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When Can I Stop Running #1
When Can I Stop Running?: A Vietnam War Story
A vivid depiction of a terrifying night as an infantryman on a listening post during the Vietnam War. Two teenage soldiers, friends and fellow Detroiter's, are alone and positioned in the dense jungle three-hundred meters beyond the barbed-wired perimeter and relative safety of their firebase - their assignment as a "human early warning system", is to listen for enemy activity and forewarn the base of any potential dangers.
As they were new to the "Iron Triangle" and its reputation, little did they know that units before them lost dozens of soldiers in this nightly high-risk task and referred to those assigned as "bait for the enemy" and "sacrificial lambs".
Sitting in the pitch black tropical jungle - with visibility at less than two feet - one character's imagination takes hold throughout the agonizing night, and at times, transports him back to some of his most vivid childhood memories - innocent, but equally terrifying at the time.
As kids, we instinctively run as fast as we can to escape imaginary or perceived danger, but as soldiers, men are trained to conquer their fears and develop the confidence to stand their ground and fight. At least, in theory, this is how it's supposed to work. But when enemy soldiers surround their LP - discovery or trying to run will result in instantaneous death...nothing in life had prepared them for this moment in time!
As they were new to the "Iron Triangle" and its reputation, little did they know that units before them lost dozens of soldiers in this nightly high-risk task and referred to those assigned as "bait for the enemy" and "sacrificial lambs".
Sitting in the pitch black tropical jungle - with visibility at less than two feet - one character's imagination takes hold throughout the agonizing night, and at times, transports him back to some of his most vivid childhood memories - innocent, but equally terrifying at the time.
As kids, we instinctively run as fast as we can to escape imaginary or perceived danger, but as soldiers, men are trained to conquer their fears and develop the confidence to stand their ground and fight. At least, in theory, this is how it's supposed to work. But when enemy soldiers surround their LP - discovery or trying to run will result in instantaneous death...nothing in life had prepared them for this moment in time!
175 pages, Paperback
Published June 26, 2016
42 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
John Podlaski
11 books68 followersJohn Podlaski served in Vietnam during 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division, and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. "Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" is his first book, published in 2010, it is faring well with over 300 combined reviews with an average of 4.6 stars. The story is a memoir of his time as as infantry soldier during the Vietnam War.
John spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife of 51 years, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They both retired in 2013 and enjoy riding their 1997 Harley-Davidson Heritage.
Mr. Podlaski published his second book, "When Can I Stop Running?" in 2016. It's a spinoff from his first novel, and follows two soldiers during a terrifying night - alone in the jungle - on a listening post. Some of the characters from Cherries are also included in this story.
John is currently busy managing a website featuring weekly articles/stories, movies, videos, and photos about the Vietnam War. The address can be found below.
John spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife of 51 years, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They both retired in 2013 and enjoy riding their 1997 Harley-Davidson Heritage.
Mr. Podlaski published his second book, "When Can I Stop Running?" in 2016. It's a spinoff from his first novel, and follows two soldiers during a terrifying night - alone in the jungle - on a listening post. Some of the characters from Cherries are also included in this story.
John is currently busy managing a website featuring weekly articles/stories, movies, videos, and photos about the Vietnam War. The address can be found below.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2022
The preface in When Can I Stop Running by John Podlaski asks the questions: "Have you ever been afraid. Truly afraid? I'm talking about gut-wrenching fear —the kind you might experience when your very life is in danger. If so, chances are high that your feelings of terror occurred at night."
The prologue prepares the reader for what it was like to be on night patrol in the jungles of the Vietnam War. The book has a unique structure in which two soldiers (Polack and LG) live through the nightmare of one night on patrol juxtaposed with Polack's memories of his mischievous boyhood. The two soldiers must work in concert with each other and the battalion radio operator to assure their success in the high stakes of warfare. In contrast, Polack and his boyhood companions often haphazardly plan adventures that often fall into disarray— friends willing to abandon the others if caught.
John Podlaski's storytelling is engaging, particularly Polack's memories which are told in the first person. His memories take us back to Detroit in the 60s. One scene shows rambunctious boys daring each other to go outside their cabin at night during summer camp. Other memories of incidents at night are often fun-fill but could also be tense. The memories capture the innocence of boys finding adventure but sometimes repercussions for their brash acts.
The scenes in Vietnam told in the third person omniscient point of view were not, at first, as engaging as Polack's memories. However, once the scenes only involved the two soldiers, the storytelling became more effective as I could sense the young men's rapid heartbeats as they worked together as a team in the pitch darkness. The stakes are higher. If they miscommunicate in any way or make a mistake, it could cost them their lives. Showing the perspectives of both soldiers shows how critical teamwork was for assuring they made it through the night. The terror of not being able to see the enemy at night jumped off the page as we experience every moment they are on patrol.
When I Can Stop Running is an engaging journey back in time to the 60s and 70s when the innocence of US youth was tested in the terrifying dark jungles of the Vietnam war.
The prologue prepares the reader for what it was like to be on night patrol in the jungles of the Vietnam War. The book has a unique structure in which two soldiers (Polack and LG) live through the nightmare of one night on patrol juxtaposed with Polack's memories of his mischievous boyhood. The two soldiers must work in concert with each other and the battalion radio operator to assure their success in the high stakes of warfare. In contrast, Polack and his boyhood companions often haphazardly plan adventures that often fall into disarray— friends willing to abandon the others if caught.
John Podlaski's storytelling is engaging, particularly Polack's memories which are told in the first person. His memories take us back to Detroit in the 60s. One scene shows rambunctious boys daring each other to go outside their cabin at night during summer camp. Other memories of incidents at night are often fun-fill but could also be tense. The memories capture the innocence of boys finding adventure but sometimes repercussions for their brash acts.
The scenes in Vietnam told in the third person omniscient point of view were not, at first, as engaging as Polack's memories. However, once the scenes only involved the two soldiers, the storytelling became more effective as I could sense the young men's rapid heartbeats as they worked together as a team in the pitch darkness. The stakes are higher. If they miscommunicate in any way or make a mistake, it could cost them their lives. Showing the perspectives of both soldiers shows how critical teamwork was for assuring they made it through the night. The terror of not being able to see the enemy at night jumped off the page as we experience every moment they are on patrol.
When I Can Stop Running is an engaging journey back in time to the 60s and 70s when the innocence of US youth was tested in the terrifying dark jungles of the Vietnam war.
May 26, 2017
What I have found to be true about most of the personal memoirs and novels about the Vietnam War are the authors trying to lay to rest the ghosts of their pasts. Everyone has a story to tell, and each one collectively becomes part of our national consciousness as we can continue to heal from this conflict.
That's exactly what's happening in John Podlaski's thin, but moving account of the war, specifically, a night at a listening post. War is not just about the firefights, the ambushes, mortar attacks, artillery barrages and the like; it's also the time between these events when sometimes the stillness and solitude could be just as nerve-wracking and deadly as a firefight. It was a time for reflection and soul-searching; a time when one's thoughts tried to make sense out of conflict where so many young men would lose their lives and many others, wounded forever. It was a time for a person's mind to wander...wander back in time to childhood memories to forget the horrors of war, and perhaps, if only for a few hours, to find some peace and solace.
This is a brilliant story; especially the way Podlaski weaves a night on a listening post with his own childhood memories. In as much time as it takes to read his story, if you were to read it in one sitting, would be about the same amount of time one would spend out there beyond the wire in the jungle, wondering, worrying, if this night the enemy would appear and all the while hoping and praying that morning would come soon.
This is not just another Vietnam War story. This is not a story about the horrors of war. It is, though, the story of every young man who found himself halfway around the world in Vietnam, trying to stay alive.
Jeffrey Miller, Bureau 39
That's exactly what's happening in John Podlaski's thin, but moving account of the war, specifically, a night at a listening post. War is not just about the firefights, the ambushes, mortar attacks, artillery barrages and the like; it's also the time between these events when sometimes the stillness and solitude could be just as nerve-wracking and deadly as a firefight. It was a time for reflection and soul-searching; a time when one's thoughts tried to make sense out of conflict where so many young men would lose their lives and many others, wounded forever. It was a time for a person's mind to wander...wander back in time to childhood memories to forget the horrors of war, and perhaps, if only for a few hours, to find some peace and solace.
This is a brilliant story; especially the way Podlaski weaves a night on a listening post with his own childhood memories. In as much time as it takes to read his story, if you were to read it in one sitting, would be about the same amount of time one would spend out there beyond the wire in the jungle, wondering, worrying, if this night the enemy would appear and all the while hoping and praying that morning would come soon.
This is not just another Vietnam War story. This is not a story about the horrors of war. It is, though, the story of every young man who found himself halfway around the world in Vietnam, trying to stay alive.
Jeffrey Miller, Bureau 39
August 31, 2020
I have recently learned a lot more about the war in Vietnam so when I saw this book I grabbed the opportunity to read about the experiences of a veteran. I was not disappointed. When Can I Stop Running is an account of one night in the lives of two American soldiers, Polack and L.G. in the jungle outside of the base camp.
The pair are assigned to Listening Patrol which entails hiding in the jungle all night and acting as a human warning system for any unusual activity from the enemy. The reader quickly realises that this is not a popular duty among the men and the descriptions of the heavy and dense blackness of night in the jungle make it obvious as to why. It is awful to imagine being in such complete blackness, where you can't see anything, and waiting and listening for the sounds of enemy soldiers all night long.
Polack and L.G. have some unpleasant experiences during the night, including a group of enemy soldiers stopping for a meal not far from their chosen hiding spot and being attacked by apes with rocks.
The experiences of the two soldiers is alternated with flashbacks, by Polack, to his childhood when he faced something that frightened him. These flashback's ranged from when Polack was a young lad of eight years old attending holiday camp to an encounter with some neighbourhood witches a few years before he joined the army and was posted to Vietnam.
The two different perspectives, those of the child and teenage Polack, who uses flight as his saving grace when faced with something scary, and Polack the young adult soldier who cannot run and has to face his fears is poignant and striking.
I enjoyed this thought provoking book and would recommend it to people who like to read books about human drama, courage and the life of a soldier.
The pair are assigned to Listening Patrol which entails hiding in the jungle all night and acting as a human warning system for any unusual activity from the enemy. The reader quickly realises that this is not a popular duty among the men and the descriptions of the heavy and dense blackness of night in the jungle make it obvious as to why. It is awful to imagine being in such complete blackness, where you can't see anything, and waiting and listening for the sounds of enemy soldiers all night long.
Polack and L.G. have some unpleasant experiences during the night, including a group of enemy soldiers stopping for a meal not far from their chosen hiding spot and being attacked by apes with rocks.
The experiences of the two soldiers is alternated with flashbacks, by Polack, to his childhood when he faced something that frightened him. These flashback's ranged from when Polack was a young lad of eight years old attending holiday camp to an encounter with some neighbourhood witches a few years before he joined the army and was posted to Vietnam.
The two different perspectives, those of the child and teenage Polack, who uses flight as his saving grace when faced with something scary, and Polack the young adult soldier who cannot run and has to face his fears is poignant and striking.
I enjoyed this thought provoking book and would recommend it to people who like to read books about human drama, courage and the life of a soldier.
August 12, 2023
Brings back memories from my distant past
This book was very realistic as I remember my time in Vietnam. It was based on an area far south of where I was, but the experiences shared were similar. I felt again the fear of unknown noises or silences in the night. If you never experienced these, it would be good that read the book.
This book was very realistic as I remember my time in Vietnam. It was based on an area far south of where I was, but the experiences shared were similar. I felt again the fear of unknown noises or silences in the night. If you never experienced these, it would be good that read the book.
November 11, 2020
This was a great book! I am not into war stories, but I heard such great things about this book that I had to read it. I was happily surprised to find that this was not an ordinary war story. The author shares just one night of his detail at a listening post in Vietnam with a fellow soldier and friend. Interspersed throughout that night's danger were memories of the author's childhood.
The author did a wonderful job of putting me in the moment. The way he described the darkness and the sounds (or lack thereof) truly set the scene. I was immersed in the threat that faced the two soldiers as the enemy entered their space. There were moments where the suspense was quite thick.
And then, the author would sprinkle in his humor, and I loved it! Each of his memories focused on a moment in his life where he felt genuine fear and his reaction to it. I laughed out loud many times because his memories are so relatable to my own childhood experiences. My memories aren't the same, but the reactions are quite similar, and I enjoyed the rush of my own memories that came to me while visiting his. This was a brilliant way to break up the tension taking place in the jungle.
I really enjoyed this story. I read the whole book in one day because I had the time (thank you, Tropical Storm Eta), and I was truly immersed in his memories. I would definitely recommend this story to others. :-)
The author did a wonderful job of putting me in the moment. The way he described the darkness and the sounds (or lack thereof) truly set the scene. I was immersed in the threat that faced the two soldiers as the enemy entered their space. There were moments where the suspense was quite thick.
And then, the author would sprinkle in his humor, and I loved it! Each of his memories focused on a moment in his life where he felt genuine fear and his reaction to it. I laughed out loud many times because his memories are so relatable to my own childhood experiences. My memories aren't the same, but the reactions are quite similar, and I enjoyed the rush of my own memories that came to me while visiting his. This was a brilliant way to break up the tension taking place in the jungle.
I really enjoyed this story. I read the whole book in one day because I had the time (thank you, Tropical Storm Eta), and I was truly immersed in his memories. I would definitely recommend this story to others. :-)
January 28, 2022
I admit to not having read the first in this series, “Cherries.” I cannot speak for the plot line in that book. The plot line in, “When Can I Stop Running?” was not what I expected, but in a good way. The story is written from the perspective of John ‘Polack’ Kowalski and delves more into the internal battle with fear, rather than the physical war John and so many others were dragged into.
The emotions are raw and reveal a perspective that only one, ‘who’s been there,’ can accurately depict. In spite of the nightmare in which John and his partner, Louis Gladwell, are currently enduring, John frequently slips into memories of his life before the war. They start from a childhood fear of the old basement and evolve into fears of a house “haunted” by “witches.” I had a chuckle over most of these childhood flashbacks, as John presents them in a humorous light. The flashbacks were expertly choreographed with the present scenes.
If you’re looking for a book with realistic, relatable, and likeable characters, I’d highly recommend this book.
Five Stars!
The emotions are raw and reveal a perspective that only one, ‘who’s been there,’ can accurately depict. In spite of the nightmare in which John and his partner, Louis Gladwell, are currently enduring, John frequently slips into memories of his life before the war. They start from a childhood fear of the old basement and evolve into fears of a house “haunted” by “witches.” I had a chuckle over most of these childhood flashbacks, as John presents them in a humorous light. The flashbacks were expertly choreographed with the present scenes.
If you’re looking for a book with realistic, relatable, and likeable characters, I’d highly recommend this book.
Five Stars!
October 3, 2019
This book is written from a first-hand perspective of a man who served in the Viet Nam war. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting to me how he switched from the soldiers' present precarious situation to childhood memories that were triggered by the events unfolding. There were times I held my breath and times when I had to chuckle. This story is told in such a way that I was able to put myself there beside L.G. and Polack as they endured a long night of LP (Listening Patrol). Not only was the assignment dangerous, but amplified by total darkness and the animals and insects of the Viet Nam jungle. I couldn't wait for morning to come so they could return to base camp; that is if they survived the night. A well-told story from a man who was there!
June 3, 2024
Viet Nam Tales!
The tales told by this author were spellbinding and pulse pounding. I don't care for war but reading this book had me turning the pages, but not fast enough. The reminiscing added so much laughter and joy.
I was fascinated at how the read jumped from first person to third person talking about the authors own experience. As an author myself; not an easy thing to do. The read was easy and down to earth. A must for a war story.
This is a read for anyone who wants the truth about Viet Nam.
The tales told by this author were spellbinding and pulse pounding. I don't care for war but reading this book had me turning the pages, but not fast enough. The reminiscing added so much laughter and joy.
I was fascinated at how the read jumped from first person to third person talking about the authors own experience. As an author myself; not an easy thing to do. The read was easy and down to earth. A must for a war story.
This is a read for anyone who wants the truth about Viet Nam.
January 26, 2020
Interesting and factual. I needed my husband, who is a Vietnam vet, to explain a few things. I enjoyed the flashbacks to John's childhood pranks.
April 30, 2020
Great read from a war fighter a generation before my own. Reminded me of how earlier times in life can be related to war.
July 24, 2022
An excellent book. Loved it. It’s not as good as his novel CHERRIES, but it comes very close.
July 19, 2023
Back and forth
The story alternates from a night in the bush of VietNam to reminiscing about live back on the block. The approach didn't work well for me.
The story alternates from a night in the bush of VietNam to reminiscing about live back on the block. The approach didn't work well for me.
October 14, 2016
An amazing story that brought a night of terror in perspective.
Oh how I could relate to his stories of his youth. To tie them together with a description of an OP night was pure marvel. A job well done.
Oh how I could relate to his stories of his youth. To tie them together with a description of an OP night was pure marvel. A job well done.
April 19, 2020
This is a very interesting story two Vietnam veterans Polack, the protagonist, and his friend simply known as LG and their night-long watch in the Vietnam jungle. It is the story about fear and how both of them faced and conquered it. That is if fear could ever be conquered.
Polack took us back and forward from their listening post to his childhood escapades with his daring childhood friends. He experienced all kinds of dangerous and sometimes, near-death adventures with his childhood friends just for the trills.
The story didn’t quite end. I suppose this is because the book is part of a series. However, the story promised more heart-throbbing military adventures. As I said, the story is quite interesting.
Polack took us back and forward from their listening post to his childhood escapades with his daring childhood friends. He experienced all kinds of dangerous and sometimes, near-death adventures with his childhood friends just for the trills.
The story didn’t quite end. I suppose this is because the book is part of a series. However, the story promised more heart-throbbing military adventures. As I said, the story is quite interesting.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews