Eye of the Tiger: Memoir of a United States Marine, Third Force Recon Company, Vietnam

by John Edmund Delezen

"We live together under the thick canopy, each searching for the other; the same leeches and mosquitoes that feed on our blood feed on his blood." John Edmund Delezen felt a kinship with the people he was instructed to kill in Vietnam; they were all at the mercy of the land. His memoir begins when he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in March of 1967. He volunteered for the Third Force Recon Company, whose job it was to locate and infiltrate enemy lines undetected and map their locations and learn details of their status. The duty was often painful both physically and mentally. He was stricken with malaria in November of 1967, wounded by a grenade in February of 1968 and hit by a bullet later that summer. He remained in Vietnam until December, 1968. Delezen writes of Vietnam as a man humbled by a mysterious country and horrified by acts of brutality. The land was his enemy as much as the Vietnamese soldiers. He vividly describes the three-canopy jungle with birds and monkeys overhead that could be heard but not seen, venomous snakes hiding in trees and relentless bugs that fed on men. He recalls stumbling onto a pit of rotting Vietnamese bodies left behind by American forces, and days when fierce hunger made a bag of plasma seem like an enticing meal. He writes of his fallen comrades and the images of war that still pervade his dreams. This book contains many photographs of American Marines and Vietnam as well as three maps.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, War, Memoir, Military Fiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2003

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 I think had I read this in print format it would easily have been a 4.5 🌟 review.

[Loyalhistorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very good. Extremely interesting and detailed. Yes, it's non-fiction, but the veteran's writing style is quite lyrical. It reminds me a bit of the writing style of Tim O'Brien in The Things They Carried. My parents go to church with a Vietnam veteran that was in this same recon team with the author. I was introduced to this book through my parents because of that veteran. I'm very glad I read it. I would highly recommend it, especially for Vietnam War buffs, but it can easily be enjoyed by readers that are not familiar with the war because of how well the author writes and includes information.

[pierre bovington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Semper Fi, always faithful.
I love first person, " I was there accounts".
The Vietnam War has largely been categorised as an American error. That is a mistake and detracts
from what was going on at the time.
Delezens' story echoes a lot of the banter I heard in truck stops, guys, after leaving the military, who just sat behind a steering wheel concentrating on the road ahead. It is a good mental exercise!
Semper Fi is the motto of the United States Marine Corps.

[Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wtf was this trying to be? I was hoping to hear a soldier's story, but instead I got some weird bullshit meditation on the war experience that was really not what I was expecting.

[AttackGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared the truth is brutal and most people just categorize military with PTSD have no understanding whatsoever it is to even miss a meal let alone be tortured.

I’m often reminded via the snap shot pictures in my head, I understand completely the snake, the skull and ultimately the feelings that never leave you when you experience the touchable horror waiting for every man bending the minds demand for reasoning. Why do we fight would it be that bad to never have war again then to image it’s just a sacrifice of one politician offer of young mens life blood to keep in office. Why do we need to now make China our enemy so politicians can have more wealth. How many of them ever miss a meal let alone the golf course or expensive whiskey drinks in taxpayer funded private flights. Who has no food in this world and who is fighting for fishing “rights”

How complex Is life really what is the real value of anything you do or say now, 100 years from now a 1000 years do you even know your great grandmothers or great grandfathers name!

Do you know that the whole field of political science came from WWII, no of course you don’t you probably still think Hitler was a bad guy.

Read More, much more!

[Chris Bohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging is scarcely the word to describe the writing style. The authors craft places you right next to him and sometimes within him. The adrenaline will run through your own body as you read this tome. There is not a moment of boredom. Rather there is a palpable reality in every sentence and paragraphed. Looking at my reading list one would see almost all the Vietnam novels listed and this sits atop those describing the recon mission. The terrifying moments, the great suffering of thirst and hunger, coupled with intense sleep depravation and you begin to see whe they endured and overcame. They were heroes on every mission and silver stars and navy crosses should have been the norm but rather they wanted nothing except the respect of their brothers at arms. A temendost novel for which I give my deepest thanks.

[Matias Myllyrinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an interesting look through the eyes of a recon marine during the late 60s. The adversity and suffering is tangible and the description of nature and emotions feels vivid. The other characters in the book get a paper thin treatment and come to life as stereotypes, but this book is about the introspection and emotional journey of someone ordinary placed into unbelievable circumstances of suffering and endurance.

While the philosophy, title and repetition of “deep” proverbs is slightly cringe worthy, the story is too and it sucks you in. Recommended for those interested in first hand war stories, don’t expect the bigger picture or grand strategies to evoke, but listen first hand to the perspective of the grunt.

[Mikey James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed portrayal of an ex marine in Vietnam. This was the first book I've read on the subject. I've always enjoyed films about war and I know Hollywood sometimes likes to exaggerate or dramatise things for the sake of the film, but this made you feel you were actually there, in the thick of it. Feeling hot, sweaty, scared and hungry. I didn't give it the full 5 stars as there were some slightly long parts which would have been more effective if it were edited down slightly, however I'm not taking anything away from the author, it's just my interpretation.
Slightly unrelated but if you're reading this and are also interested in the Vietnam war, the Ken Burns - Vietnam War documentary is a must see.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about war in Vietnam

The author has a unique style of writing and I hope he never changes. He has written a book about war and in the book he reveals how dangerous it is to be surrounded by enemy soldier's, whose job it is to find his team and annihilate them. The author makes no bones about the horrific scenes of war and how terrible conflict can be. This author like so many veterans has put pen to paper and in doing so has immortalized himself, his comrades, and his service. Welcome home Marines.

[Charles Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Not for a beginner that wants to dive into the genre of the war memoir.

There are plenty of minute by minute retellings of Vietnam in the form of historical narratives and memoirs. This book is not that at all, but what it does do makes this one much better than the other option. The writer is very melodramatic in his prose and it reads more like a novel. It is so immersive and reminds of Moby Dick in its descriptive writing. You feel as if you are there, in the shit, with this marine. Semper Fi.

[Reg Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travel log

For those who would like to travel nam this is for you. A very descriptive story of Viet Nam naming mountains, valleys,cities,towns, etc. You also get the history of the country. All this an what the grunt’s life was like.

[Henry O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book. Talented Author really gives the reader a thorough insight into his experiences, provides vivid descriptions throughout and brings you on his journey. These men deserve serious respect for what they did and what they endured. Excellently written book and highly recommended.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir was not what I expected, rather I was pleasantly surprised by the lyrical prose and the philosophical introspection. It is still raw and brutal, but far deeper than I thought it would be when I began reading. A great story of sacrifice and overcoming nigh impossible odds.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of a US soldier in a reconnaissance squad in Vietnam. The constant rain, constant hyper-alert state, constant peril from enemy and accidents makes Deiezen's writing very real. However, I had a sense that I wasn't getting the complete story, that this was an abbreviated version.

[Winans E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful Memoir

Delezen makes his experience as real as any book on Vietnam I have ever read. Not as hip as Dispatches perhaps, his descriptions resonate well with the chord of truth we all carry.

[Sam T · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written memoir of the author’s time in the Vietnam war. Delezen really brings forth his harrowing ordeal as a recon marine. It was simultaneously fascinating and horrifying. All the best of luck to him.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir of a recon Marine in Vietnam. Equal parts cathartic prose and true life events. The kind of unsung sacrifice Delezen made during his time in country highlights the inherent greatness of the children of the "Greatest Generation."

[frank corente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Wow some read felt Just like you were there. Amazing and semper fi. brother will come home. Hope the rest of your life is of peace you earned it Frank F Corente

[Landy Rayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr delezen fought in a politicians war

Great read felt the heat ,hunger and thirst . A little concerned about the authors inability to leave that cursed country.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, no politics, just one man's story. Not too keen on the audio book narrator but the story stood out.

[Pete Shrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, it flowed a little slow for me at first then it got a lot better towards the middle of the book

[Ryan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. The writing style was beautiful.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

A harrowing memoir of one soilder's experience in Vietnam.

[Sergeant Apone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing piece of work. To be honest, I'm shocked with how Delezen turns the brutality and horror of war into poetry. I can't recommend this enough.

[Matthew Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely sickening what these men went through, Thank everyone that you see!🇺🇸🇺🇸

[JoyAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book. I liked to writing style.

[Read Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great descriptions of the land around him I loved that. Was expecting more LRRP content tho

[Iain Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping account of life and death exploits in a far off land and what feels like a very far off time.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced ground level account of a marine on a recon team in Vietnam. It takes the reader through the career of a recon team member. It does not spare the reader unpleasant details. If you wonder why soldiers have PTSD it is a good book to read. Isolation, death, atrocious conditions in the field are all described from the viewpoint of someone who was there. Not for the squeamish.

[Bleys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in an incredibly vivid and strikingly edge-of-your-seat tension, this book is a must have for all consumers of Vietnam War media. I was impressed most by J. E. D.'s knowledge of Vietnamese culture and history; how it was so effortlessly woven in with his experiences.