ brothers complete where not all of the rescued are returned alive. When he faces personal bereavement, he must reach deep to restore his integrity, and keep his oath, “These things I do, that others may live.”
In 1966, the political leaders in Washington and the Pentagon made the decision to escalate the war in Vietnam. In doing, the demand for a trained military far exceeded the supply. In an attempt to meet this demand, the Selective Service was required to draft thousands of young men into the military and send them to Vietnam to fight in United States’ most controversial war. Most young men were sent with little or insufficient training, where the commanders were required to put their troops into reckless jeopardy to satisfy the political ambition of a few.
One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, follows a young man’s account of his four years serving in the Air Force. This novel follows him and his best friend as they volunteer to cross train into the elite career field of Pararescue. They spend 14 months of grueling training where only the best and those with the desire to push themselves to the limit, successfully succeed in becoming a PJ.
When he graduates and proudly wears the burgundy beret and Pararescue Flash, he knows it is only a matter of weeks; he will be assigned to a Pararescue flight crew in Vietnam. The book follows his 13 months in Vietnam where he quickly learns the horror of war and how he must adapt to not only keep his sanity, also return alive. His story contains several of the rescue missions he and his PJ brothers complete where not all of the rescued are returned alive. When he faces personal bereavement, he must reach deep to restore his integrity, and keep his oath, “These things I do, that others may live.”
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2016
33 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 2, 2016
I was blown away by this book. The author is kind of distantly related to me, so I bought the book to be "nice".
I thought that I would not be interested in a book about the Vietnam War. It was a strange time to be growing up, and I had a very traumatic incident with a vet who ended up in prison while I was in my late teens. Now, they would have known that he had PTSD, and hopefully treated him instead of letting him cause havoc until they had to send him to prison.
Anyway, I LOVED this book. I can't believe the details that Chuck remembered about his training and the people he met and worked with. The stories just got more and more addictive as I got further into the book.
Now I know that the way that the veterans of the Vietnam War and the Korean War were all treated so unfairly, especially considering that the World War II veterans were so celebrated.
This story is an inspiration and an incredible slice of American history. I highly recommend it!!
I thought that I would not be interested in a book about the Vietnam War. It was a strange time to be growing up, and I had a very traumatic incident with a vet who ended up in prison while I was in my late teens. Now, they would have known that he had PTSD, and hopefully treated him instead of letting him cause havoc until they had to send him to prison.
Anyway, I LOVED this book. I can't believe the details that Chuck remembered about his training and the people he met and worked with. The stories just got more and more addictive as I got further into the book.
Now I know that the way that the veterans of the Vietnam War and the Korean War were all treated so unfairly, especially considering that the World War II veterans were so celebrated.
This story is an inspiration and an incredible slice of American history. I highly recommend it!!
February 11, 2019
Excellent
A great book about a very small group of people in the Air Force whose track record is stratospherically impressive if people knew about it . As an Air Force retiree myself , I have visited the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base a few times . The last time I was there it was with my great-nephew who I had custody of due to family issues . He was nine years old and really loved seeing all the exhibits . There was a gentleman who came to give a lecture /demonstration he had the Air Force ABU uniform , and the distinctive PJ beret. When I explained to Anthony James ( AJ) just what the significance that very simple piece of headgear represent to all of us in the Air Force. Needless to say he was impressed . There is a section of the museum devoted to the Air Force para rescue force . We did spend a lot of time there , and maybe I have generated a new recruit in a few years . I also explained to him that the selection process is extremely discriminating and they take only the best of the best of the very best . (oh yeah school is important) . That's sort of put him off a little bit , but time will tell. As far as Vietnam is concerned , I joined in 73 , even had base elections in Southeast Asia , but things had shut down by the time I finished basic training . It is hard to believe that that conflict is so far in the past now , but if nothing else illustrates just how much faith we in the military have in a system that squandered so much priceless wealth as our very best and brightest were fed into that mess . For all of you served in Vietnam you have my highest respect and admiration and a heartfelt thank you and God bless you all for holding the line .
Bill Hodges
A great book about a very small group of people in the Air Force whose track record is stratospherically impressive if people knew about it . As an Air Force retiree myself , I have visited the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base a few times . The last time I was there it was with my great-nephew who I had custody of due to family issues . He was nine years old and really loved seeing all the exhibits . There was a gentleman who came to give a lecture /demonstration he had the Air Force ABU uniform , and the distinctive PJ beret. When I explained to Anthony James ( AJ) just what the significance that very simple piece of headgear represent to all of us in the Air Force. Needless to say he was impressed . There is a section of the museum devoted to the Air Force para rescue force . We did spend a lot of time there , and maybe I have generated a new recruit in a few years . I also explained to him that the selection process is extremely discriminating and they take only the best of the best of the very best . (oh yeah school is important) . That's sort of put him off a little bit , but time will tell. As far as Vietnam is concerned , I joined in 73 , even had base elections in Southeast Asia , but things had shut down by the time I finished basic training . It is hard to believe that that conflict is so far in the past now , but if nothing else illustrates just how much faith we in the military have in a system that squandered so much priceless wealth as our very best and brightest were fed into that mess . For all of you served in Vietnam you have my highest respect and admiration and a heartfelt thank you and God bless you all for holding the line .
Bill Hodges
August 19, 2019
D Alan is right
A lot of inaccuracies aside from what D. Alan pointed out. There are many Special Forces guys who would take issue with classifying PJ's as Special Forces. SF is technically reserved for counter insurgents known as Green Berets. A more apt term for PJ's would be Special Operations where they were assigned specifically to in Vietnam. Ex. The 20th Special Operations Squadron (and others) were supported by PJ's flying not only Pedro's but Jolly and later Super Jolly Greens. At the time of this book, 1967, many PJ candidates went through not only Army airborne training but Ranger school. And they welcomed it. And the mistake about a 52 going down in the DMV is a glaring one. It might have happened in an Arc Light or the earlier bombing of Cambodia, but not Hanoi. The flight pattern from Guam or Kadena would not have taken it over the DMV. And I would like to know what 52 in combat would fly with 4 crewmen. Not likely. A PJ would know where emergency equipment and rations would be on a 52. It's part of the training. And it is generally called a scarlet not a burgundy beret, so named for the color of the shed blood of the rescued. Later CC teams (combat controllers) would wear maroon berets.
Generally any book about PJ's though is welcome. It's about time.
A lot of inaccuracies aside from what D. Alan pointed out. There are many Special Forces guys who would take issue with classifying PJ's as Special Forces. SF is technically reserved for counter insurgents known as Green Berets. A more apt term for PJ's would be Special Operations where they were assigned specifically to in Vietnam. Ex. The 20th Special Operations Squadron (and others) were supported by PJ's flying not only Pedro's but Jolly and later Super Jolly Greens. At the time of this book, 1967, many PJ candidates went through not only Army airborne training but Ranger school. And they welcomed it. And the mistake about a 52 going down in the DMV is a glaring one. It might have happened in an Arc Light or the earlier bombing of Cambodia, but not Hanoi. The flight pattern from Guam or Kadena would not have taken it over the DMV. And I would like to know what 52 in combat would fly with 4 crewmen. Not likely. A PJ would know where emergency equipment and rations would be on a 52. It's part of the training. And it is generally called a scarlet not a burgundy beret, so named for the color of the shed blood of the rescued. Later CC teams (combat controllers) would wear maroon berets.
Generally any book about PJ's though is welcome. It's about time.
December 14, 2018
Nothing but a while lot better needed for our fighting men
I thoroughly enjoy military memoirs, particularly written by members of our Special Forces. Having served in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict, I was very interested in this story of the Air Force Pararescue "PJs" in-country. So it was with considerable disappointment that I had to navigate through the rocks and shoals of misspelling, bad grammar, poor syntax and horrible editing to get through this tale. And unless one looked closely, the reader may have missed the fact that this was a work of fiction. On whose experience(s) did the author base this rendition of a PJ's tour in Vietnam? When I read fiction, I am usually looking for some literary qualities in the prose, such as pacing, theme(s), narrative arc, character development, a fine turn of phrase. Non-fiction, on the other hand, can be less high-falutin' if the reader can have confidence in the authenticity of the author's experiences. This number was, therefore, neither fish nor fowl and so was - mmmmmm - a letdown. I believe the PJs - and, for that matter, any combat veterans - deserve better. I hope author Jackson has since retained the services of a professional editor / support staff. If not, Chuck, call me.
I thoroughly enjoy military memoirs, particularly written by members of our Special Forces. Having served in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict, I was very interested in this story of the Air Force Pararescue "PJs" in-country. So it was with considerable disappointment that I had to navigate through the rocks and shoals of misspelling, bad grammar, poor syntax and horrible editing to get through this tale. And unless one looked closely, the reader may have missed the fact that this was a work of fiction. On whose experience(s) did the author base this rendition of a PJ's tour in Vietnam? When I read fiction, I am usually looking for some literary qualities in the prose, such as pacing, theme(s), narrative arc, character development, a fine turn of phrase. Non-fiction, on the other hand, can be less high-falutin' if the reader can have confidence in the authenticity of the author's experiences. This number was, therefore, neither fish nor fowl and so was - mmmmmm - a letdown. I believe the PJs - and, for that matter, any combat veterans - deserve better. I hope author Jackson has since retained the services of a professional editor / support staff. If not, Chuck, call me.
April 1, 2021
I’m really torn on how to rate this
The author has a plain style of writing and story telling which is somewhat appealing and I read the book in a day. However there are so many grammatical and spelling errors that it is incredibly distracting and frustrating to read. Much of the dialogue also seems stilted or paraphrased so much that it doesn’t sound real or natural.
The author has a plain style of writing and story telling which is somewhat appealing and I read the book in a day. However there are so many grammatical and spelling errors that it is incredibly distracting and frustrating to read. Much of the dialogue also seems stilted or paraphrased so much that it doesn’t sound real or natural.
November 30, 2019
I think it was an honest and heartfelt story, and I was glad I read it. The editing was what brought my review down. The grammar and spelling unfortunately made the story difficult to understand on occasion.
April 15, 2018
One stuff cookie
Enjoyed sharing his memories and I hope writing this book helped him. There's not a lot I can say about the book, it was well written, brought back many memories of the service for me. I haven't read or even seen many books about the PJ's but after this one I'll be looking for more.
Enjoyed sharing his memories and I hope writing this book helped him. There's not a lot I can say about the book, it was well written, brought back many memories of the service for me. I haven't read or even seen many books about the PJ's but after this one I'll be looking for more.
October 8, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Chuck Jackson’s new story, “One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake-up – One man’s story of what it meant to be a PJ”. The Navy has their Seals, Army, Green Beret’s, and the Air Force,, Pararescue Jumpers (PJ). One thing to note is that they are all the best of the best and good at what they do.
In this story, readers follow the protagonist and his best friend as they go through basic training and then into Special Forces training to become PJ’s. The training is extremely difficult and those who graduate have a special skill – one that was greatly in need in the Vietnam War.
The friend is first to leave the country and later followed by the protagonist. Once there, he finds that the two of them will be separated during their tours.
The author’s recounting of the training and many rescue operations shared in the book makes readers thankful that people exist who are not daunted by the task at hand. In most instances, the PJ leaves the helicopter alone to seek out the missing pilots or crews of the downed aircraft. One story in particular left me breathless, where the jumper and missing pilot are left on the ground after enemy fire causes their transportation to vacate the area. To avoid spoiling the story, I will leave it there.
Other missions tell the story of rescues where those on the ground did not survive and the mission became one of recovery instead. Initially, I thought this book was about the author writing about his own experiences. He did let me know that the story is a work of fiction and the accounts are those based on the recounting from a close friend. Either way, I’ve a great respect for these men and their special skills. As a result, I feel comfortable knowing that soldiers like those portrayed in this story are keeping me safe.
Highly recommended for those wanting to learn more about what these special people have to go through to earn the burgundy beret and flash…and then, marvel at what it takes to stand between us citizens and those who want to harm us. Great job Mr. Jackson!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
In this story, readers follow the protagonist and his best friend as they go through basic training and then into Special Forces training to become PJ’s. The training is extremely difficult and those who graduate have a special skill – one that was greatly in need in the Vietnam War.
The friend is first to leave the country and later followed by the protagonist. Once there, he finds that the two of them will be separated during their tours.
The author’s recounting of the training and many rescue operations shared in the book makes readers thankful that people exist who are not daunted by the task at hand. In most instances, the PJ leaves the helicopter alone to seek out the missing pilots or crews of the downed aircraft. One story in particular left me breathless, where the jumper and missing pilot are left on the ground after enemy fire causes their transportation to vacate the area. To avoid spoiling the story, I will leave it there.
Other missions tell the story of rescues where those on the ground did not survive and the mission became one of recovery instead. Initially, I thought this book was about the author writing about his own experiences. He did let me know that the story is a work of fiction and the accounts are those based on the recounting from a close friend. Either way, I’ve a great respect for these men and their special skills. As a result, I feel comfortable knowing that soldiers like those portrayed in this story are keeping me safe.
Highly recommended for those wanting to learn more about what these special people have to go through to earn the burgundy beret and flash…and then, marvel at what it takes to stand between us citizens and those who want to harm us. Great job Mr. Jackson!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
August 28, 2016
T hi is book was recommended to me by a long time friend who is a long time friend of the author. I found the book to portray genuine challenges of those trying to make their way in the world with decisions that define an individual's future. I found the story realistic and honest and very much enjoyed the read. I thank the author for his service. My father is among his Vietnam Veteran peers.
This book was recommended to me y a long time friend who is a long time friend of the author and I'm glad she did! I found the book to portray the genuine challenges of those trying to make their way in the world with decisions that define an individual's future. The story was realistic and honest and I very m u h enjoyed the read. I thInk the author for his service. My father is among his Vietnam Veteran peers.
This book was recommended to me y a long time friend who is a long time friend of the author and I'm glad she did! I found the book to portray the genuine challenges of those trying to make their way in the world with decisions that define an individual's future. The story was realistic and honest and I very m u h enjoyed the read. I thInk the author for his service. My father is among his Vietnam Veteran peers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews