BOOK REVIEW – We’ll All Die As Marines – One Marine’s Journey from Private to Colonel. By Jim Bathurst, Colonel, USMC (Ret)

Reviewed by Curt Marsh, Col USMCR (Ret)

This is a very engaging autobiography of one Marine’s career worth reading by fellow Marines as well as anyone interested in recent Marine Corps history. The book covers the period from his enlistment in 1958 after dropping out of High School through 1993 when he retired with the rank of Colonel. But this is more than a short history of the Marine Corps. Bathurst intended to share his experiences in learning the value of leadership and the rewards of being a leader of Marines. Although some of his methods of leadership were unique to leading Marines, the importance of quality leadership to the success of an organization applies to any group or business. He points out some of the great leaders he worked with, while also identifying several examples of poor leadership and their adverse impact. He also suggests that the demands of providing good leadership may come with both personal and professional challenges. Bathurst entered the Marines as a troubled high school dropout who learned to thrive under the quality leadership of his NCOs. Throughout the rest of his career, he focused on developing and empowering NCO leadership as the key to organizational success. His career followed a unique path that provides insight into some specialized organizations in the Corps. His early experience as a junior Marine at Marine Barracks, Yokosuka, Japan was a turning point for him in learning discipline and the rewards of applying himself to being the best he could be. His involvement as a drill instructor (DI) and his experiences with recruits at Parris Island and later at Officer Candidate School in Quantico provided a unique perspective for anyone who has gone through either program. During his service in Vietnam, he started as a sergeant. He was quickly moved up to positions of leadership in his infantry unit, often serving as the platoon commander, an officer’s billet. His stories from Vietnam are alone worth reading. He was later promoted to staff sergeant and was nominated for promotion to both gunnery sergeant (GySgt) and 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt). His meritorious promotion to GySgt came through just as he reported to the Washington Marine Barracks at 8th & I. He soon learned that his promotion to 2ndLt was also approved, so he ended up taking over the Special Ceremonial Platoon, which included the silent drill team, body bearer section, and color guard section. Seeing the “inside” of 8th & I is revealing to those who haven’t served there, and he includes some interesting stories of guarding Camp David for President Johnson. The 8th & I became his own personal Basic School in learning to be an Officer of Marines through the leadership of the other officers there. During a joint assignment at Fort Bragg, he was grateful for the special mentorship of an Army officer who ensured he started his college education. He served in numerous infantry officer positions, including Battalion and Regimental Command. One unique assignment was as the CO of a Marine Barracks that was having difficulties. He was able to turn it around to be recognized as the outstanding Marine Barracks of the Year. He also commanded the Recruiting Station in Chicago, a very different type of command focused on “selling” the Marine Corps. He dealt with a variety of leadership challenges with each of his assignments. “Sometimes you have to force a Marine to be successful,” he said. The other quote used for the title of the book actually came from his Recruiting Command Sergeant Major, “We’ll all die as Marines,” which alludes to the Marine custom of, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” He mentioned the outstanding leaders he worked with. He noted some weak leaders who mostly go unnamed. Toward the end of his career, he was in charge of Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic (LFTCLant) and led the introduction of riverine assault craft in the Marine Corps. His final position was as CO of the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune. During this period, he faced both political and personal opposition from some other senior officers for often petty and unprofessional issues. He doesn’t hesitate to identify them by name, which is somewhat exceptional for a book of this nature. This book was interesting for me. This autobiography is slightly odd in that he never mentions his family life other than his parents and sister. Finally, he does reveal the cost of his style of leadership that resulted in two divorces and three marriages. The book does not have footnotes or references, though it does have a nice Appendix and Glossary of Marine Corps terminology and abbreviations. Overall, a worthwhile read.

Originally posted 2015-12-12 11:14:24.

I have known Col. Jim Bathurst since we served together at 8th & I during 1968–69. After reading his book, I better understand who he is and why he did the things the way he did. I know him far better now than I ever did before. The book is about a young kid, a dropout from high school, and his journey through life. It is more than a simple chronology but a lesson about how blessed we are in this country that someone with Jim’s background can end up accomplishing as much as he did. The harder he worked the luckier he got.

I have read many accounts from authors who have paid painstaking attention to detail in writing about their life experience. So much so that one has to question as to how much is made up and how much is fact. One does not gain that feeling while reading this book. It is a story about life and how hard work can pay dividends.

In one chapter, Jim speaks of the moment when he came to the realization that he was not “dumb” but possessed a high level of intelligence and common sense. That comes in the later part of his book. As I read the passages, I felt his concern that he was not formally educated and considered it a draw back to his possibility for advancement. Yet my interpretation based on his writing was that he was always very intelligent displaying the ability to analyze a situation and arrive at a logical solution, one that worked. His demonstrated ability to train and motivate Marines is testimony to his innate leadership ability.

He does not dwell on success as much as he does how he got there. He gives credit not to what he did but what he was able to get his Marines to do. He uses plain language that even a civilian can understand. One cannot write a book about nearly 36 years with the Marine Corps and not use some of the jargon that accompanies one through active duty. Yet he provides an explanation at every turn so that the reader does not lose interest.

As I read passage after passage, I reflected on my career as an officer of Marines and found myself transported back to some wonderful memories. For example, when Jim explained his “ass chewing” from Col. Paul G. Graham I was right there with him as I had the same experience. Well, maybe some not so wonderful memories.

I believe that the one enduring message I took with me was his unbridled love for the Corps and of Marines. It is something that those of us who were fortunate enough to experience do not have to explain to each other, and it is something that you can never explain to someone who never shared the experience. Men do not talk about loving other men, but in the final analysis Jim, and all of us so fortunate enough to have experienced it, loved more men than women. We all loved our Marines. I consider myself most fortunate to be able to call him a friend and that at least some small part of his story is also mine.

Ronald S. Neubauer
LtCol USMC (Ret)
Chief of Police St. Peters, MO (Ret)
Executive Director, Eastern Missouri Police Academy

Originally posted 2015-12-07 16:37:33.

Many men have served long and distinguished careers as officers and enlisted Marines. We are extremely fortunate when an officer such as Colonel Jim Bathurst is able to share his career from private to Colonel in We’ll All Die As Marines.

His experience as an enlisted man provided valuable insight into leadership traits of his superiors that helped shape his personal leadership philosophy as an NCO/SNCO/Officer. Opinionated, willing to stand up for his principles, taking care of his Marines, and “thinking outside of the box” to accomplish his mission are prominent themes throughout his career.

Anyone who has served in the Corps, especially during the same time span of the Colonel, can relate to many of his experiences. More Marines with Colonel Bathurst’s character, integrity, and dedication are needed in today’s military as the services are inundated with “change” proposed by politicians with no military experience and no comprehension of what combat is all about. An enjoyable read about life in the Old Corps.

Nicholas S. Romanetz
Colonel, USMCR (Ret)

Author’s Note: Thank you very much for the review Nicholas. I find it amazing that we never actually met face-to face; however, I am positive that on many occasions we were within shouting distance of one another during our careers. Our Corps is simply too small for that to never have happened. Semper Fi Nick, JB

Originally posted 2015-10-21 12:33:41.

Many military memoirs can be inaccessible to civilians unfamiliar with the armed services. They can contain confusing acronyms, assume the reader already understands rank structures or can often be written in a self-flattering light; the book being a means to an end in a political race or similar motivations.

This is not so with retired Marine Col. Jim Bathurst’s new memoir titled We’ll All Die as Marines. Bathurst painstakingly re-wrote the initial draft after realizing that the military lingo can be very confusing to laymen. He did not write this for himself, but rather to try to instill the qualities of leadership that he has learned throughout his career from a troubled private who had just dropped out of high school all the way to a colonel with incredibly demanding assignments.

“I wrote this in the hopes of guiding young marines, both enlisted and officers, so that they can consider my advice about the demanding requirements of leadership and possibly to learn from the mistakes I made and the successes and opportunities I’ve worked toward,” Bathurst said. “I hope to continue guiding future leaders on any kind of career path.”

High-ranking officers are not well known for their artistic endeavors, but Bathurst chose to write a more abstract memoir than is usually found in a military post exchange. He wrote about every rank with shifting perspective.

“The chapters are written from the perspective of my rank during the time I’m discussing,” Bathurst said. “I wanted each ‘me’ throughout my career to be able to speak for themselves. I tried to tell about my time as a private through the eyes of a private.”

We’ll All Die as Marines sounds like a morbid title, but it is not. It is about the Corps, not corpses. It is about the love and commitment to the organization and people to which Bathurst freely gave his time, blood, and spirit. Filled with humor, advice, tragedy, frustration, and all the triumph that Bathurst was able to experience in his nearly 36-year career, he says he did not once think about retirement until the day, 36 years after boarding a bus for boot camp, he felt that he had done his duty.

Visit his website at: http://www.wellalldieasmarines.net.

We’ll All Die as Marines — One Marines Journey From Private to Colonel
By Colonel Jim Bathurst, USMC (Retired)

NOTE: The author sells the hard cover, personally inscribed, to all Marines at a deep discount and he eats the postage. Contact him at      sgt-b@comcast.net.

Originally posted 2015-10-20 15:58:08.