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Blood on the Risers: An Airborne Soldier's Thirty-five Months in Vietnam
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368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 28, 2016
Perskaičiau "Kraują ant parašiuto diržų" (Vietnamo karas iš arti desantininko žvilgsniu). Aibė gyvenimiškų purvino karo momentų, karininkų nemokšiškas vadovavimas, nuo širdies iškeikti nuolat užsikirtinėdavę M16, labai išgirti reindžerių reidai, kuriuose autorius irgi dalyvavo. Knygą ėmiau iš Antakalnio bibliotekos, kažkuris iš ankstesnių ją skaičiusių, keistuolis, stropiai pieštukų pabraukęs visas knygos vietas, kur bent kiek neigiamai atsiliepta apie moteris...;)
Man tuo tarpu labiausiai įsiminė karių susidorojimas su beždžione. Ją turėjo per džiungles besibraunančių desantininkų būrio medikas, pirkęs mieste (jautresniems gyvūnėlių mėgėjams gal neskaityti):
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Daugelis mūsų to mažo padaro nekentė, mat jam patikdavo šokinėti nuo nedidelių medžių mums ant nugarų. Nieko labai bloga, bet kai ant kupros velki trisdešimt kilogramųk, uždribę papildomi keturi-penki kilogramai galėdavo parklupdyti. Beždžionė turėjo taip pat asmeninės higienos problemų. Kol braudavomės per džiungles, prišikusi sau į delną išmatas svaidydavo į mus. Jos dienos buvo suskaičiuotos, tačiau turėjome viska atlikti apdairiai, nes medikas mylėjo tą mažają pabaisą.
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...dar labiau kariai įsiuto, kai beždžionė išvertė jų su dideliu vargu šalme išsivirtą vadinamąjį "plieno puodo troškinį", tad kartą medikui nuėjus į karininkų pasitarimą
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Pitas lėtai nusėlino prie beždžionės. Ta tiesiog stovėjo ir stebėjo šnypšdama, kol Pitas ištiesą ranką ir ją pačiupo. Laikydamas už kaklo ir galvos, Pitas šūktelėjo:
- Nagi, Lepai, padarykim tai.
Nors ir norėjau atsikratyti beždžionės, iš anksto nebuvau sumetęs jokio veikimo plano, todėl sukau galvą, kaip tą mažą pabaisą pribaigti. Peilis - per daug kraujo ir susekama. Jei nušautume, "dokas" irgi susigaudytų, kad kažkas pribaigė jo numylėtinę. Keli vyrai juokdamiesi skubino mane. Staiga, pagautas įkvėpimo, čiupau purškalo nuo uodų buteliuką, pritvirtintą prie šalmo, ir skubiai nužingsniavau prie Pito. Jis laikė beždžionės galvą pražiotą, kol purškiau turinį į gerklę. Įsiutikinęs, kad beždžinė nurijo, Pitas paleido ją ant žemės. Beždžionė persivertė kūlvirsčia ir spiegdama pasileido kiek įkerta... Kitądien "dokas" nešėsi tą mažą bjaurybę ant savo kuprinės. Beždžionė gulėjo ten dejuodama ir aimanuodama. Kaskart, kai sustodavome, "dokas" vis bandydavo sugirdyti jai vandens. Maždaug vidurdienį beždžionė pakratė kojas ir, kol valgėme pietus, "dokas" užkasė savo gyvūnėlį. Rimtais veidais visi išreiškėme užuojautą ir vėl pajudėjome.
Man tuo tarpu labiausiai įsiminė karių susidorojimas su beždžione. Ją turėjo per džiungles besibraunančių desantininkų būrio medikas, pirkęs mieste (jautresniems gyvūnėlių mėgėjams gal neskaityti):
////
Daugelis mūsų to mažo padaro nekentė, mat jam patikdavo šokinėti nuo nedidelių medžių mums ant nugarų. Nieko labai bloga, bet kai ant kupros velki trisdešimt kilogramųk, uždribę papildomi keturi-penki kilogramai galėdavo parklupdyti. Beždžionė turėjo taip pat asmeninės higienos problemų. Kol braudavomės per džiungles, prišikusi sau į delną išmatas svaidydavo į mus. Jos dienos buvo suskaičiuotos, tačiau turėjome viska atlikti apdairiai, nes medikas mylėjo tą mažają pabaisą.
//////
...dar labiau kariai įsiuto, kai beždžionė išvertė jų su dideliu vargu šalme išsivirtą vadinamąjį "plieno puodo troškinį", tad kartą medikui nuėjus į karininkų pasitarimą
//////
Pitas lėtai nusėlino prie beždžionės. Ta tiesiog stovėjo ir stebėjo šnypšdama, kol Pitas ištiesą ranką ir ją pačiupo. Laikydamas už kaklo ir galvos, Pitas šūktelėjo:
- Nagi, Lepai, padarykim tai.
Nors ir norėjau atsikratyti beždžionės, iš anksto nebuvau sumetęs jokio veikimo plano, todėl sukau galvą, kaip tą mažą pabaisą pribaigti. Peilis - per daug kraujo ir susekama. Jei nušautume, "dokas" irgi susigaudytų, kad kažkas pribaigė jo numylėtinę. Keli vyrai juokdamiesi skubino mane. Staiga, pagautas įkvėpimo, čiupau purškalo nuo uodų buteliuką, pritvirtintą prie šalmo, ir skubiai nužingsniavau prie Pito. Jis laikė beždžionės galvą pražiotą, kol purškiau turinį į gerklę. Įsiutikinęs, kad beždžinė nurijo, Pitas paleido ją ant žemės. Beždžionė persivertė kūlvirsčia ir spiegdama pasileido kiek įkerta... Kitądien "dokas" nešėsi tą mažą bjaurybę ant savo kuprinės. Beždžionė gulėjo ten dejuodama ir aimanuodama. Kaskart, kai sustodavome, "dokas" vis bandydavo sugirdyti jai vandens. Maždaug vidurdienį beždžionė pakratė kojas ir, kol valgėme pietus, "dokas" užkasė savo gyvūnėlį. Rimtais veidais visi išreiškėme užuojautą ir vėl pajudėjome.
December 2, 2016
I've just finished this and although it took me 3 months to read this wasn't because it's not worth reading. In fact it's more than worth spending your money on. The reason it took so long is because I go so angry in places I had to put the book down and walk away from it. Not angry with 'Lepp' but with the way he (and all the other 'grunts' and every day men (boys)) were treated and dealt with. His honesty with regards to mistakes made and the situations the men (boys) were put in made my blood boil at times.
Written in journal form you are taken on the journey with him, from the time he signed up, to the time he left the forces. His honesty with regards some situations and people, may be hard for some to read in these modern, politically correct times, but if you are offended you need to remember times were different then and his comments are relevant to those times. Yes there are moments when I wanted to tell him to bite his tongue and keep his head down, but at the end of the day can any of us say we would have behaved any differently?
He has an excellent prose at describing the events he took part in and the surroundings, giving some kind of visual imagery to the reader so you almost feel as if you are following him through the jungle and down the rivers. You can feel the heat and smell the smells (several times I wanted to pull him out of the jungle and run a hot bath for him) yet his descriptions of some of the horrendous things he encountered (including the deaths of platoon comrades) although descriptive aren't graphic enough to put you off reading.
Written in journal form you are taken on the journey with him, from the time he signed up, to the time he left the forces. His honesty with regards some situations and people, may be hard for some to read in these modern, politically correct times, but if you are offended you need to remember times were different then and his comments are relevant to those times. Yes there are moments when I wanted to tell him to bite his tongue and keep his head down, but at the end of the day can any of us say we would have behaved any differently?
He has an excellent prose at describing the events he took part in and the surroundings, giving some kind of visual imagery to the reader so you almost feel as if you are following him through the jungle and down the rivers. You can feel the heat and smell the smells (several times I wanted to pull him out of the jungle and run a hot bath for him) yet his descriptions of some of the horrendous things he encountered (including the deaths of platoon comrades) although descriptive aren't graphic enough to put you off reading.
February 5, 2015
The writing is basic which makes for quick reading.
The stories are unbelievable and will make you think long and hard about war. Our military is broken --- with officers leading from the rear with little to no combat experience. How many military veterans are currently serving in Congress ?
On a side note, I can't find any information on the author. Is he still alive? Has he ever given interviews? Did he write under a pen name? Is the book fiction? Private message me if you have any additional info...
Going to add this one to my list next: Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country
The stories are unbelievable and will make you think long and hard about war. Our military is broken --- with officers leading from the rear with little to no combat experience. How many military veterans are currently serving in Congress ?
On a side note, I can't find any information on the author. Is he still alive? Has he ever given interviews? Did he write under a pen name? Is the book fiction? Private message me if you have any additional info...
Going to add this one to my list next: Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country
June 3, 2021
Loud mouth
Blood on the Risers is ok. His attitude towards officers and NCOs gets old quick. He clearly has a problem with any authority he disagrees with and comes across as angry and disgruntled. I’ve read a lot of memoirs from those who served in Vietnam. They often were mad about the way the war was fought and when they had bad leaders but none who are this mad at everyone. I’m grateful to all who served but this is a book I’d skip.
Blood on the Risers is ok. His attitude towards officers and NCOs gets old quick. He clearly has a problem with any authority he disagrees with and comes across as angry and disgruntled. I’ve read a lot of memoirs from those who served in Vietnam. They often were mad about the way the war was fought and when they had bad leaders but none who are this mad at everyone. I’m grateful to all who served but this is a book I’d skip.
October 11, 2015
An amazing book. Very similar to "Life and Death on the Central Highlands".
August 10, 2020
This memoir of the Vietnam War by first-time author John Leppelman wastes no time getting to the good stuff. He describes his upbringing in Visalia, CA, his enlistment in the Army, his time at the induction center in Fresno, orientation at Fort Ord, basic training at Fort Gordon and Airborne school at Fort Benning—all within the eight-page introduction. On page one proper, he steps out of a C-130 aircraft and into the sweltering heat of Saigon in South Vietnam.
As a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, he participated in the only combat parachute jump of the entire Vietnam War on February 22, 1967. The exit altitude was a dangerously-low 750 feet, and there were 844 total paratroopers as well as one French female correspondent (and it was not her first combat jump!)
This book includes many interesting facts, including:
Paratroopers experienced such hard landings under their T-10 round parachutes that sometimes a pin would dislodge from a grenade when they impacted the ground. The soldiers had to use duct tape to secure the pins on their grenades before every jump.
The fully automatic M-16 assault rifles provided to soldiers during the Vietnam War were complete garbage. At any one time, half of the men in Leppelman’s unit were using barely functional M-16’s. They would jam every few shots, and sometime they would just explode in the soldier’s hands. Because the newest recruits were always given the worst of the available guns, whenever a soldier was killed in action, their nearest squad mate would swap guns with them.
In the field, soldiers often loaded a tracer round as the fifth-to-last bullet of every magazine. During nighttime firefights, the tracer round would alert the soldier that they only had four shots left before they needed to reload.
The Tokay lizard, an amphibian native to the jungles of Southeast Asia, was given the interesting nickname of the “Fuck You” lizard because of the sound it makes. I found a video on You Tube with audio recordings of the lizard’s call, and it sounds eerily like the popular expletive.
The first thing that a soldier does when they see an old issue of Stars and Stripes magazine lying around is to flip to the back pages and scan through the lists of KIA, WIA and MIA, searching for names of friends and other people they had served alongside.
The oddest section of the book is a paragraph on page 135 that describes a possible UFO sighting—a very bright light in the jungle suddenly takes off and disappears into the sky, never to be mentioned again.
In civilian life after the war, John Leppelman was a successful businessman, and he spent his free time Scuba diving and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes for sport. He died on Halloween 2019. We thank you for your service, sir. RIP.
As a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, he participated in the only combat parachute jump of the entire Vietnam War on February 22, 1967. The exit altitude was a dangerously-low 750 feet, and there were 844 total paratroopers as well as one French female correspondent (and it was not her first combat jump!)
This book includes many interesting facts, including:
Paratroopers experienced such hard landings under their T-10 round parachutes that sometimes a pin would dislodge from a grenade when they impacted the ground. The soldiers had to use duct tape to secure the pins on their grenades before every jump.
The fully automatic M-16 assault rifles provided to soldiers during the Vietnam War were complete garbage. At any one time, half of the men in Leppelman’s unit were using barely functional M-16’s. They would jam every few shots, and sometime they would just explode in the soldier’s hands. Because the newest recruits were always given the worst of the available guns, whenever a soldier was killed in action, their nearest squad mate would swap guns with them.
In the field, soldiers often loaded a tracer round as the fifth-to-last bullet of every magazine. During nighttime firefights, the tracer round would alert the soldier that they only had four shots left before they needed to reload.
The Tokay lizard, an amphibian native to the jungles of Southeast Asia, was given the interesting nickname of the “Fuck You” lizard because of the sound it makes. I found a video on You Tube with audio recordings of the lizard’s call, and it sounds eerily like the popular expletive.
The first thing that a soldier does when they see an old issue of Stars and Stripes magazine lying around is to flip to the back pages and scan through the lists of KIA, WIA and MIA, searching for names of friends and other people they had served alongside.
The oddest section of the book is a paragraph on page 135 that describes a possible UFO sighting—a very bright light in the jungle suddenly takes off and disappears into the sky, never to be mentioned again.
In civilian life after the war, John Leppelman was a successful businessman, and he spent his free time Scuba diving and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes for sport. He died on Halloween 2019. We thank you for your service, sir. RIP.
April 13, 2015
MAN, THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS! It is a GREAT read, but there is nothing poetic or poignant, it is stark and brutal reality of what the fighting men went through to secure our FREEDOM from enemies when our government sent them into the fray, whether or not they agreed with the politics, they fought for the guy beside them, not for some politician that didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground. They fought for their buddies, and all too often they died for them, too.
GOD bless the American soldiers. Thanks for all ya'll do.
GOD bless the American soldiers. Thanks for all ya'll do.
September 17, 2012
This book was bad ass! The way Leppelman told his story of being in Vietnam made me feel like I was there with him. One thing I admired about Leppelman was that he offered a perspective on being a grunt that most writers tend to overlook, such as how their machine guns were pron to jam and thus cost many American soldiers their lives.
A first hand account of someone who was there. I'm surprised they haven't made a movie out of this book.
A first hand account of someone who was there. I'm surprised they haven't made a movie out of this book.
May 28, 2007
I've read a good handful of books dealing with experiences in Vietnam, and this book has to be my favorite.
What makes this book unique is that the author wasn't just an infantryman, or a Ranger, he was a paratrooper in a fire brigade, then a crewman on a PT boat, and then a Long Range Reconnaisance Patrolman. So you get experiences from three different areas all in one book.
What makes this book unique is that the author wasn't just an infantryman, or a Ranger, he was a paratrooper in a fire brigade, then a crewman on a PT boat, and then a Long Range Reconnaisance Patrolman. So you get experiences from three different areas all in one book.
November 29, 2022
It was okay is a perfect review of this one. There wasn't much action at all, the author is kind of proud of being a dickhead and brings a lot of his troubles onto himself, and then after squeezing out a last little bit of misogyny and homophobia it just ends.
It would've been a great 10 page magazine article.
It would've been a great 10 page magazine article.
February 27, 2008
I don't generally go for the military genre, but this is an amazing journey through the Vietnam War. It's shoot from the hip, in your face, Airborne All The Way! Dirty, bloody, painful and touching. You feel like a bad ass just reading it.
March 2, 2018
Outstanding!!!
Just a great book from start to finish. Well written and the writer puts you in his shoes. A great look into our fighting men and the heroes that were forgotten by an ungrateful nation.
Just a great book from start to finish. Well written and the writer puts you in his shoes. A great look into our fighting men and the heroes that were forgotten by an ungrateful nation.
August 13, 2012
must read- VIetnam War Heroes
May 3, 2013
Great and easy read, what a story!!
February 24, 2015
Great book! Learned a lot about the Vietnam War and this guy seen a lot of crazy stuff and lived!
May 19, 2017
This was my first book about Vietnam war.
I love it.
I love it.
December 29, 2018
Penkios žąsis, labai tikroviškai, lyg ir mažai beletristikos, jokių Biblijos studijų. Labai įtraukianti knyga, per du kartus pabaigiau, bučiau per viena pabaigęs, bet reikejo eiti miegoti.
January 15, 2018
One of the best books ever written on Vietnam, period.
February 21, 2018
Excellent account of soldier who served in an airborne unit, a riverine unit and finally a ranger unit. Easy to read and realistic descriptions of combat and off times.
November 10, 2025
most of this sounded genuine and no one can doubt the courage of these guys. I never had officers or sgts talk to me the way he describes though. The other thing the book makes me think is the author never learned that we had no business in a war half way around the world that didnt concern us.
I was a vet of that era and I we all had friends we served with or grew up with that died there for basically no gain to this country. I had no issues with the protesters or those who went to Canada instead. I do resent the fake doctor note folks. we were the last generation to say we all served or at least almost all of us. Those who thought we could ever win in the long term should by know now better. Unless we bombed north viet nam into oblivion it wasnt going to happen
I was a vet of that era and I we all had friends we served with or grew up with that died there for basically no gain to this country. I had no issues with the protesters or those who went to Canada instead. I do resent the fake doctor note folks. we were the last generation to say we all served or at least almost all of us. Those who thought we could ever win in the long term should by know now better. Unless we bombed north viet nam into oblivion it wasnt going to happen
February 3, 2021
Better than the Viet Cong!
Very interesting book about how an enlisted Army guy served multiple tours in Vietnam. He would have made a great field officer if he were permitted to rise up through the ranks. The last outfit he served with was the rangers, and they were able to beat the vs at their own game. If more of the war was fought in that manner ; we may had a different outcome.
Very interesting book about how an enlisted Army guy served multiple tours in Vietnam. He would have made a great field officer if he were permitted to rise up through the ranks. The last outfit he served with was the rangers, and they were able to beat the vs at their own game. If more of the war was fought in that manner ; we may had a different outcome.
September 6, 2023
Great Vietnam War read written by someone who went through some of the craziest shit I have ever heard. Interesting to hear first hand that they were realizing the war and the way the media portrayed the war was bullshit all while they’re still fighting through dense forrest and watching their own feet rot off. Intense stuff.
January 16, 2025
Absolutely one of the best Vietnam combat books
Incredibly enthralling first person account of life in Vietnam for an American soldier during the late 1960's. Fast action that kept my attention from start to finish. All real and easily understood. I served in South Vietnam in 1970-71 and I can't help but admire John Leppelman!
Incredibly enthralling first person account of life in Vietnam for an American soldier during the late 1960's. Fast action that kept my attention from start to finish. All real and easily understood. I served in South Vietnam in 1970-71 and I can't help but admire John Leppelman!
July 5, 2025
An unfiltered look of what was really going on in the war. This guy seems to be a real warrior, and details some of the b.s. that the guys had to face. Here's hoping that our sons and grandsons never have to put up with this level of incompetence. The notion that daughters and granddaughters may be part of it is absurd.
I'd love to share a beer with Lepp.
I'd love to share a beer with Lepp.
October 31, 2025
Required reading for true AMERICAN voters!
Enjoyed reading a book written by a real warrior. Who understands as few of today the desperate need for Americans to clean deadwood from our governments in towns, cities,counties, states and especially DC!. Please read the last added thoughts twice so they can sink in. Pray for our Forth Seventh PRESIDENT, today and every day!
Enjoyed reading a book written by a real warrior. Who understands as few of today the desperate need for Americans to clean deadwood from our governments in towns, cities,counties, states and especially DC!. Please read the last added thoughts twice so they can sink in. Pray for our Forth Seventh PRESIDENT, today and every day!
February 1, 2019
First half of the book was really slow but the rest was fast paced. His time in lrrp was some interesting to read but it was a very small portion of the book. Can't but pick up this guy hates women in the armed forced more than he hates REMF
March 15, 2020
Great book about the Vietnam War. Worth reading for both knowledgable on the topic and the ones getting acquainted to the war. Very well written with many details about the routine that should echoe to everyone who has served to either the US or any other NATO armed forces.
December 31, 2024
Really good read
Well written, with good descriptions of the training the soldiers received. Vivid action a accounts in a variety of units and a very practical account of close and individual, at times, combat.
Well written, with good descriptions of the training the soldiers received. Vivid action a accounts in a variety of units and a very practical account of close and individual, at times, combat.
January 12, 2019
Good story
I liked the story since it is a true story. The way the author had discussed the experience was great.
I liked the story since it is a true story. The way the author had discussed the experience was great.
August 26, 2021
I read this book several times and it was so good and insightful.
Miss you uncle John RIP
Miss you uncle John RIP
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews