REVIEWS AND COMMENTS

From Mail to Mountain is a great story, actually a great set of stories.  It’s a story of one soldier, Chuck Jackson, the author’s father.  A story of “just doing his job” under the most difficult of circumstances—being wet, cold, tired, hungry, often uninformed, in danger, and missing his family and his wife.  And it’s a story of combat buddies looking out for one another, forming friendships that will last a lifetime, and grieving losses that ended in the immediacy and randomness of death on a battlefield.  It’s a story of grit, determination, humor, excitement, routine, and longing to be home.  In sum, it’s the story of every soldier who has gone to war.  John Jackson has done a great honor to his Dad, and in the process a great honor to every 10th Mountain Division soldier, past and present.  Read From Mail to Mountain; you’ll be very glad you did."

- Lieutenant General (U.S. Army, Retired) James M. Dubik, PhD.  Former Commander, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division during Operation Uphold Democracy, 1994-95 in Haiti; Commanding General, Multinational Security and Transition Command, Iraq during the Surge of 2007-2008; and author of Just War Reconsidered:  Strategy, Ethics, and Theory.

John Jackson’s From Mail to Mountain is much more than a son’s account of a father’s wartime experiences in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division during the final stages of the North Apennines and Po Valley campaigns. With immense pride and honest appreciation, Jackson serves up a meticulously researched, factually grounded, and heartfelt tribute to both his dad – PVT Chuck Jackson, a mail clerk turned courageous ammo bearer – and the soldiers with whom he served. Theirs is the story of selfless service, personal sacrifices, and the kinship of combat that the author uses to expose his readers to the very best of human character and values.

- Colonel David R. Fabian (USA-Ret.), Chief of Staff, Army Historical Foundation

The story in the book From Mail to Mountain was captivating and a painful reminder of how difficult it was for our soldiers to fight in this war. The book was extremely well written and difficult to put down as you experienced the gruesome situations that faced our military forces.

- COL R. Dritlein (USAR-Ret.)