Reviews

This book puts such a perfect honest face on War….The Soldier…no one should pass this book up if they truly want the true reality of fighting in War..especially in Vietnam…I think every person in America should read this story of Tommy J. in War….

Shad Meshad
President and Founder of the National Veterans Foundation.

Warriors never die as long as people remember the wars. Therefore, Letters from Tommy J. represents a bittersweet remembrance of one among 58,000 Americans who died in Southeast Asia: an 18-year-old kid from Atlanta named Thomas J. Holzclaw III. Tommy’s letters home from his time “in country” are set in context by chapters describing events that influenced his decision to serve, and how that service was conducted. This loving retrospective by the two nieces he never knew affords a look into one young life cut short by the ill-fated Vietnam “conflict”, and in the telling, the one represents the many.

Barrett Tillman

Co-author, On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War Over Vietnam with the late Cdr. John B. Nichols, III.

Letters from Tommy J. would be of interest to all vets of the Vietnam conflict. I am a vet of that conflict myself. It brings back memories that haven't surfaced in a couple of decades.

Charlie Mitchell

Blue Star Families - USAFNS

I can't thank you enough for the copy of the book and also for the efforts you and your sister put into it. As I figured, it brought back so many memories, there is no way I could mention all of them here. First was my memory of Tommy's relationship with his mother. He was always her protector and was looking out for her. I saw a lot of that in his letters. By the way, she had the ability to make the best hot dogs and hamburgers that I ever enjoyed. She had a steaming machine for the buns that was out of this world!! What a great person and was the source of Tommy's relationship with his friends. He very much had her personality and way with people. I first met him in the 8th grade at O'keefe. Believe it or not, he was even skinner than I was at that age. The reason he had on a suit in the Ke-O-Ke pictures was that he was chosen as a senior surperlitative. About 10 boys and 10 girls were chosen for that honor. You can see their pictures in various poses around the Tech campus in the year book. It was for either good grades or leadership qualities. In Tommy's case, it was probably both. None of us were considered "rich" in the terms that would be exhibited in some high schools today. Or riches came for our friendships and relationships. Most of us drove hand-me-down family cars once we were old enough to drive. It was however a great time and place to grow up because of the people we were and how we felt about each other.

Your friend,
Jimmy

Dear Ms. Walker,
I just wanted to thank you for the prompt response to my request for a signed copy of the book. I completely red through it the evening I received it, and I was very saddened to learn of his death in combat. Throughout the rest of the book, I had hoped that he had not only lived, but was possibly still in the Atlanta area from your mailing address.

An excellent compilation of his letters, life, and family. But, on we few continue to march to the drums ...

Thank you again, and I offer my condolences, much belated, to you and his family, and my salute and Semper Fi for his service and sacrifices.

Mark Stephen Tigh USMC
Call Sign: Major Ttrouble
1st Force RE/Con Co.