Charlie’s Paradise, 1967–1968 by Mike Vitel takes readers deep into the Vietnam War, not through statistics or distant analysis, but through the diary-driven memories of a young Marine who lived it. It is a book about survival, camaraderie, and the moments—both quiet and chaotic—that shape a soldier’s soul. Kravitz and Sons is proud to have this book and the great man behind it.
Mike Vitel’s storytelling isn’t polished by hindsight—it’s raw and immediate, reflecting exactly how he experienced each day of his tour. As a Marine who served from 1966, Vitel shares not just the battlefield moments but the friendships, doubts, and life-defining lessons learned in the thick of it.
In a time when war stories risk becoming distant history, Charlie’s Paradise, 1967–1968 brings the human side back into focus.
✔ Captures the emotional and physical reality of Vietnam through firsthand experience
✔ Balances combat scenes with the quieter, human moments of a Marine’s life
✔ Preserves an honest record of service for future generations
✔ Offers a unique perspective drawn directly from personal diary entries
✔ Honors the brotherhood and sacrifices of Marines in Vietnam
This memoir follows Mike Vichelli, a Marine assigned to one of the most challenging environments imaginable—the lush yet deadly jungles of Vietnam. From enduring the monsoon rains to navigating Vietcong traps, the story captures the relentlessness of a war fought on unfamiliar terrain. Yet it’s not all about the fighting—letters from home, shared jokes among Marines, and moments with the Vietnamese locals give the book a rhythm that reflects the real military experience.
The narrative flows between boredom and bursts of danger, between friendship and loss, between youthful naivety and the sobering maturity that war demands. More than just a war memoir, it’s the journey of a boy becoming a man under extraordinary circumstances.
Born August 5, 1947, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, Mike Vitel grew up across Chicago and Cicero before moving to LaGrange, where he graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1965. One year later, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. His Vietnam experience, preserved in personal diaries, forms the backbone of Charlie’s Paradise, 1967–1968, giving readers a direct, unfiltered account of history.
Because it’s not just about war—it’s about the people who lived it. Vitel’s writing places you alongside him, from the exhaustion of cleaning rifles in the humid heat to the adrenaline of combat at the DMZ. It’s a rare combination of grit and vulnerability, giving you a story that’s as personal as it is historical. This book isn’t meant to glorify war; it’s meant to remember it.
Discover more about Charlie’s Paradise, 1967–1968 through these outlets:
Charlie’s Paradise
1967-1968
Grab your copy now at Kravitz and Sons and step into the pages of a Marine’s Vietnam—where every moment mattered.