Untitled Document

T-REX RC Helicopters Vibe PRO Helicopters SYMA RC Helicopter AIR Soft Tank Abrams Tanks RC Jets F-16 Falcon F4 Phantom RC Jet RC Tiger Tank Sherman Tank RC Army Men Thermal Weapon Sights Airsoft Machine Gun Airsoft Rifles DROZD Airsoft AirSplat Night Vision Home Security Systems Miniature Cameras Spy Cameras Survival Gear Gun Cleaning Equipment GI Joe GI Jane Blu-Ray Videos Hand Gun Safe Rifle Fireproof Vault Vietnam Video Dowloads Patriotic Songs Military Ballcaps Watches GPS Shirt Stays

Home

Army Uniforms

Marines

Location: Home » Books » Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery

Subcategories

•	Arts & Photography
•	Biographies & Memoirs
•	Business & Investing
•	Children's Books
•	Comics & Graphic Novels
•	Computers & Internet
•	Cooking, Food & Wine
•	Entertainment
•	Gay & Lesbian
•	Health, Mind & Body
•	History
•	Home & Garden
•	Law
•	Literature & Fiction
•	Medicine
•	Mystery & Thrillers
•	Nonfiction
•	Outdoors & Nature
•	Parenting & Families
•	Professional & Technical
•	Reference
•	Religion & Spirituality
•	Romance
•	Science
•	Science Fiction & Fantasy
•	Sports
•	Teens
•	Travel

Bestsellers

	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

	The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

	The Girl Who Played with Fire

	Freedom: A Novel

	Freedom: A Novel

	Family Tree

	The Grand Design

New Releases

	Freedom: A Novel

	Freedom: A Novel

	The Grand Design

	A Scattered Life

	Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)

	Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)

Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery

Authors: Nick Popaditch, Mike Steere
Publisher: Savas Beatie
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$25.00~~
Buy Used: $8.26
as of 9/9/2010 20:29 CDT details
You Save: $16.74 (67%)

New (28) Used (20) Collectible (1) from $8.26

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

49 reviews

Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 312
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1

ISBN: 1932714472
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.7044373
EAN: 9781932714470

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	ISBN13: 9781932714470
•	Condition: New
•	Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
May 6, 1986: Nick Popaditch arrives at the Receiving Barracks, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.

April 9, 2003: An AP photographer captures a striking image seen around the world of the Gunny Sergeant 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, 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.

Readers in and out of the military will stand up and cheer for this valiant Marine's Marine, a man who embodies everything noble and proud in the Corps' long tradition. Never has modern mechanized combat seemed so immediate and real, or the fight in Iraq seemed so human and worth believing in.

At first, Nick fights to get back to where he was in Iraq-in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way-the Marine way-because anything less would be a betrayal of all he holds dear.

The real triumph in Once a Marine is its previously untold, behind-the-scenes tale of the day-to-day life of a career Marine noncommissioned staff officer. In most books and movies, a "Gunny" is little more than a cardboard character. Nick's portrayal is a man complete: a husband and father, as well as a warrior and a molder of young warriors. He reveals himself completely, something no memoirist in his position has ever done before. This includes our very personal introduction to his wife April, whose heroics in the story equal Nick's, together with dozens of others who, as Sgt. Popaditch writes, gave so much, so selflessly and freely, to him. Like the man himself, Once a Marine is full of gratitude and refreshingly free of false bravado and braggadocio.

All Americans, of all political persuasions, have a duty to meet this courageous and admirable fighting man, an exemplar of all our military men and women who give so much out of love for their nation. Meeting Gunny Sergeant Popaditch through the pages of his inspirational memoir offers up new reasons to be proud and shoulder our own responsibilities as Americans.

Once a Marine will instantly take its place among outstanding combat classics. And once you read this remarkable and uplifting book, The Marine's Hymn will never sound the same.

FINALIST: The Indie Book Awards, Autobiography / Memoirs 2009

REVIEWS

" Nick Popaditch's transcendent memoir of military service and its personal consequences should be read by every one of our nation's political leaders-to help them understand the incomparable quality of those who fight on the front lines. Read this inspiring story, recommend it to friends-and send a copy to your member of Congress!"

- Ralph Peters (Lt. Col., ret.), New York Post columnist and author of Looking For Trouble and Wars Of Blood and Faith

"Retired Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch's narrative will burn through your heart, and then settle deep in your gut. . . . Readers will shed a tear, and simultaneously burst out with eagle, globe and anchor emotive-pride. That, I guarantee!"

--Leatherneck Magazine (USMC)

"America has always been blessed by wonderful, patriotic, and often anonymous men and women who have sacrificed so much in defense of liberty and freedom. Once a Marine, Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch's heart-wrenching and inspiring memoir, puts a name and a face on this sacrifice. Every American should read this book to remind them of what these brave warriors of freedom endure on our behalf."- Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

"Gunny Popaditch's story is as inspiring as it is dramatic. This wounded warrior suffered grievous injuries - an RPG to the head! - but refused to give up on life, even when his wounds forced him out of the Corps. Once a Marine is a 'must read' story of one of today's real heroes."- Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.), Editor in Chief, Armchair General

"Author Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch, a Silver Star recipient and the subject of the world-famous AP photo, has penned what must surely be classed as among the best personal memoirs of any combat soldier in recent memory. Once a Marine is an in-your-face blast of raw emotion and realism that will strike a raw nerve and keep you up at night. This autobiography of combat, courage, and recovery should be required reading for every American, young and old, who yearns to grasp the true cost of freedom."

- Caspar Weinberger Jr., Military and Current Affairs Columnist

"A riveting and inspirational story of the consummate professional warrior. It is impossible to read Once a Marine without being proud of our military and grateful that our Nation produces men like Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch."- Michael F. Nugent, Major, US Army (Ret.), co-author of One Continuous Fight: The Retreat From Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863

"Only a few books leap off the shelves and demand to be read- and "Once a Marine" is one of those few...a spellbinding story...the type of book that the reader will devour in an evening".The Midwest Book Review, 12/2008

"Gunny Popaditch's story makes me incredibly proud to have worn the same uniform. Without intending to, Once a Marine articulates life in the modern Marine Corps more clearly than anything I've read. No blindly loyal fanatic, Popaditch candidly acknowledges the bullshit, yet artfully captures the inimitable spirit of camaraderie and commitment that makes the Marine Corps unique. Extraordinarily motivating and compellingly honest book, it made me pine for my own long-finished Marine Corps career."- Jay A. Stout, Lt.Col. USMC (Ret.), author of Hornet's Over Kuwait

"Gunny Pop" Popaditch's courageous memoir of his life in and out of the Marine Corps is intelligently written and imbued with a brazen honesty rarely found elsewhere. His personal courage-and that of his wife, April-gives the term "home of the brave" an entirely new meaning."- Sgt. Michael Volkin, author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 1-5 of 49

1 2 3 4 5 6 ...10 Next »

Worthy of a Position of Honor August 17, 2010
Ron Walker (California, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

NOTE: The following is a revised version of my original review.

"The last human being I see with perfect clarity - the last I will ever fully see - does his damndest to kill me."

From this dramatic opening line in Chapter One to the last sentence of the Epilogue you will not want to put this book down; it's simply that good.

Whether reading professional or promotional reviews of books such as this one, it's common to see phrases like "truly inspirational" or "a must-read" splattered about to entice people to rush out and purchase a copy. As readers, we have seen these phrases used so often that we tend to afford them little to no meaning. But in the case of "Once a Marine", not only do these phrases apply, they fall incredibly short.

Because of the candid manner in which this book was written, I felt as though I was sitting across a campfire from Nick "Gunny Pop" Popaditch intensely listening to him as he told this incredible story.

Although he speaks in great detail of his experiences as a Marine from boot camp to his long road to recovery from a traumatic head wound which left him with one eye missing and the other almost totally blind, this is not a "oh pitiful me" or "I did it all by myself" book. In fact, throughout this book Gunny Pop spends most of his time giving credit and praise, not only to his fellow Marines, but to members of other branches of the military as well:

"From the moment I'm wounded I rack up debts to people that I can't repay. While it happens I feel helpless, and afterward there's lingering guilt. Nothing to keep me up at night, but still I wish I could do something to pay back what was given so freely and selflessly."

I am not sure if he realizes it or not, but by writing this book the way he did, Gunny Pop has done just that. "Once a Marine" sheds a realistic and positive light on the amazing courage, brotherhood and commitment to excellence of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the families they leave behind.
On the latter (family), Colonel Bryan McCoy says it best in the Foreword while describing Nick's wife:

"Pop's wife April is deserving of Sainthood. If ever there was a cause to define love and loyalty by action, April's actions would achieve it. Those suffering loss of control of their lives and the lives of their loved ones can look to her example of devotion born of love and character. Providence conceals from us the way in which we will be tested. We may either submit to victimhood and capitulate our honor, or we may do as April does, everyday: commit to the cause and create belief in those around us."

And on the character of Nick Popaditch Colonel McCoy says:

"I can personally vouch for Pop's fighting prowess. He was always up front and leading by example. When things were at their worst, he was seen the most. In combat, there are things you can control and things you cannot control. Pop controlled his men, their emotions, their actions, and their performance and that of their equipment. What he could not control was the enemy. But what he could not control he simply overwhelmed with will and determination, and so broke the enemy."

As I read the first chapter I began to confirm that the "control" Colonel McCoy spoke of was not the actions of an ego-maniac or a control freak. By controlling the battle, USMC Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch was doing the two most important things a tank commander does in battle: ensuring the success of his mission and looking out for the safety of the men under his command.

His commitment to mission and men first is evident when he recalls his initial thoughts after being hit in the head with a four-pound RPG traveling at 300 mph:

"Get up! Get up! Get up! I yelled it at recruits who got knocked off their feet, and now I'm yelling it at myself. Once I'm standing I act like I'm still in charge, telling my crewmen to get the tank moving and trying to call in a contact report to Red Three, my wingman's tank about a half-block back. Moving is right, because if the enemy hits you and you don't move he will sure as hell do it again, but the urgent need to report to Red Three is pretty goofy. No way could he not know we have contact with the enemy, unless he somehow missed two grenades exploding on my turret. And nobody hears a thing I say because the grenade blast tore the talking parts off my helmet, which is no longer on my head, anyway.

"Gunny still is Gunny, even blinded and deaf and pumping blood out of numerous new holes in my head. I wonder what the hell is wrong with Corporal Ryan Chamber, my gunner and second-in-command, because he fails to respond to my commands. I stop being annoyed when the tank gets going, after which I relax and assess the damage to myself."

Since I find myself unable to invent new words for this review - and I would be the only one who knew their meaning even if I could - I am left with the phrases mentioned above. Nick's story is "truly inspirational" and is indeed "a must-read" - not only for those of us who enjoy a great book, but for every red-blooded American. Once you've finished reading "Once a Marine" I have little doubt you will place it in a position of honor on your bookshelf - just as I have.

In the "Advance Praise" section, Ralph Peters (Lt. Co., ret.), New York Post columnist and author of "Looking For Trouble" and "Wars Of Blood and Faith" suggests that people should not only read this story and recommend it to friends, but they should also send a copy to their members of Congress. But those of us who live and vote in California's 51st Congressional District can do one better. Because Nick has decided to once again answer his country's call to duty by running for Congress, instead of sending a copy of the book to our Congressman, in November we will have the opportunity to send to Congress the man who wrote the book.

I have had the honor and privilege of speaking with April and Nick Popaditch on numerous occasions. They are both honest and devoted American Patriots. If elected, I know that Nick Popaditch will fight for his constituents and the people of this country with the same honor and distinction he did as a United States Marine, and will remain true to the USMC motto: Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful).

5 out of 5 stars

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff August 9, 2010
Robert Donovan (California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Gunny Popaditch's recounting of his experiences of fighting in Iraq, being wounded, and fighting to recover from and adapt to the consequences of his injuries left me unable to put this book down. I read it in one sitting. It is not simply the true story of a valiant war hero of which the United States should be rightly proud. It is the story of a man who absolutely refuses to compromise the standards and values instilled in him by the Marine Corps. He lives what he preaches and leads by example. From trying his damnedest to remain in the Marines to his refusal to be railroaded by the Veterans Administration and Physical Evaluations Board, to his get-it-done attitude for learning to adapt to his blindness and other disabilities. He simply accepts these things as new missions to be accomplished. No self-pity, no victim mentality, no bitterness toward fate or those who injured him, just find a way to make it work and an almost cheerful willingness to take on the challenge "like a Marine."

There were setbacks and disappointments and hardships to overcome along the way, and Popaditch candidly relates both his mistakes and his successes in dealing with them, including an incident in which, just briefly, he cracked and indulged in frustration and anger over his inability to program a CD player because his injuries rendered him blind, but he snapped out of it and moved forward. In so doing, he not only helps himself overcome the loss of over half of his sight and hearing, but uses what he learns from the experience to help his fellow wounded warriors come back from their injuries as well.

Along the way, the Gunny gives the rest of us able-bodied civilians a kick in the ass and not only provides an abject lesson in how not to sweat the small stuff, but he provides a stark and heroic perspective on just what the small stuff is --and isn't.

I truly great read written by a true hero worthy of our respect and admiration as a man, a Marine, and as a Patriot.

5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful, Inspirational Book August 4, 2010
Don W.
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

As a retired Marine, I've read many books about war and the brave men and women who fought in them. Nick's book is an exceptional story of courage, honor and loyalty to Family, Corps and Country and one of the best, if not the best, that I've read of that genre. "Once A Marine" was added to Marine Corps Commandant's recommended reading list, but I believe every American should read Nick's book.

5 out of 5 stars

Just finished Gunny's book July 2, 2010
james (tulsa, ok)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I'm a Retired Marine got out last year actually and I had met Gunny in San Diego in 2007 and I had bought and gotten the book signed also but i finally got a chance to sit down and read it, and boy it was worth it. this book is very good and I think some of the jokes are jarhead only , well maybe funnier from a jarhead point of veiw . anywho i totally reccommend this book!

5 out of 5 stars

Unbiased and Unrated: the Gunny way. July 2, 2010
D. Kim
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

There are two reasons why every single American should read this book.
One, it's an inspiring story of how an RPG hit a Marine in the head, causing to partially lose his hearing and sense of smell, and most of his sense of sight. And it's about how that Marine gets through it, the Gunny way.
The second reason is that it paints a much different picture of Iraq, and the wars our servicemen and women are fighting over there. Nick Popoditch is not a reporter or a politician with agendas to fill. No; he's a Gunnery Sergeant, so you can be pretty damn sure that he's going to give you the truth straight up, as he sees it. The media these days are very sensationalists, and have been for a very long time, so we've been getting a pretty one-sided picture of the war. This Gunnery Sergeant admits that war is war, but we're doing a lot of good out there too, and our Marines, and Navy, and Air Force, and Army are doing a pretty damn good job and sure as hell deserve every drop of our respect.

You don't have to believe anything of what he says, but it never hurts to see both sides of a story. This book was an eye-opener, and I'll say it again:

Every American should read this book.

Showing reviews 1-5 of 49

1 2 3 4 5 6 ...10 Next »

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Strategy and War Military Supply Store

Nitro-Pak--The Emergency Preparedness Leader

FREE SHIPPING on all catalog products ordered through our website! Limited time only!

Quick Search

•	Military Moms
•	Army Uniforms
•	Marines
•	Camo
•	Toys
•	Supplies
•	Gear
•	Magazines
•	Sporting Goods
•	Video Games
•	Chow
•	Electronics
•	Home and Garden
•	Camping Supplies
•	Pet Supplies

The Uncommon USA Fly Right House Flag Set