When Can I Stop Running?

What Others are Saying About ‘When Can I Stop Running?’

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ‘WHEN CAN I STOP RUNNING?’“In a brilliant follow-up to his novel ‘Cherries’, John Podlaski weaves frightening events of his youth into a vivid depiction of a terrifying night as an infantryman on a Listening Post during the Vietnam War.”

– Joe Campolo, Jr., Author of ‘The Kansas NCO’ and ‘Back To the World.’

“What makes When Can I Stop Running? a different read from Cherries are the interludes where Polack’s memories are brought to the surface as he warily watches for any movement near the LP, during which time he recalls his many adventures with school friends – some terrifying, some funny – while growing up in Detroit during the 1960’s. It is in these stories – so familiar to those of us of the Boomer generation – that the author treats us to some of his finest writing. His childhood comes to life in his rich, poetic descriptions. It is a lost world which haunts all of our generation’s memories, just as we are haunted by our memories of the central and defining event of our generation, the Vietnam War. Highly recommended!”

– Christopher Gaynor, newspaper journalist and author of ‘A Soldier Boy Hears the Distant Guns’. Mr. Gaynor’s work includes a feature story and photos in Time Magazine.

“Warrior and Vietnam author John Podlaski pulls out the stops in a very personal story interweaving some of his childhood experiences with his telling of his unnerving night spent in a listening post. A vividly written, yet tasteful, account of a nightmare experience... hair-raising and touching at the same time.”

– William E. Peterson, International Best Selling and Award Winning Author: ‘Missions Of Fire And Mercy – Until Death Do Us Part’ and ‘Chopper Warriors –Kicking The Hornet’s Nest’. Peterson’s next work, coming in July 2016: ‘Chopper Heroes.’

“John does a magical job in his second book of weaving the terrors of boyhood adventure with the terrors of war. His words had me laughing and crying while recalling and reliving some of my childhood adventures and the terror of pitch black nights alone on the floor of jungles of Vietnam. Thank you, John, for another great adventure!”

– Stephen Perry, Author of ‘Bright Light: Untold Stories of the Top Secret War in Vietnam.’

“As I read, ‘When Can I Stop Running’ and got deeper into the story, it brought all the images forward of those things I feared most – total darkness, rotting jungle, insects, and strange noises. I cringed at every turn, often asking myself if I had the bravado to do what they were doing. Today, soldiers use Night Vision Devices to see in the dark, quite a contrast from the Vietnam Era, when soldiers only had their hearing, sense of smell, and a vivid imagination to guide them in the pitch black jungle. I also appreciate the author’s stories of his youth; the adventures are both frightening and funny, yet, I could relate to similar experiences while growing up. This book is the real deal! Great job, Mr. Podlaski!”

– R. Scott Ormond (Sgt-5 ReCon Scout and Tank Section 3d/33d Armor, Germany 1971-73)

Dolby Digital Edition

Copyright © 2016 John Podlaski

Published by John Podlaski

All rights reserved

Barbara Battestilli, Copy / Content Editor

Story Coordination by Janice J. Podlaski

Cover design by Nicole A. Patrick

Edition License Notes:

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be re-sold or passed on for others to read. If you would like to share this e-book with people, please purchase an additional copy for each of them. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, please return to the e-book website and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Author’s note:

While ‘When Can I Stop Running?’ is largely a work of fiction, many of the events and anecdotes described in the novel are based upon the actual experiences of the author. The places and units mentioned were real and did exist. All characters portrayed are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events, and locales, are entirely coincidental.