Gunny Pop: Once a Marine

Thanks to Jules Crittenden's post today, I was reminded to order my copy of Nick Popaditch's recently released book, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery.

Here's the book trailer.



From the book's web site:

April 9, 2003: An AP photographer captures a striking image seen around the world of a Marine tank commander smoking a victory cigar in his tank, the haunting statue of Saddam Hussein hovering in the background. Popaditch is immortalized forever as “The Cigar Marine.”

April 6-7, 2004: The tanker fights heroically in the battle for Fallujah and suffers grievous head wounds that leave him legally blind and partially deaf. The USMC awards him with a Silver Star for his valor and combat innovation.

April 18, 2004: “Gunny Pop” comes home to face the toughest fight of his life—a battle to remain the man and Marine he was. This is the central drama of Nick’s inspiring memoir, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery.

Also at Nick's site, incredible video footage of Nick and the other wounded Marines exiting their tank just moments after it was hit by an RPG. Viewer discretion advised.

Update from the comments. Ted Savas of Savas Beatie, Nick's publisher, tells us that there are still some signed copies of Once a Marine available through their web site. You can also contact them if you have a group and would like Nick and/or his wife April to come and speak.