John Podlaski (1951 - ) was raised in Detroit, Michigan and attended Catholic schools until graduating in 1969. Immediately afterwards, John started to work for one of the automotive parts suppliers in the area and attended junior college full-time in the fall. During the next four months, John found himself overwhelmed by trying to jumble both work and school. At the end of the semester, John chose income over education and dropped out of school. This turned out to be a huge error as he had a school deferment which protected him from the military draft. Uncle Sam wasted no time and Mr. Podlaski soon found himself in the Army before the end of February, 1970. After a few months of training, John was sent to Vietnam in August and was assigned to the infantry; spending time with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division and the 1/501st of the 101st Airborne Division. During his tour of duty, John was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and a few other campaign medals for serving in the theatre. Back in the states, Mr. Podlaski spent four months in Fort Hood, Texas before until his discharge in December, 1971. The author returned to his former position with the automotive supplier and was promoted to supervisor shortly afterwards. A few months later, he met Janice Jo and they were married in 1973. They purchased a home in Sterling Heights, MI and still live there to this day. A daughter, Nicole Ann was born in 1979. During this same period of time, John used funds from the GI Bill and returned to college on a part time basis; graduating four years later with an Associate Degree in Applied Science. In 1980, John started to work on a memoir about his experiences in Vietnam. While there, he had carried a diary, and his mother saved all the letters that he had written to her from the war zone - these were used to build an outline. He toiled on a manual typewriter for four years before finally completing his work. Meanwhile, Mr. Podlaski had joined the newly formed Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 154 and helped to launch their inaugural Color Guard, which marched in parades and posted colors for many local events. The members of the chapter were a very closely knit group and many of the wives felt left out in discussions about Vietnam. When they learned that John had authored a book, the wives had asked to read it to better understand what their husbands had endured during their time in Vietnam. It was very well received and all the wives said they felt closer to their spouse after having read the manuscript. The group was very supportive and urged him to find a publisher. After many rejections, a publisher was located in Atlanta, who offered to consider the book if it were re-written in a third-person. Atari had just come out with a new computer console and word processor that made the re-write and editing much easier; his work could now be saved on floppy diskettes. The re-write continued until 1989. John had completed half of the manuscript and lost interest in working on it any longer - it had been a long ten years already. So everything was boxed up and stored in the garage. Mr. Podlaski continued to work in the automotive sector, primarily in Plant Management positions and claims that he will retire in three more years. John had returned to college eight years ago, and received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration four years later. Last year, at his 40th high school reunion, many of his former classmates had asked him about his Vietnam book. John had forgotten that he had offered a copy of his manuscript for others to read and comment on twenty years earlier. Unbeknown to him, many of them had already read the book and urged him to pull it out of storage and continue his work. Converting the diskettes to Microsoft Word was cost prohibitive; John's daughter, Nicole, offered to retype the entire manuscript and then saved the document on a memory stick. Fourteen months later, the book is finally finished and published. It took almost thirty years to complete, but seeing it now in print makes it all worth it. The author and his wife, Jan. own a 1997 Harley Davidson Heritage motorcycle and enjoy riding when possible; both are members of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Harley Owner Group. John published his second book, "When Can I Stop Running?" in 2016.  This book is a sub-story from Cherries in which the main character and another soldier spend the night alone in the enemy filled jungle, 500 meters outside of the firebase.  Their duty is to be a "listening post" or "human early warning system" to notify the base if enemy soldiers are prowling around the perimeter.  He juxtaposes incidents of his childhood when extreme fear made him run for his life.  These short stories are somewhat related to the events as they take place during that fateful night.  

Award:
Cherries was Finalist in the Sixth International Literary Awards at Washington State College, 1986 (titled The Ingenuous Soldier).

The audiobook was awarded Best of 2012

"Cherries weds a matchless sense of dramatics with the ability to tell a marvelous story. You have staged excellent, realistic action with convincing effect. You paint your main characters and supporting characters with passionate ealism. Cherries has a compelling magnetic quality. Parts of it are unforgettably conceived and written."
--Manuscripts International, 1987

"Cherries has received a favorable response from our readers' staff. John Podlaski has created a moving narrative that carries conviction in its sincerity and point of view; some are colorful and harrowing experiences. It is recommended for publication for its high-voltage narrative style, contemporary interest, and human drama."
--Carlton Press, Inc., 1985

What others are saying about "When Can I Stop Running?":
"In a brilliant follow-up to his novel "Cherries," John Podlaski weaves frightening events of his youth into a vivid depiction of a terrifying night as an infantryman on a Listening Post during the Vietnam War."
            - Joe Campolo, Jr., Authorof "The Kansas NCO" and "Back To the World."
 
"This tome draws the reader into the experiences that only combat personnel can usually hold witness to; broadening our understanding of the true sacrifices our military makes for us and our freedoms every day. 'When Can I Stop Running' should be on all of our 'must read' lists."
            -Jerry Kunnath, Writer
 
"What makes When Can I Stop Running? a different read from 'Cherries' are the interludes where Polack, his memories brought to the surface as warily he watches for any movement near the LP, recalls his many adventures with school friends, some terrifying, some funny while growing up in Detroit during the1960's.  It is in these stories, so familiar to those of us of the Boomer generation, that the author treats us to some of his finest writing. His childhood comes to life in his rich, poetic descriptions. It is a lost world which haunts all of our generation's memories, just as we are haunted by our memories of the central and defining event of our generation, the Vietnam War.  Highly recommended!"  
            -Christopher Gaynor, author of "A Soldier Boy Hears the Distant Guns" and countless newspaper articles including a feature story and photos inTime Magazine
 
"Warrior and Vietnam author John Podlaski pulls out the stops in a very personal story interweaving some of his childhood experiences with his unnerving telling of his night spent in a listening post.  A vividly written yet tasteful account of a nightmare experience; hair-raising and touching at the same time.  It's a night he'll never forget."
            -WilliamE. Peterson, International Best Selling and Award Winning Author: "Missions OfFire And Mercy~Until Death Do Us part"and "Chopper Warriors~Kicking The Hornet's Nest".

"John does a magical job in his second book of weaving the terrors of boyhood adventure with the terrors of war. His words had me laughing and crying while recalling and reliving some of my childhood adventures and the terror of pitch black nights alone on the floor of jungles in Vietnam.  Thank you, John, for another great adventure!"
               -Stephen Perry, Author of "Bright Light: Untold Stories of the Top Secret War in VVietnam."
 
"As I read 'When can I stop Running?' and got deeper into the story, it brought all the images forward of those things I feared most - total darkness, rotting jungle, insects, and strange noises.  I cringed at every turn, often asking myself if I had the bravado to do what they were doing. Today, soldiers use Night Vision Devices to see in the dark, quite a contrast from the Vietnam Era when soldiers only had their hearing, sense of smell, and a vivid imagination to guide them in the pitch black jungle.  I also appreciate the author's stories of his youth; the adventures are both frightening and funny, yet, I could relate to similar experiences while growing up. This book is the real deal!  Great job, Mr. Podlaski!"
              -R. Scott Ormond (Sgt-5 ReCon Scout and Tank Section 3d/33d Armor, Germany 1971-73)