John Podlaski

John served in Vietnam between 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. The Army awarded him the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, among others. He had spent 50 years working in various supplier management positions within the automotive industry and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2004. John is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and the Rave Reviews Book Club. He and his wife, Jan, live in Sterling Heights, MI, and recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Both retired in 2013 and enjoyed not working. That ended with the birth of their only grandchild in 2018, when they began taking care of Scarlett, while her mom, a single parent, worked. John has published six books: three about his Vietnam War experience and three short stories based on his personal experiences. In his spare time, he manages a heralded Vietnam War website, contributes to social media platforms, and takes part in writing seminars to improve his craft.

https://cherrieswriter.com

Death in the Triangle - A Vietnam War Story

By: John Podlaski

2025 International Impact Book Award Winner.John writes powerful descriptions of people, places, and things.Gripping story that keeps you in the moment. The author paints a vivid picture that has you right in the middle of the action.Thrilling with a lurking sense of constant danger and death.In this page-turning story of bravery, fear, anger, and determination, the soldiers come to life.Realistic and gritty. The author is a great storyteller“When Can I Stop Running?” is the forerunner to this book.Only a couple of hours had passed since returning to the firebase. Now, the sleep-deprived and weary First Platoon soldiers must go back out on another patrol to search through two areas of ho...

Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

By: John Podlaski

In 1970, John Kowalski was among the many young, inexperienced soldiers sent to Vietnam to participate in a contentious war. Referred to as “Cherries” by their veteran counterparts, these recruits were plunged into a horrific reality. The on-the-job training was rigorous, yet most of these youths were ill-prepared to handle the severe mental, emotional, and physical demands of combat. Experiencing enemy fire and observing death up close initiates a profound transformation that is irreversible.The author excels at storytelling. Readers affirm feeling immersed alongside the characters, partaking in their struggle for survival, experiencing the fear, awe, drama, and grief, observing acts of...