When I hear the phrase war novel, I imagine a story about some guys thrown together at random into combat, who learn for the first time—fighting side by side—who they are and what they’re capable of. Their back stories are largely irrelevant, serving mainly to show that they’re ordinary fellows, or how innocent they are, or to lend pathos to whatever fate befalls them in the fray. A pause in the action, during which one asks another if he has anybody special back home, is simply a brief reminder that these are human beings before the fighting resumes. What they really want to know about each other is whether they’ll have their backs at the moment of truth. Their backstories are just blank slates on which are written the stories of their heroism and coming of age.

Somewhere in Altamara’s Gift, the narrator tells us that the men in Lefty Altamara’s recon platoon didn’t know just the names of each other’s girlfriends; they knew what the girlfriends liked for breakfast, what kinds of car they drove, what color the cars were, what their pets’ names were, and whether the pets were Catholics, Baptists, or Methodists. I exaggerate for effect, but the point is this: the men (boys, really) in combat in this novel bond in such a way that their back stories become more fully known to each other than they would otherwise. They become more real to each other, more human.

Gregg writes as if his goal is to create the same depth of knowledge for the reader. He develops the characters through tender, humanizing vignettes of important moments in their lives and relationships. It is almost as if the back stories are the story. I say “almost,” because along the way, Gregg—a Vietnam Veteran—also delivers one hell of a good tale about the war and what it was like to fight in it.

John Gregg’s images of the horrors of war are vivid and beautifully captured in his novel. He can sum up an incident at the end of a chapter with one profound and touching sentence. He brings a new understanding about the realities of that very different war, and of the times of change in America. Poignantly, there are some very funny moments, and moments of irony in the midst of war, with a healthy dose of love and lust thrown in for good measure. As in all wars, it turns boys into men in a matter of hours or days after setting foot in the brutal, unfamiliar, hostile unknown of the Jungles of Vietnam. As a very young Sergeant, Altamara’s dedication and instincts probably saved his troops time and again! Gregg’s story highlights the bravery, dedication and duty, and most importantly the strong brotherhood of these troops against the obvious enemy, as well as some surprising enemies within.

This is a great read. Very informative, exciting, poignant, funny and loving. I hope everyone will read it! WETSU!

John has done a great job of portraying the life of many young men during the time period of the Vietnam War and how it not only impacted them but those around them. It is a complete package; their language, their fears, their hopes, their accomplishments under difficult circumstances. Even after they were home difficult circumstances continued to be a part of their lives. As I read I could hear their voices. Each character had a distinct personality that I recognized from my own experiences while serving as a rifleman with B Co. 1/501 101st Airborne and as a scout dog handler with the 42nd Scout Dog Platoon 101st Airborne during this same period of time and in the same area of operation.

I usually don't read war novels, especially ones that are so explicit and hard hitting. However, this author drew me in with his obvious first hand knowledge of the VietNam war, the multifaceted personalities of the men who fought in the 101st Airborne and the toll it took on so many. I genuinely look forward to Part Two.

I teach creative writing to veterans. Gregg has written a fine, fine novel. A real page-turner. My father did three tours in Nam. It's obvious John Gregg knows what he's talking about and can really tell a story. Altamira's Gift is an exceptional Vietnam novel--but rises above the cliches of the genre.

I was never there but this made me feel like I was. The characters are incredibly drawn. I hope he does more.