Review of Ever Vigilant

Praise George-kayode · Post by **Praise George-kayode** » 23 Mar 2022, 00:35

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ever Vigilant" by Michael J. Hebert.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Ever Vigilant is based on the author's experience as a soldier during the Vietnam War. All the twenty-four chapters of this fascinating book detail the friendships created, the individuals lost, the experiences enjoyed, and the emotions felt. Michael J. Hebert writes the book.

Michael was being ripped off from his happy existence as a pump boy at the truck shop, where he constantly smelt like diesel. He gradually adjusted to military life and was able to stay alive, thanks to his sharp observation. After completing his coxswain training, he was deployed to an MP battalion in Saigon, Vietnam. Vung Ro Bay isn't what he expected. As a soldier, he joins the 485th unit but soon discovers that he has become a brother to this new odd family. Although the Viet Cong posed a significant threat to the regiment, Mother Nature herself was the most significant threat they had to face. The years spent at Vung Ro Bay were packed with many memories and stories. Those stories are not forgotten but instead carefully documented in this book.

The number of details describing the characters, landscapes, events, and dates was awe-inspiring. The author meticulously detailed everything. There were photographs to go along with the stories. It was simple to grasp some military words used in the novel. This was because of the glossary at the end of the book. The author also included contributors, references, and a small section dedicated to remembering those who died during the battle. Typically, stories like this are pretty sad, but the author didn't focus on the horrible aspects of the war. Instead, the author builds his tale on the happy memories and times he spent with his brothers while fighting.

The characters were lively and occasionally reckless. Even amid all the fighting, they managed to have fun and build memories. Riggs, the storyteller, was my favorite character. It was admirable how well the members of the unit got along. They drank, traded, and even stole together.

Even though I enjoyed how detailed the book was, I became exhausted from reading it. The book appeared to be lengthy, with chapters of varying length. Although there was a glossary at the end of the book, it lacked several of the more often used military words. This left me a bit confused at specific points.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The book was professionally written, as I found no grammatical errors. I recommend this book to individuals who enjoy books filled with history, tales of war, and friendship.

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Ever Vigilant
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