The Enemy Within I Walked with Heroes

The book I Walked with Heroes is an exquisite masterpiece of storytelling written by Jerry A. Guzzetta. A veteran himself, Guzzetta presents an image of the Vietnam war that stands different to others, providing insights on the missions he and his comrade was part of, and what they went through during, and after the conflict. The book is also a recognition to the soldiers who laid their lives for the sake of freedom of the United States. 

This particular segment of the book speaks of the enemy that was growing within the ranks of the U.S military. An enemy that caused immense damage without any one pointing a finger at him, and by the time people knew he was the one, the damage had already been done. The infamous John Walker. This segment in the book not only details about the betrayal, but also shed light on John’s life in an attempt to pin-point the moment betrayal housed in his heart. 

A Childhood to Forget

Describing about John Walker’s life, the writer talks about his forgetful childhood. His drunkard father used to beat his mother, and growing up to see all the violence at his place firsthand, he developed a sense of hate for his father. These incidents heavily impacted his personality, and his performance at school in academics and sports. At 17, He was arrested for burglary. However, he was only there for a probation, and once that ended, he was enlisted in the Navy in the year 1956.

Climbing the Ranks 

At the military, Walker was now working on himself for improvement. With no major degree to his name, he had to pass some college equivalency tests to secure betterment. The Navy had taught him radio, electronics, and cryptography, resulting in “bright, energetic, and enthusiastic” proficiency. He almost passed every obstacle on his way and quickly climbed the ranks, and within a span of merely four years, he had a wife, three children, and five promotions. Life was seemingly picture perfect for him, and for the rest who saw him from a distance. 

The Betrayal

What seemed to be the perfect life for a sailor, it turned to be the exact opposite. His friend called him INTRINSICALLY EVIL, as it was found that he not only betrayed the country, but also had other demons around his head which heavily impacted his family life. Whenever he was promoted, he used to save the incremented amount in his bank, surviving only on the base pay. John was told to be someone who had zero respect for women, abusing them, devaluing them, and often portraying to be a womanizer. This unusual portrayal, was in fact the reason sensitive information about the U.S military, and their grid positions was easily delivered to the enemies.

The book details meticulously about the betrayal, and the betrayer. The author had lost some of closest comrades pre, and post the war in Vietnam, linking this betrayal by John to be the direct, or indirect reason for that. Get your hands on the book now, as it is available for purchase on Amazon!