For fans of Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge comes the powerful true story of a Medal of Honor recipient who faced more than his fair share of battles—and overcame them through perseverance and faith. “What Gary Beikirch did to receive his medal is unforgettable—and the story of what he overcame afterward is as big and moving as they come.”—Gary Sinise After dawn the siege began. It was April 1, … Sinise
After dawn the siege began. It was April 1, 1970, and Army Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch knew the odds were stacked against their survival. Some 10,000 enemy soldiers sought to obliterate the twelve American Special Forces troops and 400 indigenous fighters who stood fast to defend 2,300 women and children inside the village of Dak Seang. For his valor and selflessness during the ruthless siege, Beikirch would be awarded a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.
But Gary returned home wounded in body, mind, and soul. To find himself again, Gary retreated to a cave in the mountains of New England, where a redemptive encounter with God allowed Gary to find peace.
New York Times best-selling author Marcus Brotherton chronicles the incredible true story of a person who changed from lost to found. Gripping and unforgettable, and written with a rich and vivid narrative voice, Blaze of Light will inspire you to answer hurt with ingenuity, to reach for faith, and to find clarity and peace within any season of storm.
more
A true story of Gary Beikirch and his actions as a Green Beret medic during Vietnam and for especially in April I 1970. That is when twelve Special Forces men along with 400 ARVIN fighters were to begin to hold off the initial attack of 10,000 Viet Cong, the battles later would be named the siege of Dak Seang and though it began on April 1, it would not be over until May 8th. By then over 2,800 fighter sorties had been flown, 154 gunships sorties were also flown, (though my cousin never talks about it I believe since he was a gunship helicopter pilot, he probably flew some of those he did two tours.) another 114 bombing sorties were flown plus over a hundred resupply sorties. You can see that this was an intense battle and though the battle was won by us it was fought in the highlands and this was where most of the Green Beret’s would go, to the Highlands set up camps and would fight and train the ingenious people to fight. Now they were protecting the village along with the 400 fighters alongside them.
You are taken through the details of the battle and though he would be wounded his first thought was that of others and tending to their wounds and how to help others and not of himself. A very intense time yet you get the true meaning of his service and calling. He would be taken out when the first of the helicopters arrived when a landing zone was set up for extraction and dropping off ammo and other supplies. His wounds though treatable would take months to heal and the ones he fought in his mind would take years.
The story though begins with his early years and through his childhood and then up to his enlistment. He moves on to training and the different steps and training and qualifications and courses he had to pass in order to be a Green Beret. Even when he passed, he still did not know for sure that made it. This part of the story is equally truthful and yet shows you just how few make it through from the beginning. He would have months longer since he chose to be a medic and he could still be knocked out if he failed that. Once passed it was to more training until his deployment to Vietnam.
Once he was released from the hospital, he tells of how lost he was and how he made it to an uncle’s farm and then to a college. It is there that people would spit on him when they found out that he was a vet and served in Nam, I found this to be disgusting though I heard stories about this happening to servicemen coming home. Growing up in a military home and having lived with a WWI vet, and WWII and Korean vet, then an uncle and cousin who fought in Vietnam this just did not make sense to me. It was at these college years later that he is informed that he will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that night. He like others does not think he did anything to be awarded this medal and this also affects his PTSD. It is also at this college town that he would find his wife and she would stick by him throughout his time working through his problems. It is the last part of the book where you see his life-changing and finally coming around for good. Overall, I found this to be an outstanding book and feel it an honor and privilege to have read about his life, I hope more people will read this book as well. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. follow us at http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Marcus Brotherton has captured forever the almost-unbelievable story of a man who has lived through inconceivable war experiences. Some of the most interesting episodes showed how he was imbedded with Montagnard fighters.
After he came home from Vietnam, a Green Beret medic, so broken, body and mind, it’s amazing that survived both the war and the physical recovery. But his journey to mental health took much, much longer. He almost couldn’t grasp that he’d been awarded a Medal of Honor. It took years for him to accept that it was part of God’s plan because of what he’d been through.
There are extensive notes in the book, and also several photos. This gritty book is highly recommended.
Before he earned the Medal of Honor, he was still an unordinary person: things like major head trau from falling out of a second story window onto his head on a paved driveway at 18 months and coming away with a fully functioning mind and body after many weeks in the hospital. Childhood and family issues are detailed up until he decided that US Marines were “just Crazy” so he decided to become a Green Beret instead. Right. Then follows a detailed account of the rigors of military training including the medical and veterinary hands on experience specialized for green berets. So he decided upon being a medic. during those three years he became seriously involved with alcohol and doesn’t shrink from detailing the lowlights. Then he went to Nam and a real gut learning experience is also detailed. He started by working in hospital, sick call in villages in the central highlands, including the leprosarium where he learned respect for the long term doctors and nursing sisters there and an appreciation for the artistic works of the Montagnards. Read the rest of the book for his detailed accounts of being a combat medic if you have made it this far. I could relate somewhat being a nurse of his vintage and losing friends there, but I am not sure how ordinary folk will deal with his realities. A very moving reality. He obviously lived through it all and made a new life for himself but he continued to give back to the veterans who made it through and needed what he could give.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley. Thank you so much!
Blaze of Light is a fascinating biography of Gary Beikirch, a Viet Nam era veteran. It is not an easy read in many places as readers are given an up-close and personal glimpse into a controversial war, the emotional and physical impact on the young people who fought in the war, and the unwelcoming aftermath as they return home. Blaze of Light is an inspiring story as Gary deals with the various difficulties in his life and his awful struggle with PTSD, trying to make sense of all that has transpired and then to be given the high honor of being awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United States. To really live, you must almost die. To those who fight for it, life has a meaning the protected will never know is a hard learned lesson for this young man. But he comes to understand and recognizes the hand of God working in and through his life. He becomes an overcomer, allowing God to use his story to minister to others throughout the years. Author Marcus Brotherton has done a great job sharing this hero’s journey to healing and wholeness and readers who enjoy reading about true life heroes will not want to miss this book. I received a complimentary copy of the book from WaterBrook & Multnomah Publishers and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
With all the uncertainty and fear in our world currently, a story of hope and survival is just what is needed. Blaze of Light, the story of Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor recipient is just this…a story of hope.
Blaze of Light written by Marcus Brotherton tells the story of Gary Beikirch, a Vietnam veteran whose bravery and loyalty to the armed forces earned him the most prestigious award, The Medal of Honor. It is “the highest US military decoration, awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.” as defined by Dictionary.com.
I received Blaze of Light from the Waterbrook and Multnomah publishing as part of a launch team for an honest review.
Beikirch’s heroism in Vietnam extended to the treatment he received from the public when he returned home suffering from his wounds. One might think that his Green Beret training was only used in combat, but sadly he used it also to sustain himself dealing with the ignorance of the general public at the time, to endure the abuse our soldiers faced on the home front.
He began his military career as a man with no faith, he evolved through the turmoil as a man of great faith, attending seminary and ministering to many as a pastor, as well as a counselor in schools, hospitals, prisons, and the Veterans Outreach Center.
The driving theme of Beikrich’s story is the ultimate survival through God’s grace. A quote from Beikrich, at a pregame ceremony in Atlanta at a Brave’s baseball game, seems to say it all, he says, “My story is God’s story. This medal is not about me. This medal is about Him. without God’s grace, I wouldn’t have been able to survive Vietnam. Without forgiveness in my life, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. Without his love, I wouldn’t have healed from my wounds. This medal is about Him and I wear it for His honor.”
If you need a break from the strife and worry of the world and want to see that through strife comes endurance, read Blaze of Light by Marcus Brotherton. You will be uplifted.
Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient is such a powerful and inspiring read. I found Gary to be such a hero and learning the lessons he learned through the struggles he experienced in his life.
I am giving Blaze of Light five plus stars. I highly recommend it. It is most definitely not one to be missed.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Those who have experienced battle say time expands. Seconds feel like minutes, and minutes and hours stretch into virtual time warps. Marcus Brotherton successfully illustrates such perception of time in his telling of Gary Beikirch’s harrowing story. Marcus propelled me into the darkness of impending doom with speed and precision while casting light on the humanity and bravery of the characters who inhabit the pages I blew through. This book left me thoroughly inspired and honored to have ‘met’ yet another hero who earned the Medal of Honor.
From the windblast of landing choppers to the sensory assault of close-quarters battle, Blaze of Light put me right in the middle of the steaming jungles of Vietnam. Gary Beikirch was grievously wounded and facing a ruthless enemy, and his selfless choices made him the rarest of war heroes — one whose valor is measured not in lives taken but in lives saved.
I was on the Nixon White House staff while Gary Beikirch was serving in Vietnam’s jungles. As the White House looked at the mega-issues of the war, we too easily lost sight of the incredible micro-moments of heroism displayed by Gary and others, which are so skillfully described by Marcus Brotherton. Marcus shows not only the intensity of the war in the compound where Gary fought but also the pathos in the soul of the warrior. This book sheds needed light in an age when many are trapped in the darkness of PTSD.
The author did a good job of sharing facts and details enough to keep you engaged with the story. Those of us who’ve not serve our country as Gary Beikirch did get to pull the curtain back for a slight peek into what our service men and women endure for our freedom.
The book also gives a glimpse into the poor treatment we give our service personnel when they return home. I’ve seen it with my own eyes towards family and friends who’ve served and it’s a shame.
I recommend this book for someone who likes military history and especially for someone who struggles in their faith. Gary’s story inspires one to dig deep within and to grow your faith.
I hope this book gets into many hands and people start standing up for our Veterans.
Green Beret Sergeant Gary Beikirch, and the soldiers of CampA-245, THANK YOU for your service.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group with no expectation in return. The above comments are my own.
On April 1st, 1970 in Dak Saeng, Vietnam Gary Beikirch distinguished himself with selfless acts of bravery and duty which later earned him the Medal of Honor.
Marcus Brotherton tells Gary’s story in the troubled years leading up to that day and the things that brought him to Dak Saeng that day. I loved how this story showed Gary’s love for the Montagnard people, and how they accepted him as one of their own as he built friendships and relationships with them. This book also tells of the troubled years after that day, and Gary’s struggles with coming home, addiction, relationships and God.
Gary’s story is vividly told, from his rebellious years and military service, to his journey of faith and the struggles of a returning Vietnam Vet. His story is compelling, and honest, not shying away from his failures, but also not going into explicit detail, all the while showing God’s hand in his life, even he couldn’t see it. I was inspired by how his faith grew in steps forward and back, it wasn’t one moment that changed it all, yet those moments were seeds sown and it took time for those seeds to take root.
Overall, a well written, compelling, true story of one man’s commitment to his duty and his journey to faith. I highly recommend this read, it’s a great reminder of what Vietnam War Veterans faced upon their return home, as well as one man’s journey of faith. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Blaze of Light is the remarkable and well told story of Gary Beikirch, a Green Beret Vietnam Veteran who earned the Nation’s most esteemed medal, the Medal of Honor.
I admire the raw honesty of this book with no glossing over the horrors of the Vietnam war, the deep love Gary had and still has for the people he lived with and protected, the darkness he went through after leaving the service, and his eventual resolution with all that he has experienced. Nothing is gratuitous.
This is a captivating read of darkness, evil, service, sacrifice, being lost, redemption and becoming whole again. Beikirch’s unimaginable bravery and his many actions to aid others without regard to self calls us to not only honor him but also to honor and respect all veterans and those currently serving in the military for what they have done/ and continue to do for us.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.