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Ordinary and Unremarkable
I Was a Hero Once offers a deep reflection on a life shaped by extraordinary experiences and the search for meaning after being deployed to Vietnam. Why was this an important book for you to write?
- As I say in the Author’s Note to the book:
I wrote this book for two reasons. First and foremost, I wrote it for my children. Their experience of me is as a slightly boring “soccer dad,” ordinary and unremarkable. I wanted them to know who I was and what I did before I became their Dad. More importantly, I hope the book can be inspiring to the entire younger generation they represent, and which will have to deal with the mess of a world we have left them. The second reason is that when I was young, I had hoped that my actions would “make a difference,” but I’m not so sure if they amounted to “a hill of beans” as Humphry Bogart famously intoned. If my actions did not change the world, then I dream that maybe my stories can.
How did you balance the need to be honest and authentic with the need to protect your privacy and that of others in your memoir?
I found when writing a memoir, there are countless facts and details that are considered and rejected in the writing process. There were a number of highly personal details that were originally in the manuscript that I ultimately cut out with the help and advice of an excellent editor. For many of the individuals in the book, I used only first names as a way to protect their privacy. Finally, there was a passage in the first copies of the book that were printed that my brother found hightly offensive. I was able to get that passage changed in subsequent printings of the book.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
I was never able to establish a sustainable focused writing schedule, so I tended to write when the inspiration hit me. The result was that it took me twenty years to finish the book. The most rewarding part has been the warm response from many of the folks who shared these adventures with me.
How has writing your memoir impacted or changed your life?
As I noted previously, I’ve lived with this book in process for twenty years. On the one hand, there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in seeing what had been something of a dream for so long actually become a reality. On the other hand, there is a certain creative emptiness in my life at the moment, now that the book is completed.
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In 1968, Peter P. Mahoney’s world was turned upside down when he joined the Army, became an infantry lieutenant, and was deployed to Vietnam. Upon his return, he found himself embroiled in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) movement and indicted for conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1972 Republican Convention-the so-called Gainesville Eight case-where his friend surfaced as an FBI informer testifying against him.
In the early eighties, Mahoney played a pivotal role in establishing the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial and later joined a delegation of veterans to meet with Soviet counterparts from their Afghanistan War. He fell in love with a Russian woman, married her, and spent nine years raising a family in a world vastly different from the suburban middle-class life he had left behind.
Now, he shares the extraordinary stories from that finite period that forever changed the trajectory of his ordinary existence.
I Was a Hero Once
Peter Mahoney’s memoir, I Was a Hero Once, offers a deep reflection on a life shaped by extraordinary experiences and the search for meaning. A Vietnam veteran and activist with Vietnam Veterans Against War (VVAW), Mahoney recounts his journey from an 18-year-old college dropout to an infantry lieutenant deployed to Vietnam. His military service was defined by duty and routine, but his return to the U.S. ignited a deeper battle for justice through activism.
The memoir delves into Mahoney’s later years, including his participation in a veterans’ delegation to meet Soviet soldiers, where he fell in love with and married a Russian woman. He spent nearly a decade raising a family in Russia, only to return to the suburban life he had once sought to escape. Mahoney weaves these extraordinary events with the “ordinary” moments that define his humanity, creating a rich narrative that balances adventure with introspection.
Mahoney recounts his adventures while reflecting on the ordinary moments that underpin them. His candid approach underscores a central theme: life is not solely defined by its extraordinary chapters but by the connections between them. While this narrative style enhances the memoir with depth and detail, some sections could benefit from more concise storytelling, as they occasionally lean toward repetition or feel loosely structured. Yet, Mahoney’s compelling voice and ability to ground the extraordinary in relatable human struggles ensure the reader remains engaged. The memoir resonates deeply because it captures the universality of Mahoney’s quest for purpose and morality amidst a life filled with rare experiences. His heartfelt prose offers a vivid window into both the external events and internal conflicts that have shaped him.
I Was a Hero Once is a powerful and introspective memoir that captures the complexity of a life filled with extraordinary moments and grounded in universal struggles. Mahoney’s ability to intertwine his grand adventures with the quiet realities of everyday existence creates a narrative that is both engaging and human. This is a must-read for those interested in personal stories of resilience, transformation, and the quest for meaning.
Pages: 299 | ASIN : B0D9HST1PM
LITERARY TITAN 