During the late 90s, while escaping from the Montana winters to Arizona in our recreational vehicle, I would sit outside at the picnic table with my favorite drink (single malt scotch) thinking about the life I once lived and enjoying the life I now had as a small-time cattle rancher. Eventually, I began to compile a series of computer files containing memories from my career—something for my children to read that would give them some idea as to what I was doing while gone from home during much of their formative years. There never was any intention, or even the slightest thought, of this endeavor ever becoming a book for others outside my immediate family to read. It was simply a mishmash of notes containing events, people, and places from my thirty-five and one-half years as a United States Marine.
As the number of files grew, I happened to mention this pastime to a few fellow Marines who said I should merge them into a logical sequence that could someday become a book. I liked the idea, but was still set on this being something personal for my children and grandchildren to read when I was gone.
One Marine brother, LtCol Tad Curtis, USMC (Ret) thought I had a somewhat unique career with so many command billets that every time we chatted on the phone or email, he always ended the conversation with “Write the damn book!”
By 2007, the number of these small computer files—snippets of my life as a Marine—grew to something far beyond my intention. Finally, another dear friend and Marine brother, Major Dennis Copson, USMC (Ret)—who happens to be a prolific and gifted writer—encouraged me to put them into some logical sequence and combine those with correlation.
I am by no means a prolific writer. In fact, I am not a very good writer at all. I grew up learning how to write “Marine”; that is, straight forward and to the point, leaving out the flowery adjectives e.g., “It’s raining.”
Dennis can take my “It’s raining,” and turn it into a wonderfully worded and interesting short paragraph that any reader would enjoy. He suggested I send him some of the “snippets” for a look-see. At that point the book took on a life of its own that lasted five and one-half years and consumed both his and my every waking moment. For an interesting peek at the process from his vantage point, you need to read “About the Editor.”
We decided early on to eliminate my personal life, and keep the book professionally oriented. Therefore, I ask the reader to keep in mind that while reading about my Marine trials and tribulations, understand there was at times some personal turmoil going on behind the scenes for my personal life was not always a success.
Any book about military life has to contain abbreviations, acronyms, and military jargon. While Denny and I feverishly tried to cut as much of this gobbledygook as possible, unfortunately, some had to be used. Therefore, there is a short glossary in the back of the book that will aid those unfamiliar with common terms we frequently use. Might I suggest a quick scan of these terms before reading the book? Additionally, there is also a list of abbreviations and acronyms that will assist the reader.
Moreover, this book is not about boy scouts; it’s about Marines who oftentimes express themselves using rather colorful and risqué language. While we attempted to tone it down as much as possible, there are a few scenes that absolutely required it.
If your interest has been piqued, take a look inside the book by clicking on the “Peek Inside” link. There you will find an excerpt or two from the book, as well as a full list of the chapters. If by then you are convinced it is a book for you, or perhaps you know a Marine to whom it would make a great gift, click on the “Buy The Book” link. I will get your email, then contact you to get information to personally inscribe the book. I have only the hard cover copies, which is a beautiful keep sake. Furthermore, if the book is for a Marine or a member of the other services, I eat the postage. Semper Fi, Jim
9/1/2020 UPDATE: Be advised I have cancelled the contract with the publisher, and strongly recommend any up and coming author looking for a POD publisher to stay away from them. I have FINALLY been able to stop Amazon from printing and selling the book at their ridiculously inflated price i.e., $42.95. I now own the copyright to the book. So the only place to get a copy is through me at a much less expense to you.
4/10/2022 UPDATE: I am in the throes of negotiating with a publisher to have the book republished. It will take quite some time to work out the details to my satisfaction, probably several months. I will not go through again what I went through with the last one. In the meantime I still have some hard cover copies to sell on my own.
