Publisher's Synopsis
A compelling story of a young man's personal growth and maturation as he engages the challenges presented him during his eight years in the Marine Corps concluding with his experiences in the Vietnam War. In 1960 after graduating from Marshall College, unsure of himself, his future opportunities, and manhood, he decided to become a Marine Officer, believing the training would provide the character building, discipline, and self-confidence necessary for his personal growth. Starting with an introspective view of why he chose that destiny, we follow his experiences and observations, as he makes his way through the Marine way of life as an Infantry Officer. All of this is only a prologue of what was to come, while he served as a thirty year old Rifle Company Commander, in combat, during the Vietnam War in 1967. Official Military archival information is presented with his personal recollections on the unorthodox methods and tactics Mike Company, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division employed to win their war against both the Viet Cong and North Vietnam regular army. We hear his fears, poor judgment, and ultimate successes, while learning of the people who influenced his life and Rite of Passage through the United States Marine Corps.
