The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War

By Chick Donohue, J.T. Molloy, John "Chick" Donohue

Book Overview

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY PETER FARRELLY, STARRING ZAC EFRON AND RUSSELL CROWE

Instant New York Times Bestseller

Instant USA Today Bestseller

"Chickie takes us thousands of miles on a hilarious quest laced with sorrow, but never dull. You will laugh and cry, but you will not be sorry that you read this rollicking story."--Malachy McCourt

A wildly entertaining, feel-good true story and memoir of an Irish-American New Yorker and former U.S. marine who embarked on a courageous, hare-brained scheme to deliver beer to his pals serving Vietnam in the late 1960s.

One night in 1967, twenty-six-year-old John Donohue--known as Chick--was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now, they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves.

One neighborhood patriot came up with an inspired--some would call it insane--idea. Someone should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies there, give them messages of support from back home, and share a few laughs over a can of beer.

It would be the Greatest Beer Run Ever.

But who'd be crazy enough to do it?

One man was up for the challenge--a U. S. Marine Corps veteran turned merchant mariner who wasn't about to desert his buddies on the front lines when they needed him.

Chick volunteered.

A day later, he was on a cargo ship headed to Vietnam, armed with Irish luck and a backpack full of alcohol. Landing in Qui Nho'n, Chick set off on an adventure that would change his life forever--a solo odyssey into a war zone that took him through a series of hilarious escapades and harrowing close calls, including the Tet Offensive. But none of that mattered if he could bring some cheer to his pals and show them how much the folks back home appreciated them.

This heartwarming story is the tale of that epic beer run, told in Chick's own words and those of the men he visited in Vietnam.

It was a journey no one thought possible, armed with little more than Irish luck and a backpack full of beer.

Vietnam War Memoir: Go beyond the headlines in this ground-level account of a civilian who voluntarily travels into the heart of the conflict just to find his friends.Incredible Adventure Story: Follow Chick from a New York City bar to the front lines, navigating a country at war through a series of hilarious escapades and harrowing close calls.The Tet Offensive: Experience the shock of the massive surprise attack not from a command bunker, but from the streets of Saigon as an unsuspecting civilian caught in the crossfire.A Tribute to Friendship: Discover a powerful and often funny story about loyalty, patriotism, and the lengths one man will go to show his buddies that the folks back home have not forgotten them.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062995464
• ISBN13: 9780062995469
• Release Date: November 2020
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Incredible Story!

What a fun and inspiring read! Based on a true story of friendship, support, and loyalty. It’s a captivating story of “Chickie” Donohue traveling to Vietnam during the war to deliver beer to his neighborhood buddies serving there. A fun and harrowing adventure that is a page turner. Highly recommend! Well Done Chickie!!!

Great book!

Great story! A story of a true friend with maybe a little too much time on his hands but he uses that to bring a little joy to his friends during a hard war. And he goes through some pretty tough situations just to accomplish this goal.

Great Story

At times you're reading this book and thinking to yourself there's no way this is real and then some piece of personal information or little detail will come across that destroys any skepticism. This book was captivating from front to back and fun to read.