Product Description

In 1982 Private Ken Lukowiak served with 2 Para in the Falklands. He was away from home for little more than eight weeks, yet the experience of war was to change his life for ever. Ten years passed before he was able to write about this brief period in his life. In those ten years he was brought face to face with the legacy of his Parachute Regiment training and with the knowledge that he had seen many men die - some of whom he himself had killed. From the voyage 'down South' on the MV Norland, from Goose Green to Fitzroy and the anti-climactic journey home Lukowiak illustrates the madness and black comedy of the soldier's world. He tells his painfully honest story in spare and brutal language and is both profound and often profoundly shocking.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87069 in Books
• Published on: 1999-07-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
Ken Lukowiak was born in 1959. He served with 2 Para in the Falklands War. Despite his conviction for drug possession he was discharged from the army with an Exemplary Conduct Record.

Customer Reviews

READ THIS BOOK, Should be read to all school children
Thanks Ken for writing the book many veterans wanted. Not a pleasant book nor a easy read, do not expect a book on how loverly it all was or how smashing we chaps are. This is war as seen through the eyes of a soldier brutal violent and unclean. If you only ever read one book on how war effects its surviors make it this one. Those of us who lived also payed the price...Yes I too made it home and yes I do know that a frontline soldier is expected to fight, only the fighting is still going on today and Ken has shown the world the price we pay for our leaders [mistakes]

please listen
I am researching the Falklands War, and Goose Green in particular, for a talk I will be giving at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. A colleague and good friend gave me his copy of 'A Soldier's song'. I cannot give enough praise to Ken/Luke for being so honest. This book has changed my life. Please read it. The page when he talks about not being able to judge people anymore is inspirational and something I am trying to do myself. Anyone interested in sniping should read this book. The story about the bush is fantastic. The senior curator of european and military items is writing a book about sniping and will hopefully use an abridged version of the story in his book.
Thankyou Ken/Luke
Paul Darlington

Recollections of Rifleman Luke
Brilliantly written memoir of the Falklands war written by an extremely bright-and excruciatingly honest- Parachute Regiment "Tom". Extremely funny in places- whilst pinned down by a sniper and being mortared, one of "Loopy Lukes'" mates shouts-"If I had known I was going to spend this much time lying down I would have brought a F***ing pillow", this book will enter the canon of classic war books alongside "The recollections of Rifleman Harris", "Goodbye to all that" and "All quiet on the Western Front". If you want an insight into the culture of the "Paras", and an explanation of how, despite being heavily outnumbered on the ground and in the air, Britain won the war, read this book. Just ignore the silly cover with an even sillier quote from John Le Carre.