Things I'll Never Forget

Memories of a Marine in Viet Nam

By: James M. Dixon

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Things I’ll Never Forget is the story of a young high school graduate in 1965 who faces being drafted into the Army or volunteering for the Marine Corps. These are his memories of funny times, disgusting times and deadly times. The author kept a journal for an entire year; therefore many of the dates, times and places are accurate. The rest is based on memories that are forever tattooed on his brain. This is not a pro-war book, nor is it anti-war. It is the true story of what the Marine Corps was like in the late 1960’s, when the country had a draft and five hundred thousand Americans were serving one year tours in battle-torn South East Asia. If you served in Viet Nam you will want to compare your experience with the author’s. If you know someone who went to Viet Nam, you will want to listen for yourself what it was like. If you lost a loved one or friend in the war, you will want to listen to this and share it with others.

©2016, 2018 James M. Dixon (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

well produced and very moving

the narrator is wonderful and the story hooks you from the start. I highly recommend it

Very Moving and Well Written

very well written and explained I legitimately teared up each time he described a friend who was killed. Vietnam vets deserved a heros welcome home, not the disgusting display that actually happened.

accurate memoirr

At times the author sinks into the required excuse for Vietnam but, it's his story. I served as well and had similar experiences. The depiction of prisoner execution is unforgivable but, it happened. When people thank me for my service I always reply "It was my privilege."

The real thing

I served from 1966 until 1973. This is as it was .
God bless us all.

A must read

I grew up obsessed with Vietnam, my friends dad had served and we always looked up to him for that. It’s nice (and very sad) to hear a true story of one mans experiences in the war. He tells his story with no embarrassment, machismo or apology for the things that happened. His sorrow however is felt and will stay with you. This, in my opinion, is a must read for the younger generations to know what our veterans went through and how they were treated for it.

worth it

100% worth the read! my old man was in country. won't talk about it to the day. this book made me feel like I understand more of why he is the way he is. thank you.

Even 50 years after and knowing the truth about Vietnam!

It is frightening to read a book like this, especially about the Vietnam war, after being aware of all the lies to the American people by at least four presidents, after the Pentagon papers release, after Eisenhower warming us about non-democratic force of the military/industrial complex.
Dixon tells us that he wanted to serve his country right or wrong, and this would be fine if in the end he had not fought just for private industrial interests. South Vietnam could have fought for more democratic values and make a better Vietnam today, but the regime the US government was backing then was run by deeply corrupt generals and the money that should have reached South Vietnamese soldiers never made it to them.
Dixon writes that he was part of the US policy of “containing” communism, but being on the side of corruption to contain communism seems so ridiculous that i wonder how he could have missed that. The fact that he had been sent to a “lost war” could possibly still justify his book but he still refuses the defeat, Dixon still calls the Vietnamese “gooks” even though he apologized about it, but he keeps calling them like this all along.
What was striking in this book is a small episode in a small village where they suspected some enemy to be passing through, they approached and received some light fire from small machine guns. They ran away and called the Navy artillerie, then the Air Force that eventually they completely napalmed the village. How much glory from taking so little chance? Was it fair to kill local people in their own country with such a destructive power?
Dixon suggests that the war was lost from the inside, i suspect he thinks the “pinkos” made it happen and that it could have been won in Vietnam?
He writes that when coming back to the US people spit at him in the airport calling him baby killer. I heard that this story was false or very rare at least, and also i have a hard time believing that in the state of mind he was as a soldier back from combat, that he would have let this happen without having an horrendous fist fight with the spitter.
However this book is a testimony and it is great that Dixon wrote it. He certainly is a great writer and i never got bored one second

Straightforward and excellent

Good memoir, makes me want to re-read with the old breed. Was sort of worried at first this would be a "sanitised" or more for teens type of book but it turned out not to be.

Excellent Story.

One of the best personal stories about Vietnam I've ever heard. The author tells the story of his experiences with humor, Sadness and honesty.. The narrator does a fantastic job conveying the story. Highly recommend this book/audiobook. Semper Fidelis

A marine vet in need of some help

A very moving story of his time in Vietnamese Nam. The epilogue painted a picture of a troubled veteran who is in need of some help to ease the pain of some of his demons.