Quiet Heroes: Stories from the Frontlines of the Vietnam War

Experience life aboard a naval vessel, the adrenaline of missions in the unforgiving jungles of Vietnam, and the moments of brotherhood that made survival possible. One day, Larry Burke was carving up the ice as a young hockey player. The next, he was gripping a draft letter that would send him far from the rink and deep into the jungles of Vietnam. Choosing the Navy, he set sail into a world of chaos, camaraderie, and combat, forever altering the course of his life. Told with raw honesty, Quiet Heroes follows Larry’s journey from the frozen arenas of his youth to the high-speed world of racecar driving, all while carrying the weight of his time in war. Through gripping firsthand stories, he shares the thrill of game-winning goals, the gut-wrenching moment he learned his future would be decided by a war, and the surreal transition from a hockey stick to a rifle. Through it all, he reflects on the lessons learned, the sacrifices made, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward.

Larry Burke was born and raised in New Jersey. He planned to play semi-professional hockey before he was drafted into the military. After his 4-year military duty, he returned to the U.S. and lived in Wisconsin and began to race cars on dirt racetracks as a hobby and a way to burn off excess adrenaline. Larry eventually moved back to New Jersey and continued to race cars for 22 years. In 2017, his Vietnam War buddy, Carl, convinced him to move to Florida, where he met his wife. Larry lives in Freeport, Florida with his wife Darla, and their dog Darla. They now enjoy travelling in their RV to