The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty: United States Marine Corps, Khe Sanh, Vietnam, 1968

The brother of an anti-war demonstrator, a young marine is fighting a war no one understands while his sister is fighting on the home front to end the war in Vietnam and bring her brother home.

An agonizing dilemma plagues these brother-sister diarists. He is a Marine stationed in Vietnam. She is at home in America, far away from her brother's war zone, fighting for peace. As the marine writes in his journal about his experiences as a soldier, fighting an enemy he can't see, his sister seeks peace. Poignant and complex, these two characters give readers a glimpse into perhaps the most tumultuous time in modern American history.

This book is from the My Name is America series.Patrick turned down college scholarships to enlist in the Marines. In December 1967, just out of basic training, he finds himself in Vietnam, "on a combat base, out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains, and jungle-and- a whole lot of enemy soldiers." His journal is an intense and vivid record of the loneliness, confusion, comradeship, and suffering during the four months spent under constant assault by the North Vietnamese at Khe Sanh. Naive and provincial, the teen is transformed and matured by combat. He develops a close friendship with Bebop, a Detroit jazz musician, and begins to question whether he and his comrades are actually accomplishing anything. "Too much shelling, show more too many mortar attacks, too many casualties. Not enough food, water, and mail." Patrick writes that he doesn't want to make any more friends, "because you keep losing them all the time." In April, 1968, the men of Hill 881S are sent to a "safe" base at Quang Tri. There, in an ironic twist of fate, Patrick is badly injured, and Bebop is killed in a rocket attack. Based on extensive research, Journal is supplemented with photographs, a map, a historical note, and an epilogue. show less

This was probably one of the better books in My Name is America series. I was really excited because I know it coincided with one of the Dear America books, so it was cool too see Patrick's side of things. On a more heavier note, this is a book about a war, a very brutal war, and even though this is meant for middle grade children, that still comes across very well. It seemed believable and I wanted to keep reading this book. Well done. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This was probably one of the better books in My Name is America series. I was really excited because I know it coincided with one of the Dear America books, so it was cool too see Patrick's side of things. On a more heavier note, this is a book about a war, a very brutal war, and even though this is meant for middle grade children, that still comes across very well. It seemed believable and I wanted to keep reading this book. Well done. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This historical fiction is in the form of a journal. Patrick Seamus Flaherty went from high school to the Vietnam war. Patrick is sent to a distant hill called hill 881 South near the village (and the base) of Khe Sanh. He experiences war sometimes tragic, gruesome and funny. He also is given a nickname, "Mighty Mouse" after the cartoon character. Friendship is difficult for Patrick because men are being killed all the time. He becomes close to Bebop a guy from Detroit. These two share a trench when hill 881 is attacked during the battle of Khe Sanh. The men endure great hard ships with being resupplied with rations and support against the enemy.
The accuracy and details about the scenery and actual facts made the story so believable. show more There is so much supporting information that made this story seem like it was written by a male who went to Vietnam. It is amazing that this was written by a female who was not in Vietnam during the war! The author was so convincing that it could definitely have been someone’s story about Vietnam. Since it is based on actual events and uses terminology of the time it is a good book to depict Vietnam and the conflicts concerning that war.
In the classroom, I would use this book as an example of a journal. I would let students select it from other examples of journals and use in literature circles. I would also use it to explain some of the complexities of the Vietnam War. The story gives a depth about the time and people that students will be able to relate. show less

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

Bizarre fictionalized introduction to the entire Vietnam War that shows Khe Sahn US Marines as callused and fatalistic young men. This young adult narrative takes the form of a journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty.