“The Gunner and the Grunt” is a unique Vietnam War memoir because it’s actually two memoirs. Two men from Massachusetts join the Army to do very different jobs, train for those jobs, and both go to Vietnam to serve their country. The book is written in two distinct voices, both members of the same reconnaissance unit, the 1st Cavalry Division, providing two very different perspectives of the war. One flies an armed helicopter above, while the other pounds the ground through the jungles below.
The Gunner and the Grunt: A Story of Service and Sacrifice
The “Gunner” is Michael L. Kelley, who grew up in Boston’s Cambridge and Somerville areas. He joined the Army in 1964 and served on active duty through 1967. He became a federal employee and joined the Army Reserve, where he retired as a Master Sergeant in 1990.
Peter Burbank, the titular “Grunt,” was raised in Hull, Massachusetts, just a short drive away from Boston. He grew up reading about small unit actions in World War II, dreaming about becoming an airborne infantry soldier. Joining the Army to fight in Vietnam was something of a lifelong dream for him. He would serve two combat tours before coming back to the real world and becoming a police officer in Portland, Maine. Burbank would also join the Army Reserve, where he spent another 20 years.
The book is a unique piece of personal history, not only because it shares perspectives between the two “boys from Boston” but also because of the time period. The 1st Cavalry Division was the first of two full divisions to deploy to Vietnam, and the airmobile concept was a new tactic. Deploying in 1965, Kelley and Burbank provide a firsthand account of what it was like to fight an entirely new kind of warfare.
Kelley struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder as he worked to write “The Gunner and the Grunt” over the years. He also consulted with fellow cavalry veterans of the war to share memories and get more information. The end result is something truly unique and personal. Veterans will relish the memories it evokes, and even those who never joined the military will find themselves engrossed.
For any veteran thinking of writing their story, Kelley also shares his thoughts about writing as a veteran in the acknowledgments:
“To those readers who like this book, I want to thank you for learning about a soldier’s life in the Vietnam War. I grew up on books about World War II and Korean War Veterans, and I hope there is a younger generation out there who will read about the veterans of the Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq Wars.”
“The Gunner and the Grunt: Two Boston Boys in Vietnam with the First Cavalry Division Airmobile” is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It’s available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook starting at $20.95.
Read About Other Book Reviews
If you enjoyed reading the review of The Gunner and the Grunt: by Michael Kelley and Peter Burbank, we invite you to read about other military book reviews on our blog. You will also find profiles in courage, veterans’ service reflections, famous military units and more on the TogetherWeServed.com blog. If you are a veteran, find your military buddies, view historic boot camp photos, build a printable military service plaque, and more on TogetherWeServed.com today.
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