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The Full Circle for Mick
The true and historical events which led to the USA and its allies waging war in Indochina and the war itself! There are a number of contraversial areas which were caused by double dealing and the outright lies told by Australia, Britain, France the USA, and China. Many of these lies related to the Geneva conference on Indochina. The strange thing was that China sided with the USA at conference called to discuss a peaceful outcome to the war of independence of Indochina. The decisions made by the conference were ignored by the USA which has had to cop a reputation of being a swaggering loud and inept bully during the war which cost the USA over 52,000 war dead and many thousands of men wounded. I am an Australian infantry soldier who took part in the war in 1968 and 1969. The book is written in the language of the soldier, and I do not aplogise for that!
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
About the author
Michael G. Kramer
13 books8,191 followersServed Australian army, including war service in the Vietnam War in 1968 - 1969. Came home to public shunning of Vietnam Veterans and discrimination against Vietnam Veterans by potential employers. This resulted in the setting up of the first business, (contract fencing) because I could not get a job. In due course, I studied for Advanced Diploma of Egineering Technology, Associate Degree of Civil Engineering and I am now doing my Arts degree. It was during the study of the arts degree that I became interested in the history of Northern Europe and Germania during the times of Julius and Augustus Ceasar. This led to researching and writing of the second book entitled 'For the Love of Armin'. Currently studying Bachelor of Construction Management.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 14, 2017
Very few books are written like Full circle for Mick, only after reading it I could extend the full appreciation to the title.
As a reader, one literally tours the times of early migrants , overlooking the clearing in forest where young Mick is growing potatoes, and witnesses how an enterprising confident person travers through life.
Travelling the time along the pages one realizes that the ugly face of racism, sting of discrimination, dilemma of children of split families, the noise of war machines and the thorn of PTSD couldn't put a dent in the expression of life identifying itself as Mick.
Few reviewers have focused only on the aspect of revocation of citizenship, making it appear that the book is about an army veteran fighting with the bureaucracy, which is far from the truth as the book covers many events in the life of the author.
Non techie readers may find it odd that the author has included diagrams of war machinery or quoted few engineering formulas, but i found it intresting, in fact I learnt few things I didn't know from one of the diagram.
Overall an intresting short biographical book by a decorated officer which will appeal to those who are seeking to read something light in short time.
As a reader, one literally tours the times of early migrants , overlooking the clearing in forest where young Mick is growing potatoes, and witnesses how an enterprising confident person travers through life.
Travelling the time along the pages one realizes that the ugly face of racism, sting of discrimination, dilemma of children of split families, the noise of war machines and the thorn of PTSD couldn't put a dent in the expression of life identifying itself as Mick.
Few reviewers have focused only on the aspect of revocation of citizenship, making it appear that the book is about an army veteran fighting with the bureaucracy, which is far from the truth as the book covers many events in the life of the author.
Non techie readers may find it odd that the author has included diagrams of war machinery or quoted few engineering formulas, but i found it intresting, in fact I learnt few things I didn't know from one of the diagram.
Overall an intresting short biographical book by a decorated officer which will appeal to those who are seeking to read something light in short time.
January 1, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Good grief. Full Circle for Mick is the story of bureaucracy gone totally overboard, of one man’s fight against the system, while dealing with PTSD at the same time. On the one hand, it dealt a lot with what he went through after returning from the Vietnam war, and how this affected him and his day to day life.
And as if that’s not enough, on top of that he gets denied a passport for what can only be called racist reasons, and gets stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare of epic proportions.
The book did have a lot of descriptions of things that didn’t matter that much for the plot, but that didn’t take away from this inspiring story about an underdog who didn’t stop fighting. An enjoyable story but at times frustrating because I could relate to the protagonist and his struggles, and frustrations over that. I practically felt that frustration along with the main character.
Good grief. Full Circle for Mick is the story of bureaucracy gone totally overboard, of one man’s fight against the system, while dealing with PTSD at the same time. On the one hand, it dealt a lot with what he went through after returning from the Vietnam war, and how this affected him and his day to day life.
And as if that’s not enough, on top of that he gets denied a passport for what can only be called racist reasons, and gets stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare of epic proportions.
The book did have a lot of descriptions of things that didn’t matter that much for the plot, but that didn’t take away from this inspiring story about an underdog who didn’t stop fighting. An enjoyable story but at times frustrating because I could relate to the protagonist and his struggles, and frustrations over that. I practically felt that frustration along with the main character.
April 28, 2025
I have always liked books about honest personal experiences, as this aids in gaining relatable insights into life. This is why I picked up my latest read, "Full Circle for Mick," by Michael G. Kramer.
This book aptly captures the resilience of Mick, a Vietnam War veteran who faces both the challenges of war and a long struggle to reclaim his citizenship years later.
I enjoyed this read steadily over a few days, engrossed in the realistic portrayal of military life and the emotional weight of Mick's journey of struggles. The story flows with intricate details about the military life and struggles of PTSD patients. This was my first read about content related to this topic.
I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates stories about perseverance, justice, and veterans' struggles beyond the battlefield. I have had the opportunity to read the author's work before, and I can vouch for that straightforward style. It makes pure connections with the characters and emotions easily, which is an essential facet for readers.
This book aptly captures the resilience of Mick, a Vietnam War veteran who faces both the challenges of war and a long struggle to reclaim his citizenship years later.
I enjoyed this read steadily over a few days, engrossed in the realistic portrayal of military life and the emotional weight of Mick's journey of struggles. The story flows with intricate details about the military life and struggles of PTSD patients. This was my first read about content related to this topic.
I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates stories about perseverance, justice, and veterans' struggles beyond the battlefield. I have had the opportunity to read the author's work before, and I can vouch for that straightforward style. It makes pure connections with the characters and emotions easily, which is an essential facet for readers.
April 24, 2025
Kramer’s knack for sharing history in the guise of historical fiction is second to none. I’ve read many of Kramer’s books, and each time, I feel like I’m on a learning expedition through time instead of reading a piece of fiction. It’s one of my favorite things about Kramer. He does his due diligence in research and crafting a historically accurate manuscript.
This book kicks off with Napoleon [no, not that Napoleon, but that Napoleon’s nephew] addressing his higher command on taking parts of southeast Asia (particularly Vietnam). This sets the tone for the whole book. There’s a lot in this book, but the feeling of oppressive higher authority is omnipresent as we journey with Mick to overcome a myriad of complex problems.
Overall, it is a well-written book that is on brand for Kramer. Definitely recommend!
This book kicks off with Napoleon [no, not that Napoleon, but that Napoleon’s nephew] addressing his higher command on taking parts of southeast Asia (particularly Vietnam). This sets the tone for the whole book. There’s a lot in this book, but the feeling of oppressive higher authority is omnipresent as we journey with Mick to overcome a myriad of complex problems.
Overall, it is a well-written book that is on brand for Kramer. Definitely recommend!
October 27, 2025
I was expecting a straight soldier’s memoir but got a family braid that loops from German engineers in Tsingtao to a young Australian who lies about his age to join 1RAR, then circles back through Vietnam again with the weight of karma and the grit of field life. It is messy in the way history is messy. I liked that. Sometimes I loved it.
Kramer tells the big story through stubborn details. French gunboats and Red River skirmishes. Saigon falling and the long ache of Indochina turning into another war. The book walks you from colonial grabs to Geneva to the hot dust of Nui Dat, and then into operations that still ring in Australian military memory. Coral. Windsor. Goodwood. I kept pausing to look up and breathe when the radio chatter and the thump of artillery felt too close. That is a compliment.
Mick is the beating center. He is young and sure and then not so sure. He meets an old Buddhist monk with a thread back to his own grandfather, and that encounter turns the book from a march into something like fate tapping on the shoulder. Later, after the tour ends, there is the part no one likes to read about yet everyone should. Sleeplessness. Anger. Diagnosis. He studies. He becomes an engineer. He goes back to Vietnam to try to set things right. I am not a soldier, but I recognized that quiet inventory people take of the choices that made them.
The prose is plain spoken and sometimes blunt, the way barracks talk is blunt. There are a few moments when a scene runs long or a rant grabs the wheel, and I caught myself arguing with the page. Still, even the rough edges feel honest. I kind of liked the scuffs.
I am calling this a strong four stars. It taught me things, it moved me, and it left me with that odd mix of sorrow and gratitude that follows you into the kitchen long after you close the book. If you want a polished museum tour, maybe not. If you want a road that remembers every footprint, yes. Read it.
Kramer tells the big story through stubborn details. French gunboats and Red River skirmishes. Saigon falling and the long ache of Indochina turning into another war. The book walks you from colonial grabs to Geneva to the hot dust of Nui Dat, and then into operations that still ring in Australian military memory. Coral. Windsor. Goodwood. I kept pausing to look up and breathe when the radio chatter and the thump of artillery felt too close. That is a compliment.
Mick is the beating center. He is young and sure and then not so sure. He meets an old Buddhist monk with a thread back to his own grandfather, and that encounter turns the book from a march into something like fate tapping on the shoulder. Later, after the tour ends, there is the part no one likes to read about yet everyone should. Sleeplessness. Anger. Diagnosis. He studies. He becomes an engineer. He goes back to Vietnam to try to set things right. I am not a soldier, but I recognized that quiet inventory people take of the choices that made them.
The prose is plain spoken and sometimes blunt, the way barracks talk is blunt. There are a few moments when a scene runs long or a rant grabs the wheel, and I caught myself arguing with the page. Still, even the rough edges feel honest. I kind of liked the scuffs.
I am calling this a strong four stars. It taught me things, it moved me, and it left me with that odd mix of sorrow and gratitude that follows you into the kitchen long after you close the book. If you want a polished museum tour, maybe not. If you want a road that remembers every footprint, yes. Read it.
November 4, 2025
This one surprised me in the best way. I expected straight military memoir with dates and unit numbers and a bit of score keeping. What I got was a long hard look at the whole chain of cause and effect that ran from French adventurism in the nineteenth century, through the broken promises at Geneva, to an Australian infantryman in the late sixties trying to survive Phuoc Tuy and then trying to survive what came after. The title makes sense once you see how the book keeps circling back to the Kramer line, from the German engineer in China to the grandson who lies about his age to get into 1RAR, meets a Buddhist monk with an unexpected family link, and later decides that the only way out is to put his karma straight through work and study. That is a very good narrative idea and the author commits to it.
What worked most for me was the voice. He says it is written in the language of the soldier and he does not apologise. That is true. There is blunt anger at the lies from the United States, Britain, France, Australia, even China during the conference that was meant to stop the fighting. There is annoyance at swagger and at bureaucrats who never had to patrol in the mud. There is also respect for Vietnamese resistance and for the way ordinary people fought a much better equipped enemy by getting close. The long historical sections could have been dry but here they are told like someone leaning forward saying listen this is how we actually got there.
It is not perfect. The detail on French conquest in the 1800s runs long and sometimes repeats names and operations and you can feel the author refusing to cut anything because it mattered to him. I did not mind because his sincerity kept pulling me back.
A solid four stars because it is honest, angry in a clean way, and it earns its ending.
What worked most for me was the voice. He says it is written in the language of the soldier and he does not apologise. That is true. There is blunt anger at the lies from the United States, Britain, France, Australia, even China during the conference that was meant to stop the fighting. There is annoyance at swagger and at bureaucrats who never had to patrol in the mud. There is also respect for Vietnamese resistance and for the way ordinary people fought a much better equipped enemy by getting close. The long historical sections could have been dry but here they are told like someone leaning forward saying listen this is how we actually got there.
It is not perfect. The detail on French conquest in the 1800s runs long and sometimes repeats names and operations and you can feel the author refusing to cut anything because it mattered to him. I did not mind because his sincerity kept pulling me back.
A solid four stars because it is honest, angry in a clean way, and it earns its ending.
December 18, 2025
The Full Circle for Mick is part historical overview and part personal war story, and it wears both halves very openly. Yep, it is absolutely a doozy of a tome in the sense that it wants to take you from the bigger political and military context straight into the boots of one Australian soldier, and then back out again to the moral aftermath.
The heart of it, for me, is Mick Kramer, a German born young man who ends up serving with Australians in Vietnam and carrying the weight of that experience home with him. The Vietnam sections have that on the ground detail that makes you sit up, especially when Mick is reading the terrain and warning his officer about what they are walking into. And then there is a quieter, genuinely thought provoking moment when he wanders into a pagoda during operations and meets an old Buddhist monk who knows his family history, and starts talking to him about karma. First of all, what a premise. Haha. It is one of those scenes that sounds unlikely until you are in it, and then it becomes the emotional hinge for everything that follows.
What worked best is the book’s willingness to name guilt, confusion, and moral injury without dressing it up. Sigh. There is a point where simply talking about what he did, and being judged for it, becomes part of the beginning of his PTSD symptoms, and that felt painfully believable.
I also appreciated that the author is transparent about the book being historical fiction, while still grounding much of the overall story in record and lived experience.
My small issues are mostly pacing and presentation. The history heavy stretches can feel more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the blunt, profane soldier voice will not be for everyone, you know? Still, by the end, seeing Mick push himself through study and eventually return to Vietnam to help rather than haunt, I was glad I stuck with it. 5 stars.
The heart of it, for me, is Mick Kramer, a German born young man who ends up serving with Australians in Vietnam and carrying the weight of that experience home with him. The Vietnam sections have that on the ground detail that makes you sit up, especially when Mick is reading the terrain and warning his officer about what they are walking into. And then there is a quieter, genuinely thought provoking moment when he wanders into a pagoda during operations and meets an old Buddhist monk who knows his family history, and starts talking to him about karma. First of all, what a premise. Haha. It is one of those scenes that sounds unlikely until you are in it, and then it becomes the emotional hinge for everything that follows.
What worked best is the book’s willingness to name guilt, confusion, and moral injury without dressing it up. Sigh. There is a point where simply talking about what he did, and being judged for it, becomes part of the beginning of his PTSD symptoms, and that felt painfully believable.
I also appreciated that the author is transparent about the book being historical fiction, while still grounding much of the overall story in record and lived experience.
My small issues are mostly pacing and presentation. The history heavy stretches can feel more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the blunt, profane soldier voice will not be for everyone, you know? Still, by the end, seeing Mick push himself through study and eventually return to Vietnam to help rather than haunt, I was glad I stuck with it. 5 stars.
February 2, 2026
Yes. Yes. Yes. This book made my stomach tighten in that familiar way it does when history stops being “history” and turns into bodies, policies, and the long echo of decisions made in comfortable rooms.
The Full Circle for Mick moves from French colonial control of Indochina and the political maneuvering around the Geneva Conference to the ground-level reality of an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. We follow Mick Kramer as he joins 1RAR, meets an older Buddhist monk named Hao An Dung in a pagoda, and starts to understand war not only as strategy, but as karma what you take, what you owe, and what you try to repair.
I felt pulled in two directions while reading. Part of me admired the bluntness: the author refuses to tidy up the language or soften the anger, and the result is raw and immediate. At the same time, I kept thinking about how easily empires explain away violence with “theories,” propaganda, and convenient lies. The sections on Geneva, and the way peace gets treated like an obstacle—hit hard.
What I appreciated most, though, is how the book doesn’t end when the tour ends. It follows the costs home: the curfewed arrival, the hush that falls over a plane full of returning soldiers, the disinfectant spray, the quiet humiliations, and then the slow emergence of PTSD named plainly and the idea that study and purpose can be part of survival.
As a queer Asian American reader and a psychologist, I’m always looking for books that tell the truth about trauma without turning it into spectacle. This one is opinionated, confrontational, and deeply human, and that’s exactly why it mattered to me.
The Full Circle for Mick moves from French colonial control of Indochina and the political maneuvering around the Geneva Conference to the ground-level reality of an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. We follow Mick Kramer as he joins 1RAR, meets an older Buddhist monk named Hao An Dung in a pagoda, and starts to understand war not only as strategy, but as karma what you take, what you owe, and what you try to repair.
I felt pulled in two directions while reading. Part of me admired the bluntness: the author refuses to tidy up the language or soften the anger, and the result is raw and immediate. At the same time, I kept thinking about how easily empires explain away violence with “theories,” propaganda, and convenient lies. The sections on Geneva, and the way peace gets treated like an obstacle—hit hard.
What I appreciated most, though, is how the book doesn’t end when the tour ends. It follows the costs home: the curfewed arrival, the hush that falls over a plane full of returning soldiers, the disinfectant spray, the quiet humiliations, and then the slow emergence of PTSD named plainly and the idea that study and purpose can be part of survival.
As a queer Asian American reader and a psychologist, I’m always looking for books that tell the truth about trauma without turning it into spectacle. This one is opinionated, confrontational, and deeply human, and that’s exactly why it mattered to me.
April 27, 2025
"Full Circle for Mick" is a well-drafted, honest and deeply moving story with a strong emotional essence.
The central plot is about a man who goes through a difficult time dealing with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), racism, and prejudiced treatment from the system. Mick Lampman moved from Germany to Australia at an early age. At many stages, he faced racism and bullying, but he stayed strong and later joined the Army to serve in the Vietnam War. After returning, he struggled with the sentimental pain of war, known as PTSD. Things became even harder when a mistake in his documents resulted in the government removing his citizenship. Despite everything he had done for the country, he had to fight to prove he belonged, which was moving and challenging.
I admire the honesty and relatability of the emotions. The author has done a commendable job of blending a good storyline with pain of seeking. I also like how the book didn't just focus on the struggles but also showed courage, healing, and a ray of hope in every situation. The central character's mental strength and fighting spirit are commendable in all the diverse conditions.
This read made me reflect on societal treatment towards people struggling with their share of pain and addressed the significance of listening and showing compassion.
Apart from being a simple story, it is an indicator of the struggles people face in silence and the strength it takes to keep going through our central character's story.
The central plot is about a man who goes through a difficult time dealing with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), racism, and prejudiced treatment from the system. Mick Lampman moved from Germany to Australia at an early age. At many stages, he faced racism and bullying, but he stayed strong and later joined the Army to serve in the Vietnam War. After returning, he struggled with the sentimental pain of war, known as PTSD. Things became even harder when a mistake in his documents resulted in the government removing his citizenship. Despite everything he had done for the country, he had to fight to prove he belonged, which was moving and challenging.
I admire the honesty and relatability of the emotions. The author has done a commendable job of blending a good storyline with pain of seeking. I also like how the book didn't just focus on the struggles but also showed courage, healing, and a ray of hope in every situation. The central character's mental strength and fighting spirit are commendable in all the diverse conditions.
This read made me reflect on societal treatment towards people struggling with their share of pain and addressed the significance of listening and showing compassion.
Apart from being a simple story, it is an indicator of the struggles people face in silence and the strength it takes to keep going through our central character's story.
February 4, 2026
The Full Circle for Mick by Michael Kramer
This is a big, blunt, history-first novel with a personal thread that keeps it grounded.
The book opens its lens wide on the political chain of events that led to war in Indochina, then narrows into a generational story that stretches from a German engineer in 1904 China to an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. Mick’s connection to a Buddhist monk becomes the spine of the narrative, while the wider chapters tackle the conferences, alliances, and decisions that shaped the conflict.
What worked for me is the sheer ambition. Kramer doesn’t just summarize, he argues, and you can feel the author’s conviction on the page. The soldier’s-language voice gives the combat-era sections a rough immediacy, and the mix of personal experience with historical framing makes the stakes feel real.
What didn’t fully land is the density. Some stretches read more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the dialogue can be a little direct in how it explains motives. A tighter trim in the middle would improve the flow.
If you want sweeping war context with an unapologetic perspective and a lived-in edge, this is for you. If you’re looking for subtlety or a tight, character-driven plot, maybe not. I’d read Kramer again.
This is a big, blunt, history-first novel with a personal thread that keeps it grounded.
The book opens its lens wide on the political chain of events that led to war in Indochina, then narrows into a generational story that stretches from a German engineer in 1904 China to an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. Mick’s connection to a Buddhist monk becomes the spine of the narrative, while the wider chapters tackle the conferences, alliances, and decisions that shaped the conflict.
What worked for me is the sheer ambition. Kramer doesn’t just summarize, he argues, and you can feel the author’s conviction on the page. The soldier’s-language voice gives the combat-era sections a rough immediacy, and the mix of personal experience with historical framing makes the stakes feel real.
What didn’t fully land is the density. Some stretches read more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the dialogue can be a little direct in how it explains motives. A tighter trim in the middle would improve the flow.
If you want sweeping war context with an unapologetic perspective and a lived-in edge, this is for you. If you’re looking for subtlety or a tight, character-driven plot, maybe not. I’d read Kramer again.
February 17, 2026
Dark, humid, and watchful, like history itself is crouched in the treeline.
The Full Circle for Mick is historical fiction that leans hard into record and memory, then admits where invention smooths the path. The author places his own scars on the page, from PTSD and discharge to the stubborn act of remaking himself through engineering study.
The book’s power is atmosphere. Colonial palaces, conferences, and river corridors feel like rooms with the windows nailed shut. Even when the prose turns blunt, the tone stays consistent: a world of deals, doublespeak, and men trying to sound righteous while the ground keeps swallowing names.
There is a striking, eerie calm when Mick steps into a pagoda and finds an old Buddhist monk who speaks in perfect English and links Mick back to his grandfather, a German engineer. It lands like fog rolling in, slow and inevitable.
Clarity can wobble under the weight of detail, and the intensity is not always even. Still, the dread is earned, and the beauty is real.
The Full Circle for Mick is historical fiction that leans hard into record and memory, then admits where invention smooths the path. The author places his own scars on the page, from PTSD and discharge to the stubborn act of remaking himself through engineering study.
The book’s power is atmosphere. Colonial palaces, conferences, and river corridors feel like rooms with the windows nailed shut. Even when the prose turns blunt, the tone stays consistent: a world of deals, doublespeak, and men trying to sound righteous while the ground keeps swallowing names.
There is a striking, eerie calm when Mick steps into a pagoda and finds an old Buddhist monk who speaks in perfect English and links Mick back to his grandfather, a German engineer. It lands like fog rolling in, slow and inevitable.
Clarity can wobble under the weight of detail, and the intensity is not always even. Still, the dread is earned, and the beauty is real.
April 15, 2025
Michael G. Kramer has written compelling accounts of his experiences as an infantry soldier in the Australian Army. His books delve into the harsh realities of war, reflecting the deep impact of PTSD that he carries from those times. The Full Circle for Mick vividly portrays the battlefield experiences of a typical soldier during the crucial period when Indochina sought independence. The struggles of the local peasants, as well as the disruptive influences of the French and Japanese, provide a poignant backdrop to the narrative, filled with rich historical details and personal insights.
Despite any critique of the author's writing style, which might not appeal to everyone, Kramer's dedication to his past is evident. This is my third book by him, and each time I find myself drawn in by the depth of research and effort he invests in his work. The Full Circle for Mick is truly a treasure for those interested in history.
Despite any critique of the author's writing style, which might not appeal to everyone, Kramer's dedication to his past is evident. This is my third book by him, and each time I find myself drawn in by the depth of research and effort he invests in his work. The Full Circle for Mick is truly a treasure for those interested in history.
January 24, 2026
Mick served in the Australian army in Vietnam. His grandfather had helped to build a railroad years earlier. In previous books by Kramer, he has detailed this history. In this book, he goes back to the 1800s and writes about French colonialism in Vietnam, and traces the history into the 1900s and the Vietnam War. While serving, Mick meets a relative of someone who knew his grandfather, and this connection allows Mick to believe he has come full circle. Mick also describes his struggles with PTSD, his attitude towards the conflict, and his wife's treatment as she tried to send him letters.
This is billed as fiction, but is based in history.
Interesting timeline of events.
This is billed as fiction, but is based in history.
Interesting timeline of events.
February 19, 2026
5 stars, and I was hooked by the sheer nerve of it. THIS IS NOT A GENTLE BOOK.
The Full Circle for Mick blends a personal soldier perspective with a wide angle look at the political decisions and double dealing that shaped Indochina and the war that followed. It is written as historical fiction, but it keeps pointing you back to real stakes, real consequences, and the mess left behind.
The voice is blunt, lived in, and unapologetic. The scope is massive without losing the human thread. The contrast between big conference politics and ground level cost hits hard.
If you like war history with attitude, moral friction, and a narrator who will call nonsense when he sees it, pick this up.
The Full Circle for Mick blends a personal soldier perspective with a wide angle look at the political decisions and double dealing that shaped Indochina and the war that followed. It is written as historical fiction, but it keeps pointing you back to real stakes, real consequences, and the mess left behind.
The voice is blunt, lived in, and unapologetic. The scope is massive without losing the human thread. The contrast between big conference politics and ground level cost hits hard.
If you like war history with attitude, moral friction, and a narrator who will call nonsense when he sees it, pick this up.
October 18, 2025
The Full Circle for Mick by Michael G. Kramer is a heartfelt and eye-opening. Kramer shares his powerful journey from serving in the Vietnam War to battling PTSD and fighting an unfair citizenship revocation years later. His story is raw, honest, highly detailed, and deeply human, illustrating the cost of war and the resilience it takes to rebuild. I especially admired his courage and how he sheds light on real issues veterans face. A moving, down-to-earth memoir that stays with you long after you finish reading. Highly recommended.
May 19, 2025
The impact of a war on world history delivered skillfully!
Australian author Michael Kramer earned degrees in architecture and engineering, and is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) in the Vietnam War during 1968 and 1969, and has published nine books - FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN, NOW WHAT?!! (and the version, ANGLO-SAXON INVASION), ARMINIUS AND THUSNELDA VERSUS ROME, A GRACIOUS ENEMY & AFTER THE WAR (2 volumes), A CASTLE OF DOOMSDAY, ISABELLA WARRIOR QUEEN, HIS FOREFATHERS AND MICK, and now THE FULL CIRCLE FOR MICK.
Having read and enjoyed all of Michael Kramer’s books, it is with great assurance that this reader underlines the importance of his contribution to our understanding, appreciation, and respect for history. In this immensely successful book, he utilizes his illuminating scriptive gifts, intermingling biographical information with significant and pertinent historical data. He served as an Australian infantry soldier in the Vietnam War, and his resultant perception of world history is poignant: information about the actual history of the world’s interest in Vietnam is illuminating. Always evident is Kramer’s humanism, even revealing his own PTSD in a manner that elicits compassion. Once again Michael Kramer demonstrates his prowess for underscoring the impact of history. Very highly recommended
Australian author Michael Kramer earned degrees in architecture and engineering, and is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) in the Vietnam War during 1968 and 1969, and has published nine books - FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN, NOW WHAT?!! (and the version, ANGLO-SAXON INVASION), ARMINIUS AND THUSNELDA VERSUS ROME, A GRACIOUS ENEMY & AFTER THE WAR (2 volumes), A CASTLE OF DOOMSDAY, ISABELLA WARRIOR QUEEN, HIS FOREFATHERS AND MICK, and now THE FULL CIRCLE FOR MICK.
Having read and enjoyed all of Michael Kramer’s books, it is with great assurance that this reader underlines the importance of his contribution to our understanding, appreciation, and respect for history. In this immensely successful book, he utilizes his illuminating scriptive gifts, intermingling biographical information with significant and pertinent historical data. He served as an Australian infantry soldier in the Vietnam War, and his resultant perception of world history is poignant: information about the actual history of the world’s interest in Vietnam is illuminating. Always evident is Kramer’s humanism, even revealing his own PTSD in a manner that elicits compassion. Once again Michael Kramer demonstrates his prowess for underscoring the impact of history. Very highly recommended
January 13, 2017
This book instantly appealed to my long standing interest in the re-assimilation of returning veterans, PTSD and 20th Century German history, and as a case study of PTSD in returning servicemen it certainly maintains it’s value.
The way in which Michael Kramer tells the story is, for me, just as important as the story itself. Unfortunately, at face value, much of this value is likely lost through the absence of effective editing. Many details included, which are obviously a source of pride or importance to the subject, were unnecessary and detract from the story’s value and momentum. Whilst others portray characteristics that potentially detract from a casual reader developing an empathy for his plight. In the hope of providing emphasis it became repetitive.
Disappointment lay in all the unanswered questions and elements of the story that, as a reader, would have provided valuable colour and depth, whilst helping it to appeal to a far greater audience. For example, did he ever manage to restore relationships with his mother and father? Did he develop an affinity with his father, himself a veteran of a terrible war, a winner of the KC, returnee to a country who had turned it’s back on him and treated him like a criminal, and all against the tyranny of Communism no less? With the possibly of returning to Germany impending, did he reflect upon his own alienation as a veteran and that country’s poor history of the treatment of their own?
That being said, I enjoyed it and am thankful to the author for sharing it. I feel the shame in my nation’s disgraceful attitude on your return, and throughout all the subsequent years. A simple lesson that our freedom is not free, and that many continue to pay well after hostilities have ceased. I hope that the laying down of your story has brought some closure to your bitterness and I wish you nothing but peace in your future.
The way in which Michael Kramer tells the story is, for me, just as important as the story itself. Unfortunately, at face value, much of this value is likely lost through the absence of effective editing. Many details included, which are obviously a source of pride or importance to the subject, were unnecessary and detract from the story’s value and momentum. Whilst others portray characteristics that potentially detract from a casual reader developing an empathy for his plight. In the hope of providing emphasis it became repetitive.
Disappointment lay in all the unanswered questions and elements of the story that, as a reader, would have provided valuable colour and depth, whilst helping it to appeal to a far greater audience. For example, did he ever manage to restore relationships with his mother and father? Did he develop an affinity with his father, himself a veteran of a terrible war, a winner of the KC, returnee to a country who had turned it’s back on him and treated him like a criminal, and all against the tyranny of Communism no less? With the possibly of returning to Germany impending, did he reflect upon his own alienation as a veteran and that country’s poor history of the treatment of their own?
That being said, I enjoyed it and am thankful to the author for sharing it. I feel the shame in my nation’s disgraceful attitude on your return, and throughout all the subsequent years. A simple lesson that our freedom is not free, and that many continue to pay well after hostilities have ceased. I hope that the laying down of your story has brought some closure to your bitterness and I wish you nothing but peace in your future.
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