Cookie Johnson

by Tank Gunner

Cookie Johnson begins his odyssey along paths few travel to arrive at a place in life never dreamed or expected. J J "Cookie" Johnson, a fry cook at Sugar Babe's, quits his job, pays a recruiter ten dollars to be a cook in the Army, and ends up as an infantry rifleman in Vietnam. He finds combat exhilarating and being responsible for others fulfilling. Injured by a grenade explosion and evacuated to a field hospital, J J meets and proposes marriage twice to his nurse, Lieutenant Katie Patton. Threatened by conflict, uncertainty, apprehension, separation, career aspirations, protocol, and punitive Army regulations forbidding fraternization, they wonder if their love can endure and survive the war.

374 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2017

About the author

Tank Gunner is the pen name of a retired combat cavalry trooper, Senior Parachutist, and Jumpmaster awarded a Combat Infantry Badge and decorated with a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars – one for Valor – and a Purple Heart. He served his nation with pride and honor for more than a quarter-century as an enlisted soldier and officer. An award-winning author and speaker, Tank wrote and published Prompts a collection of stories at age 76; Prompts Too another collection of stories at 77; Cookie Johnson, his Vietnam historical fiction novel at 78; Palomino, Tank's immensely popular WWII historical fiction novel at 79; Porky Baycann, a coming-of-age, adolescent friendship, and WWII historical fiction novel – and companion to Palomino – at 80; The Redeemer, his powerful drama of love, conflict, and redemption on the eve of WWII – a companion to Palomino and Porky Baycann – at 81; Reverend Ripple$' Building Fund, a historical fiction story of a pretend preacher with a dishonest past, at 82; and, at 83, Rigors of Revenge, the tale of a retired soldier, harboring revenge for 50 years, returning to Vietnam to find and kill a murderous enemy. He and his wife live with Cody, 100 miles southwest of Palomino.

Reviews

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

21 year old James Jerome Johnson, of J.J. was a drop out, forced to take a job to support his mother and siblings, but conditions at his work place were getting to him. He joined the army, slipping the recruiter ten dollars to be directed to the cooks, he loved cooking, and to do so in the army would be perfect. But Recruiter Staff Sergeant Holt had other ideas, he signed the youngster up for the airborne infantry. Perhaps he could see something in him J.J. couldn't see in himself, or maybe he did indeed just want to meet his infantry quota, but it seemed J.J. was a natural infantryman and more surprisingly, finds it fulfilling. His assignment is not without danger, after being injured in line of duty he discovers another unexpected surprise,  Lieutenant Katie Patton. But regulations are as clear as his own heart, but both have a message that contradicts. One states their relationship cannot be, and the other wants her regardless of the cost. Will J.J. choose love or duty? Find out in Tank Gunner's Cookie Johnson.

Cookie Johnson has a great cast of characters, very real in behaviours and banter. Reading this really complex web of regulations, secrets, love, and  war will leave you blown away in a whirlwind adventure. Tank Gunner paints a vibrant picture of army life in Vietnam whilst building and array of characters you really root for. There's so much to this book, it's a tale of war and of love, and no two things are more complex. Gripping, thrilling, Tank Gunner succeeds in crafting a tale both solemn and uplifting, witty and insightful.

[Tank Gunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STAR Reviews for Cookie Johnson on Amazon

Reviewed by Homeporter on July 29, 2019
Powerful Vietnam War Novel.
Tank Gunner rips open the topic of the Vietnam War with an industrial-strength can opener! This entertaining novel illuminates combat operations, heroism, civilian murders, booze, drugs, hookers, black markets, sinners & saints, medals to appease grieving families of soldiers KIA to enemy and friendly fire, and the list goes on. The plot moves along at a good pace. It’s suspenseful, it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s true. The author is a bemedaled combat vet who saw, heard, tasted, felt, and smelled it all during his two tours in Vietnam. The war has been over 50 years but the effect it has had on the American psyche continues to haunt veterans. Because of the lack of approval from their countrymen, Vietnam vets still greet each other with, “Welcome home!” Cookie Johnson is a nuanced attempt to help people understand how the war affected those who fought it.

Reviewed by Beth Shelton on May 30, 2019
For those of us who never experienced it, Tank Gunner brings the tragedy of war to life through Cookie Johnson. I laughed and cried, my stomach churned, and my heart swelled. Thankfully, something good came out of this saga.

Reviewed by Lee Sneath on October 23, 2017
A love story wrapped in a war story wrapped in a human story.
I don't know of anyone else who could have written this story with the attention to the details of the Vietnam War and the depth of characters who served there. Readers will laugh and cry, love and hate, and make this journey in the shoes of Cookie Johnson, the man who paid $10 to be an Army cook and who ended up as an infantry rifleman.
If you've read Tank Gunner's other two books -- Prompts and Prompts, Too -- you already know the saber-like wit of the author's dialogue. His ear for wartime speech shines in this novel.

Reviewed by an "Amazon Customer" on June 4, 2018
A great book with great characters and memorable scenes.
Cookie Johnson is a great read. The author does a great job in detailing the military life during war while weaving a magnificent story of a love obstructed by laws and distance. I recommend this book to anybody interested in historical fiction and cannot wait for the next novel from Tank Gunner.
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Go to https://tankgunnersix.blogspot.com to purchase PRINT Pocketbook and PRINT Digest sizes.

[E. B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us who never experienced it, Tank Gunner brings the tragedy of war to life through Cookie Johnson. I laughed and cried, my stomach churned, and my heart swelled. Thankfully, something good came out of this saga.