The Greatest Beer Run Ever

“John (Chickie) Donohue happens to be one of the best storytellers anywhere. He knows that though life may be funny, it is no joke. In this book you will see through his eyes the absurdity of the human condition. Chickie takes us thousands of miles on a hilarious quest laced with sorrow, but never dull. You will laugh and cry, but you will not be sorry that you read this rollicking story.” - Malachy McCourt

“Donohue’s memoir is a fascinating, vividly narrated recollection of the chaos of the Vietnam war.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The Greatest Beer Run Ever is the astounding true story of a young man’s odyssey. On these pages we accompany Chick Donohue as he takes us on a fantastic voyage from the streets of Manhattan via the high seas to the jungles and cities of Vietnam at the height of a war fought mostly by forgotten blue collar kids. Back in 1968, Donohue was a man on a singular mission–to prove to the soldiers and Marines from the neighborhood that they were not forgotten and never would be. On the way, Donohue lets no obstacle get in his way–not bemused military officials startled by his presence in a combat zone nor Viet Cong rocket fire. This book is both a testament to the fading notions of loyalty and brotherhood and an elegy for the working class enclaves that once formed the backbone of a city and nation.” - Thomas Kelly, Author of Payback, The Rackets, and Empire Rising and executive producer, Copper, The Get Down, and Civil

“John ‘Chick’ Donohue is an American legend whose journey to greatness began in a New York bar in late 1967. His beer run started as an adventurous lark that was supposed to take three days, but it turned into a quintessential American odyssey that took him through the heart of the Vietnam War’s darkest hours. He bore witness to some of the most ground-shaking events of the era while somehow managing to honor his friends. This book is an unforgettable, brilliantly written wild ride from start to finish, filled with humor, action, poignancy and wrenching moments. The Greatest Beer Run Ever will remain in your heart and mind long after you’ve turned the last page.” - John Bruning, New York Times bestselling author of Indestructible

“The Greatest Beer Run Ever is the astounding true story of a young man’s odyssey. On these pages we accompany Chick Donohue as he takes us on a fantastic voyage from the streets of Manhattan via the high seas to the jungles and cities of Vietnam at the height of a war fought mostly by forgotten blue collar kids…This book is both a testament to the fading notions of loyalty and brotherhood and an elegy for the working class enclaves that once formed the backbone of a city and nation.” - Thomas Kelly, Author of Payback, The Rackets, and Empire Rising and executive producer, Copper, The Get Down, and Civil

“John ‘Chick’ Donohue is an American legend…He bore witness to some of the most ground-shaking events of the era while somehow managing to honor his friends. This book is an unforgettable, brilliantly written wild ride from start to finish, filled with humor, action, poignancy and wrenching moments. The Greatest Beer Run Ever will remain in your heart and mind long after you’ve turned the last page.” - John Bruning, New York Times bestselling author of Indestructible

“The story of a patriotic prankster’s freelance incursion into Vietnam, bringing cheer (and beer) to Americans at war… An irreverent yet thoughtful macho adventure reflecting the tumult of a fast-fading era.” - Kirkus Reviews

John “Chick” Donohue joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of seventeen, then became a Merchant Mariner after his discharge. After the war, he became a Sandhog, or tunnel builder, and eventually became the Legislative and Political Director of Sandhogs, Local 147, Laborers International Union of North America., and graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government He is married to Theresa “Terri” O’Neil.

J.T. Molloy was a staff reporter and columnist at the NY Daily News, the NY Post, and New York magazine. She has written for Politico, Esquire, and Interview. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.

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