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Gateway to Hell: Vietnam 1968: Thoughts and Personal Experiences of an Infantry Soldier
Combat is not just an assault on the body. It's an assault on the soul. Every combat soldier returns home with a broken heart. Is there any hope for healing? There is. Former Army infantry First Lieutenant George Coleman Luck Jr. tells of his experiences during and after war.
- GenresWar
62 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 20, 2019
This is a short interesting view into one soldier’s view of Vietnam. It wasn’t until he watched Ken Burn’s documentary on the war and the rereading the letters he wrote his wife while he was overseas did he contemplate putting his experiences to paper.
I too watched that pathetic work and found nothing of great interest. Burns rehashed every atrocity American soldiers performed or were accused of performing. The majority of the men Burns interviewed were anti-war and joined in the protests. Where was the equal time for the soldiers that fought and supported the war and their duty; I have met and talked with many of them over the years. I read many of the negative reviews and am convinced they did not read the book or only perused it, at best.
Luck says at the very beginning he never had any desire to write about his experiences. Burn’s documentary changed all that. He gave his side of the war and how it affected him not only for the year he served but the years following that. No, he doesn’t go into any great depth some readers have alluded to, but then some memories need to remain buried for he has risen above his failures and moved on.
The most interesting part is the letters he wrote to his wife of which he is now rereading fifty years ago. I found the letters my father wrote my mom during World War Two after he passed. That shoe box was a treasure trove of information. The look on Mom’s face when I gave them to her sent her back sixty years. I saw a part of my father I never knew. I can only imagine what Coleman felt reading those letters. Perhaps one day this will become a book in its own.
The one thing he does stress, and many of the books I’ve read and veterans I’ve talked to, make no bones about poor leadership. For those who think it wasn’t severely flawed need to read “Vietnam Diary” by Richard Tregaskis. Yes, there were many officers who served on the frontlines and understood the perils the patrols faced every day. But sadly, too many were there to get their CBI on the backs of the troops and move up the chain of command. This wasn’t WWI, WWII or The Korean War. This was a war Johnson never went in to win and between him and McNamara had absolutely no strategy what-so-ever on how to fight it.
In regards to those who claim his right wing politics infected the work, where exactly does he say that? Nowhere! He makes it clear who he can and cannot trust and it isn’t the government. Then who is it?
Yes, in the end he professes to be a Christian and turned his life over to Jesus Christ. If that offends you, too bad. It’s his personal experience and has served him well. Is it necessary for us to know all the details? As he says in the story, if you read it all, that is another story that maybe he will share and maybe not. Point is, he found his faith when all other avenues he traveled failed to provide him with the inner peace he sought.
An interesting perspective.
Four Stars
I too watched that pathetic work and found nothing of great interest. Burns rehashed every atrocity American soldiers performed or were accused of performing. The majority of the men Burns interviewed were anti-war and joined in the protests. Where was the equal time for the soldiers that fought and supported the war and their duty; I have met and talked with many of them over the years. I read many of the negative reviews and am convinced they did not read the book or only perused it, at best.
Luck says at the very beginning he never had any desire to write about his experiences. Burn’s documentary changed all that. He gave his side of the war and how it affected him not only for the year he served but the years following that. No, he doesn’t go into any great depth some readers have alluded to, but then some memories need to remain buried for he has risen above his failures and moved on.
The most interesting part is the letters he wrote to his wife of which he is now rereading fifty years ago. I found the letters my father wrote my mom during World War Two after he passed. That shoe box was a treasure trove of information. The look on Mom’s face when I gave them to her sent her back sixty years. I saw a part of my father I never knew. I can only imagine what Coleman felt reading those letters. Perhaps one day this will become a book in its own.
The one thing he does stress, and many of the books I’ve read and veterans I’ve talked to, make no bones about poor leadership. For those who think it wasn’t severely flawed need to read “Vietnam Diary” by Richard Tregaskis. Yes, there were many officers who served on the frontlines and understood the perils the patrols faced every day. But sadly, too many were there to get their CBI on the backs of the troops and move up the chain of command. This wasn’t WWI, WWII or The Korean War. This was a war Johnson never went in to win and between him and McNamara had absolutely no strategy what-so-ever on how to fight it.
In regards to those who claim his right wing politics infected the work, where exactly does he say that? Nowhere! He makes it clear who he can and cannot trust and it isn’t the government. Then who is it?
Yes, in the end he professes to be a Christian and turned his life over to Jesus Christ. If that offends you, too bad. It’s his personal experience and has served him well. Is it necessary for us to know all the details? As he says in the story, if you read it all, that is another story that maybe he will share and maybe not. Point is, he found his faith when all other avenues he traveled failed to provide him with the inner peace he sought.
An interesting perspective.
Four Stars
January 8, 2021
"The man who got off the plane in November of 1968 at O’Hare Airport in Chicago was very different. He looked mostly the same, but he was tough and cynical beyond his years. He had left home filled with traditional patriotism. He came home respecting authority, but never trusting America again, not her government nor her people."
Gateway to Hell: Vietnam 1968: Thoughts and Personal Experiences of an Infantry Soldier is a remarkable, touching story that is filled with rage, regret and heartbreak.
George Coleman Luck (the creator of the 1980's TV series The Equalizer) tells us at the start of the book that his experience in Vietnam left him an angry man and it is evident in his story.
Gateway to Hell is in no way what I had expected to read and thank God it wasn't. In this story of love and loss, deception and betrayal we hear the story seldom told and when it is we ignore it as disgruntled rhetoric.
At the start George is watching a documentary on Vietnam which propels him to find a box filled with the letters he sent his wife during the war and it is these letters that cause a recollection of the memories he shares with us.
Some of these memories are horrific, others disparaging and they all paint a picture of a world gone mad and minds, bodies and souls that have seen what should not have been seen and hence changed forever.
During his time in service the author comes to realize many things about war as well as those things about people that both reaffirmed his beliefs and shattered them. "Part of my rock-hard resolve came from the clear understanding that no one in command above me cared whether we lived or died. It was up to me to try to get these young soldiers home alive. But that wasn’t always possible."
This is a marvelously written account (first hand) that will touch you and move you. It will drive you to sorrow and fill you with anger. The constant battle from moment to moment to retain your sanity and keep any semblance of humanity as Mr Luck rightfully points out is not anything anyone can understand or ever hope to sympathize with unless they have experienced it themselves.
If I could give this book a rating higher than a 5 I would most certainly do so. The only other thing I can offer is that you read this book at 64 pages it is a short, hard and fast revelation of a time that America would rather forget, a time that America would rather have the rain wash away down a sewer never to be seen or heard from again. But like all great tragedies of our past the real danger is in forgetting it ever happened.
Gateway to Hell: Vietnam 1968: Thoughts and Personal Experiences of an Infantry Soldier is a remarkable, touching story that is filled with rage, regret and heartbreak.
George Coleman Luck (the creator of the 1980's TV series The Equalizer) tells us at the start of the book that his experience in Vietnam left him an angry man and it is evident in his story.
Gateway to Hell is in no way what I had expected to read and thank God it wasn't. In this story of love and loss, deception and betrayal we hear the story seldom told and when it is we ignore it as disgruntled rhetoric.
At the start George is watching a documentary on Vietnam which propels him to find a box filled with the letters he sent his wife during the war and it is these letters that cause a recollection of the memories he shares with us.
Some of these memories are horrific, others disparaging and they all paint a picture of a world gone mad and minds, bodies and souls that have seen what should not have been seen and hence changed forever.
During his time in service the author comes to realize many things about war as well as those things about people that both reaffirmed his beliefs and shattered them. "Part of my rock-hard resolve came from the clear understanding that no one in command above me cared whether we lived or died. It was up to me to try to get these young soldiers home alive. But that wasn’t always possible."
This is a marvelously written account (first hand) that will touch you and move you. It will drive you to sorrow and fill you with anger. The constant battle from moment to moment to retain your sanity and keep any semblance of humanity as Mr Luck rightfully points out is not anything anyone can understand or ever hope to sympathize with unless they have experienced it themselves.
If I could give this book a rating higher than a 5 I would most certainly do so. The only other thing I can offer is that you read this book at 64 pages it is a short, hard and fast revelation of a time that America would rather forget, a time that America would rather have the rain wash away down a sewer never to be seen or heard from again. But like all great tragedies of our past the real danger is in forgetting it ever happened.
February 10, 2019
I finished Luck’s short book last night and immediately thought that it should be called a monograph rather than a book. The book/monograph had nothing to with his swag of medals but a considerable amount to do with his thoughts about the Vietnam War. Those thoughts came through significantly regarding his thoughts about the Protest Movement that engulfed America during those mid-war years. Luck used religion prolifically in this last half of his monograph, and it was used not to the benefit of him or his readers.
July 18, 2018
Almost Right
Some of his observations I agree with, there a year later, but my experiences of my leaders were far from his. I experienced good leaders, except one. Didn't have his faith, but you do grow up in those conditions, and wouldn't pass it up.
Some of his observations I agree with, there a year later, but my experiences of my leaders were far from his. I experienced good leaders, except one. Didn't have his faith, but you do grow up in those conditions, and wouldn't pass it up.
July 25, 2018
Easy bible thumper
You're a miserable guy. Probably a Trump supporter. America is the greatest country in the world and even the greatest make mistakes. Not everyone,as you suggest is a terrible person and liar , accept Trump.
You're a miserable guy. Probably a Trump supporter. America is the greatest country in the world and even the greatest make mistakes. Not everyone,as you suggest is a terrible person and liar , accept Trump.
August 26, 2018
Trying to Excuse Christianity
The underlying theme of this book is"God is good. " So much BS. Also he took Jon Kerry to task when he probably didn't know him. My time in the Delta and on the Meykong may have been more authentic. I never saw any evidence of Jesus there.
The underlying theme of this book is"God is good. " So much BS. Also he took Jon Kerry to task when he probably didn't know him. My time in the Delta and on the Meykong may have been more authentic. I never saw any evidence of Jesus there.
September 15, 2018
Misleading title
Book was free,but much to short. The author importantly seems to have missed his calling in spite of all his insight. He should have become a priest instead of a maker of tv shows and movies. He would have been very good at it.
Book was free,but much to short. The author importantly seems to have missed his calling in spite of all his insight. He should have become a priest instead of a maker of tv shows and movies. He would have been very good at it.
October 2, 2018
An honest look at the tragedy of Vietnam
A great short read that speaks openly of the true conflict in Vietnam both then and now.
I highly recommend that our children's children should read.
A great short read that speaks openly of the true conflict in Vietnam both then and now.
I highly recommend that our children's children should read.
October 28, 2018
Says what has needed to be said for a long time God bless you sir
It says the unvarnished truth, and why we keep repeating it. Some day the Lord's and fools will realize what's been done, maybe
It says the unvarnished truth, and why we keep repeating it. Some day the Lord's and fools will realize what's been done, maybe
February 10, 2020
Great read
Author did a wonderful job of relaying the feelings of a war zone on paper. As a combat veteran, this is the realest description of the hell that is war that I have ever read. God Bless you sir.
Author did a wonderful job of relaying the feelings of a war zone on paper. As a combat veteran, this is the realest description of the hell that is war that I have ever read. God Bless you sir.
April 2, 2024
more if a pamphlet then book
I wasn’t there, I can’t comprehend the toll it takes. The author talks about his faith and how he lost his soul. Honestly he comes across as a broken man who thinks everyone else in life is a fool.
I wasn’t there, I can’t comprehend the toll it takes. The author talks about his faith and how he lost his soul. Honestly he comes across as a broken man who thinks everyone else in life is a fool.
May 21, 2018
Good author
Good Vietnam story. true story about a personal history of a service member. Good book to read if you like
Good Vietnam story. true story about a personal history of a service member. Good book to read if you like
August 3, 2018
Well said.
Boiled down this book passes on so much more than a year in a life. It shows you THE path THE way.
Boiled down this book passes on so much more than a year in a life. It shows you THE path THE way.
November 13, 2018
Crap
Total waste o f money. Supposed professional writer writing an uninteresting book about his emotional problems. Buy I at your own peril
Total waste o f money. Supposed professional writer writing an uninteresting book about his emotional problems. Buy I at your own peril
February 8, 2019
Disappointed.
December 25, 2019
Good honest account
Down and dirty account of a young combat leader as analyzed from a mature point of view. I feel the read is outstanding.
Down and dirty account of a young combat leader as analyzed from a mature point of view. I feel the read is outstanding.
November 18, 2020
Pass on by
There is nothing in this attempt to write a book or maybe just a story. I have no idea what is was trying g to portray. It is a total waste of time.
There is nothing in this attempt to write a book or maybe just a story. I have no idea what is was trying g to portray. It is a total waste of time.
August 22, 2025
A great, if relatively brief war memoir
I wish I could thank the author in person.
Over the years I've read a lot of war memoirs, but only a few affect me like this one did.
I wish I could thank the author in person.
Over the years I've read a lot of war memoirs, but only a few affect me like this one did.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews