Guardians of the Eagle

About the Book

This is a true story about a young boy who grew up on a tenant farm in rural Arkansas. Having no hope of obtaining a higher education, he joins the Navy.

As you read, you’ll share the cultural shock he experienced from the rigors of military life upon entering bootcamp. You’ll feel his pain when he learns that he’ll be going aboard ship instead of to a technical school.

You’ll revel with him when he finally discovers his niche as a Navy Hospital Corpsman. You’ll learn to love, as he did, the Navy Nurse who eventually became his wife. The joy at the birth of his first two children turns bittersweet when he finds himself discharged from the Navy and unemployed.

The decision to re-enter the Navy, after learning his wife was pregnant with their third child, is gut wrenching. You’ll experience his frustration with the outbreak of the Vietnam War.

In a very short time, he finds himself attached to the Marine Corps serving in an infantry battalion. You’ll come to know what it’s like to be an ordinary man in combat as he describes his struggles to stay alive and remain sane.

About the Author

The author is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer living in San Diego California. His desire that future generations have the opportunity to learn about the daily life of the men who served during the Cold War and Vietnam conflict motivated him to document his experiences during this extraordinary time in our history.