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thedrifter
09-28-07, 08:06 AM
Moss Point native's book tells of Gulf War service
Friday, September 28, 2007
By BRAD CROCKER

GAUTIER -- A book depicting the life of a U.S. Marine sniper by Moss Point native Scott Burnside is now available.

"Goodbye Woodlands -- One Man's Memories of the Last Days of the Woodland Marine Corps," a 196-page account of Burnside's service during the Gulf War, was recently released by PublishAmerica.

"I wanted to give an inside look to the lives of the men I served with, as well as what I learned and went through," Burnside said.

He said he got the idea for the book after watching the movie, "Jarhead," which depicted a group of U.S. Marine Corps snipers during the first Gulf War. Burnside saw the film on his computer when electricity was scarce after Hurricane Katrina.

After graduating from Moss Point High School in 1990 at the age of 17, Burnside became a Marine Corps sniper while serving a four-year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy.

Burnside, now 35, said the movie left a bad taste in his mouth and did not fairly portray what he saw firsthand. He said it also did not do justice to author Anthony Swofford's novel, "Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles," on which the movie was based.

"There's a lot to sniping," said Burnside, referring to his book's glances into young boys becoming men and the front line intensity of being alone and outnumbered while trying to defeat the enemy.

The personalities of the men Burnside served with are a main focus of the book.

Burnside said his coming-of-age experiences of "a 17-year-old from Moss Point to a 22-year-old salty, tattooed, drinking kind of guy" he became during his service are included in the book, as is the heroism of his fellow Marines.

Burnside's tours of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Somalia, Haiti and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are featured.

His main audience is veterans, active military personnel and their families, Burnside said.

Burnside operated a private security company, ran for mayor of Pascagoula in 2005 and managed a hotel in Pascagoula. He hosted local TV sports and talk shows on WKFK Channel 7 in Pascagoula before he and his family recently moved to Nutter Fort, W.Va.

On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, Burnside will hold a book signing in Clarksburg, W.Va.

With the rough side of his Marine life now in print, Burnside said he has refocused his writing for a family-oriented audience with his first children's book.

The adventures of Paul Polar Bear concentrate on forging friendships and teaching children how to become leaders and build character, Burnside said.

Each chapter comes with Bible passages and references to reinforce the positive messages, he added.

That book, still untitled, could be released early next year.

Reporter Brad Crocker can be reached at bcrocker@themississippipress.com or (22 934-1431.

Ellie