Smile On Your Brother: A Family Still Hears The Echoes Of Vietnam

Smile on Your Brother is "the story of a regular family on the northwest side of Chicago in 1968". Its "regular family" is from the Chicago neighborhood of Mayfair, which sent an inordinate number of its youth Vietnam as enlistees, mostly as Marines. An inordinate number never made it home. One was a Marine hero, Lance Corporal Timothy Fitzmaurice, who was killed in ferocious combat near Danang in 1968 after the Tet offensive. The book's account of this bloody combat is interspersed with its account of what Tim's family, friends and sweetheart were going through as they watched daily TV coverage of the war and read Tim's letters up front letters home. Powerful reading.But before this, we've gotten to know Tim's family and his happy coming of age in Mayfair with his high school buddies and sweetheart, Cindy. Then comes the war and the shock of loss after his death. Here's where the book captures the depth and dignity of family and community, for its concluding chapters are based author Nicholl's penetrating interviews with virtually everyone who was close to Tim Fitzmaurice and his Mayfair family and friends. Here is where you see most clearly that this book is about "brotherhood in all its manifestations".Written by a Chicago area fireman who as a child was captivated by nightly TV coverage of the Vietnam War, Smile on Your Brother will resonate with families and communities that have experienced the loss of war. Nichols writes simply and directly, with an instinct for going straight to hear of what matters. Time and again his respectful questions elicit the most meaningful and surprising responses. Near the end of the book, Tim's high school sweetheart, Cindy, after a two-hour discussion with Nichols, puts a wonderful question to him. "We were just ordinary people,” she says. “Why would you want to write a book about all of us?” The answer? He wanted to write about "ordinary people who have led extraordinary lives."Nicholl had other reasons for wanting to write about Tim Fitzmaurice and Mayfair. They will surprise you. A clue is in the title of his book: "Smile on your brother", which was taken from the Chet Powers song sung by many but popularized by the Youngbloods.

This story is heartbreaking, very well written and gives the reader a sense of what our Viet Nam vets went through.

Serving with the 1st BN 9th Marines - I knew the first Marine who died from St. Edward in Vietnam- There were 6 Marines that died from this parish-and 4 Army -total off 10- unbelievable, for a small school on the NW side of Chicago.The book is excellently written- Vietnam descriptions are perfect and real- the family story is touching to all that remember the 60's. I could notput the book down as I followed a complex family story.I know others in the book that are Heroes- I am not one of them- but I walked by their side Semper Fidelis John Rosenau C/1/9 WPNS "The Walking Dead"

An excellent book to read and would recommend it to anyone. Austin put his heart and soul into this book, I'm sure it wasn't easy, given his close ties to so many of the families. The strong sense of community in this book are the ties that bind, forever.

Well-written story of an elementary school friend of mine. I've read a lot of personal stories from the Vietnam War and this is one of the best.

Through the faith, patriotism, heartbreak and memories of one family, one parish and one city, Smile On Your Brother captures the impact that the Vietnam experience had on a nation, and the after effects that linger….Riveting, insightful and moving…… you won’t want to put it down. -BL

Not just a book about war, but the story of a young man and the affect that war had on his family after his brutal death. Also the story of an incredibly brave company of Marines against a battalion of North Vietnamese.

Got this for my Mom for Christmas, and it is a great book, well-written and describes the neighborhood perfectly. She absolutely loves it