Ranger Up Book Reviews – Letters from the Sand Box

By RU Rob

All too often I pick up a book and within the first 10-15 minutes put it down because I can’t stand the style of writing.  It is either written in a manner that is over-descriptive or utilizes words that an abnormal, somewhat jaded, infantryman cannot understand.  Occasionally, and it is a rarity, I will stumble upon something that I absolutely cannot put down and will read it cover-to-cover.  Such is the case with “Letters from the Sand Box” by Charles Meier.  I liked this book so much that I thought you just may like it as well, being that you are all a little jacked in your own sense.

Right after I finished the book I contacted Charles (Chuck or Big Daddy is what he prefers) via email to set up a phone interview.  This was about 8:00 am and it usually takes a couple of days for a response back, if any.  At about 12:30pm my phone rings and when I answer it is Chuck on the line.  The first thing I notice is that he sounded like he just rolled out of bed after a long night of… well I can’t be too sure to be honest with you.  Anyways, he sounded rough and freely admitted to being up into the wee hours of the morning, but withholding all of the pertinent information, like what he was actually doing.  We spoke for a good 45 minutes, with me laughing most of the time, ended the call and I am sure he passed out…again.

The book itself is a collection of emails and letters sent home while Chuck was working as a contractor in Iraq from 2003-2006.  Chuck starts out telling his life story and just how he ended up being a contractor in the first place.  It is quite funny to read the journey from small town Texas through a seven year stint as Navy search and rescue, DJ- bouncer and manager of a strip club, college student and fireman/police diver and SWAT team member.  Did I mention that he also claims to be a pilot and minister as well?

One thing that is an obvious theme to the book, Chuck is as physically large as his personality (6’4” 320lbs to be exact).  Looking at the pictures, he appears to be a modern day Viking and makes numerous references at how much trouble he had in “blending in” with the local populace in Iraq.  Some of the descriptions will leave you in stiches in his no-holds-barred view of Iraq and just how f’d up both the military and the Iraqi’s are.  If you are looking for a candy coated view of what was really going on there, do not pick-up this book.

Big Daddy also has a way with words, or should I say spelling.  When the book was being readied for publishing he would receive a copy from his editors only to reject it because everything was spelled correctly and grammatically correct.  I must agree that part of the appeal to this book is that it is written by an infantryman trapped in a contractors body and is conveyed as such.  A perfect example of this is when Chuck refers to the local Iraqi males as “hodgie” instead of “haji”.  It is the little things like this throughout the book that will make you smile and chuckle as you read it. 

As Chuck describes it, Letters from the Sand Box is the perfect read while sitting on the shitter.  There is a twist at the end that will leave you in awe at his strength and willingness to live life to the fullest and he will do it in a sense that will have you pissing your pants in laughter.  While I don’t want to reveal it all, let’s just say there is reference to a “leg lamp”, you know, like the one in “A Christmas Story”.

I recommend Letters from the Sand Box to you for its simple yet powerful message.  Chuck quotes a toast that one of his SEAL buddies taught him and I believe it is fitting: “I have been around the world twice, talked to everyone once. I have seen two white whales screw and a monkey try and fuck a football.  I’ve been to Maine, Spain and Spokane.  I know a man with a marble head and a wooden cock.  I’m a lover, fighter, a rooten, tooten, hooten, looten, skydiver, I drink everything from rum to cum….Every day is a blessing, every meal is a feast, Every sunrise the promise of a new adventure to come, every sunset a little break in the action.  And I am the one-legged man in the ass kicking contest.”

While there are only 156 pages to this book, the message you will receive is priceless.  You can find Letters from the Sandbox on Amazon.  RU Rob recommends it.

8 Comments

1. 

   Phil Andrews

   April 23, 2012 at 9:53 pm

   Chuck is a good friend and a great guy.

   Reply
2. 

   Charles Meier

   April 23, 2012 at 9:58 pm

   I want to thank you for the great review.
   BIGDADDY

   Reply
3. 

   Doc Sal

   April 23, 2012 at 11:01 pm

   I also enjoyed the BIg Daddy’s book though it took me way to long to finally order myself a copy. Having the privilege of having run a few missions with the Big Daddy, I expected no less from him. It gets across the grounded and informal demeanor that makes him so likable. The book will keep you in stitches. It was especially great for me as so many of the people and places he writes about I remember well and it really brought me back. And yep… Rob is pretty close to the mark; Chuck’s off duty personality is a cross between viking, Elvis and Sam Kinison with a dash of Hulk Hogan and he is genuinely one of the most colorful people I have had the honor to work with. Thank you for your dedicated service brother and thank you for a great read!

   Reply
4. 

   Tom Sweet

   April 23, 2012 at 11:15 pm

   Great review of a great little book! Chuck is an awesome guy… Knowing him you’d think he was a grunt and not some silly squid… Love ya bro’!

   Reply
5. 

   Beefcake

   April 24, 2012 at 2:57 am

   Great book Big Daddy. It was a pleasure working with you back then….never a dull moment

   Reply
6. 

   MotherSpider

   April 24, 2012 at 11:02 am

   Having lived a part of this book and his life with him, I can attest fully that he is one of those people who absolutely everyone wants to be their friend.
   Awesome book! Super human! -

   Reply
7. 

   Frank J. Basham

   April 24, 2012 at 4:15 pm

   I’ve read Chuck’s book and agree it is a very good read. The standard for writing is to write what you know and in the style it reflects with attention to the circumstances it was born from. This is just good old fashioned and honest writing. He has done a fine job on both levels. My wish for him is that he would have never had to go through what he did to become the writer he has become. Adversity can be very positive but, is often a real pain in the ass. He is to be commended on many fronts and reflects the backbone of what honor once meant. Maybe every politician in America needs a copy delivered to their doorstep. Thanks Chuck.

   Reply
8. 

   Rocko Yates

   April 25, 2012 at 3:24 pm

   I loved this book because it gives true insight to what it was like on the ground in Iraq AFTER the invasion and when we were trying to Occupy while winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis.

   I also know Chuck and have worked alongside him inside a Key West stripclub. His personality which shines through in the pages of this book is the same personality you will find in him today. The guy loses a leg in Iraq and he makes leg soup. He’s a winner, not a loser.

   Chuck’s the real deal, and his story is one which will make you laugh out loud and cringe at the same time. It’s written in a style, un-edited, that uses colorful military aphorisms and profanities. My favorite new word of the past 2 years – peshmerga – is now firmly rooted in my stripclub vocabulary because of Chuck’s liberal use of it in “Letters From The Sandbox”.

   I highly recommend this book to those of you who grew up reading Phil Caputo’s or Senator Jim Webb’s books on their Vietnam experiences. Although Chuck’s writing style is not that of a Pulitzer Prize winner, the book is one you will read in one setting. It does what a good book is supposed to do: it sucks you into the story and you don’t want to stop reading until you find out how it all ends. It’s that damn good.

   I bought two copies, one from Chuck, and a used one on Amazon. Both copies have mysteriously disappeared from my library as house guests look over the shelves and invariably pick up “Letters From The Sandbox” wondering, “What is this?”

   Guess I’ll have to buy another copy from the Viking giant himself.

   Rocko over and out
   US Army 1971-1974

   Reply