PDA

View Full Version : Favorite Marine Corps Books



jp2usmc
08-11-12, 09:31 AM
I never read the "suggested reading" when I was in the Corps. I had too damn much beer to drink.

Lately, though, I have been more interested in what has happened.

The other day, I picked up "Dead Center" about a guy named Kug and his experiences as a Marine Corps Sniper in Nam. Pretty damn good book, too!

I'm about done with it, though.

So, what are other highly recommended books to read?

I'm looking for entertaining stuff about the Marine Corps that isn't going to fill my head with a bunch of lies.

Rooger
08-11-12, 09:40 AM
Great Book!

BATTLEGROUND PACIFICA Marine Rifleman's Combat Odyssey in K/3/5

http://us.macmillan.com/battlegroundpacific/SterlingMace

DWG
08-11-12, 12:03 PM
Leckies' and Sledges' books are very good, much better than the silly mini series modeled after them. Of course, there is always "Battle Cry"!;)

fl1946
08-11-12, 01:24 PM
"Brute. The Life of General Victor Krulak." If not for Krulak and others of the Chowder Society, the Marine Corps would not exist. Great read about how the Corps was saved.

Rocky C
08-11-12, 01:53 PM
"Why Marines Fight" by James Brady :thumbup:.

SGT7477
08-11-12, 05:16 PM
Marine Sniper about Gunny Hathcock,Semper Fidelis.

jp2usmc
08-11-12, 07:00 PM
Marine Sniper about Gunny Hathcock,Semper Fidelis.

That's the book I was thinking of when I picked up this one (Dead Center). I'd forgotten the name of it. Who says Marines are smart? :)

SGT7477
08-12-12, 08:16 AM
:thumbup:,Semper Fidelis.

William Hardy
08-13-12, 08:11 AM
Read a bunch of sniper books, books on Nam, etc, but I still go back to "Battle Cry". For some reason, it appeals to my sense of what I want to see and feel when I say Marine! I watch the movie every time it comes on TV and I even watch my DVD copy when I get withdrawal symptoms. Next to that I rather enjoyed the book "Pacific". It contained much more information than the mini-series. The book contains more characters and is much more believable than the series.

Here in this website is a Marine, Ray Merrell, who has written a book, actually several. He was a Marine Raider in WWII. His book, "My Three Years in the Marine Corps" is not your typical "gung ho" book on the Corps. Instead, it appealed to me because it is based on his personal feelings and letters home to his girlfriend (now his wife). For any Marine who has been separated from his loved ones, this book will become a personal favorite. He tell a bit about some of what was happening, but mostly it is about his personal feelings about what he was going through. I contacted Ray through this web site and ordered copies of his book. He was kind enough to autograph them.

What about Movies?? Full Metal Jacket, The DI, Battle Cry, Sands of Iwo Jima???? There are a ton of them out there.

jp2usmc
08-13-12, 09:54 AM
I've heard about Ray Merrell and his book. Personally, I'm not that into my feelings. I wasn't attached to anyone during my time in the service, and I feel I'd be better off without that attachment today. His book is probably very good, just not for me.

Is this it? Battle Cry (http://www.amazon.com/dp/006075186X) - in the Amazon shopping cart

The Pacific" (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451232259) - not good reviews, but in the cart

Battleground Pacific (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1250005051) - much better reviews, in the cart

Hell in the Pacific (http://www.amazon.com/dp/145165913X) sounds good, so into the cart.

Brute (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UVRJO4) - in the cart.

Why Marines Fight (http://www.amazon.com/dp/031238484X) - poor reviews, but in the cart.

I already qualify for free shipping, so let's get crazy! I added:

Warrior Mindset (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0964920557)
First to Fight (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1557504644)
Marine Sniper (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425181650)
One Bullet Away (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0618773436)
With the Old Breed (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0891419063)
Outlaw Platoon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062066390) (about Afghanistan)
The Red Circle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/031260422X)
Unbroken (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400064163) and
In Harm's Way (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805073663)
No Way Out (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425245268)
Lions of Kandahar (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553807579)


Crap! That's going to bite my wallet pretty good.

Links provided, in case someone else wants a good read.

DWG
08-13-12, 10:07 AM
Unbroken, while not a Marine book, is excellent. Does make you want to get a baseball bat and go looking for Japs though!

MOS4429
08-13-12, 10:12 AM
"Brute. The Life of General Victor Krulak." If not for Krulak and others of the Chowder Society, the Marine Corps would not exist. Great read about how the Corps was saved.

I am reading Brute right now, about a third into it.

They don't make Marines like this anymore - unfortunately.

If he was trying to get in today's PC Marine Corps, he would never make it, and the Marine Corps suffer the loss.

FistFu68
08-13-12, 11:03 AM
:evilgrin: The Bridge at Dong Ha!!! Semper Fi :thumbup: :iwo:

DWG
08-13-12, 11:40 AM
The Bridge at Dong Ha!!! Semper Fi

Comic books, or graphic novels, don't count!:D


Hell, that really is a book, you shocked me Fist!:scared:

:banana:

William Hardy
08-13-12, 12:07 PM
I've heard about Ray Merrell and his book. Personally, I'm not that into my feelings. I wasn't attached to anyone during my time in the service, and I feel I'd be better off without that attachment today. His book is probably very good, just not for me.

Is this it? Battle Cry (http://www.amazon.com/dp/006075186X) - in the Amazon shopping cart

The Pacific" (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451232259) - not good reviews, but in the cart

Battleground Pacific (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1250005051) - much better reviews, in the cart

Hell in the Pacific (http://www.amazon.com/dp/145165913X) sounds good, so into the cart.

Brute (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UVRJO4) - in the cart.

Why Marines Fight (http://www.amazon.com/dp/031238484X) - poor reviews, but in the cart.

I already qualify for free shipping, so let's get crazy! I added:

Warrior Mindset (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0964920557)
First to Fight (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1557504644)
Marine Sniper (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425181650)
One Bullet Away (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0618773436)
With the Old Breed (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0891419063)
Outlaw Platoon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062066390) (about Afghanistan)
The Red Circle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/031260422X)
Unbroken (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400064163) and
In Harm's Way (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805073663)
No Way Out (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425245268)
Lions of Kandahar (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553807579)
Crap! That's going to bite my wallet pretty good.

Links provided, in case someone else wants a good read.

That's the correct Battle Cry. Afterwards, watch the movie.
That's quite a list. I read mostly books that are called historical fiction. I really like the books by W.E.B. Griffin. I am currently reading his OSS and By Presidential Order series. Very well written and very interesting.

Enjoy your reads!

JRLowman
08-19-12, 07:44 PM
Although not a Marine book, "Lone Survivor"
is a great true story of a Seal Team.

thebigticker
09-03-12, 07:44 PM
The Twins Platoon by Christy W. Sauro Jr.

An epic story of young Marines at war in Vietnam.

jp2usmc
09-04-12, 08:13 AM
The Twins Platoon by Christy W. Sauro Jr.

An epic story of young Marines at war in Vietnam.

Wow! And it's only $10: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PIHU5E

radio relay
09-06-12, 07:57 AM
Flags Of Our Fathers, by James Bradley ... IMHO a must read for every American, and certainly every Marine. (James Bradley is the son of the Navy Corpsman, John Bradley, who was one of the flag raisers on Iwo Jima).

Fields Of Fire, by Sen. James Webb ... it's a book of fiction, but the events, and characters in the book mirrored those from my own experience as a Vietnam Marine. (Webb, was a highly decorated Marine Infantry Officer. His awards included a Navy Cross, Silver Star, Two Bronze Stars w V, and two Purple Hearts).

I have had the honor to meet both of these men. Although, I was very disappointed when James Webb, ran for the Senate as a democrat.