Semper Cool by Barry Fixler

Semper Cool by Barry Fixler

From Goodreads.com:
Semper Cool is the wrenching, sometimes hilarious and always thought-provoking true story of a mischievous teenager who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps seeking adventure and his father's approval and finds both, plus more danger than he ever could have imagined. With its vivid imagery, Semper Cool thrusts readers into a grunt's-eye view of the blood, guts, tears and laughter of war, as told by a Marine who returned home a man and a patriot. Be prepared to laugh and cry and ultimately thank God for the men and women willing to risk their lives for the freedoms that so many Americans enjoy.

My Take:  I found this book very easy to read.  I have always been fascinated by the motivations for people to do and join certain things or organizations.  Barry joined the Marines because his dad was always in awe of them. Straight out of high school.  Barry enlisted and didn't tell his parents he was going to boot camp until the night before he was to leave.  I laughed and grimaced as Barry described his boot camp experience.

The Whole book is told with a frankness that is refreshing.  Barry doesn't try to hide the gruesomeness of the war but he doesn't make it out to be all terrible either.  He was one of the lucky ones that made it back home without any noticable scars.  The point of the book is to honor those that fight for our way of life and our freedom, something I think we take way to much for granted. 

This book is definately worth picking up.  Even if you are not that interested in books about war or the military this book is so much more than that. 



You can visit his website here,

He has set up a foundation for wounded combat soldiers from Iraq an Afghanistan.  All of the proceeds from Semper Cool will go toward this foundation. 

I received a copy of the book for review purposes.