Blood on the Risers: An Airborne Soldier’s Thirty-five Months in Vietnam by John Leppleman


Blood on the Risers: An Airborne Soldier’s Thirty-five Months in Vietnam by John Leppleman is a wonderful book. His “attitude” fills every page. This is simply the best – a passionate memior. It is not for REMFs. I am not surprised by the detail of his memories. He shares his experiences with the 173rd during Operation Junction City to days on the river patrol boats during his second tour to back to the 173rd and the 2 Bn (Airborne)/75th Infantry (Rangers) during tour three. As a former US Army junior officer in the 1970’s I frequently encountered many with his outlook. They were outstanding field troops. Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.

Author: Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

Jimmie Aaron Kepler is a full-time writer. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, to a career military father and stay at home mother. He lived in six states and attended eight different schools before graduating high school. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in English and Military Science from The University of Texas at Arlington, Master of Arts and Master of Religious Education degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the Doctor of Education degree. Before writing full-time, he worked as a US Army officer for 10-years, religious educator for 18-years, and as an IT software application engineer for over 20-years. He is a widower. He lives in North Texas with his cat Lacey.