Loon A Marine Story
Loon A Marine Story by Jack McLean is a memoir published by Random House Publishing Group on May 25, 2010. This 256-page book is written in English and offers a personal account of McLean’s experiences as he navigates the complexities of the Vietnam War after enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Raised in suburban New Jersey and educated at Phillips Academy, McLean’s journey takes him from boot camp to the front lines, where he confronts the realities of war.
In this memoir, McLean reflects on his transformation from a young man facing the military draft to a Marine serving in Vietnam. The narrative culminates in the intense Battle for Landing Zone Loon, where he witnesses the brutalities of conflict. Through his honest storytelling, McLean explores themes of personal growth and the impact of war, providing insights into both the Vietnam War and the societal attitudes of the time. This edition captures a significant moment in history, making it relevant for readers interested in military history and personal memoirs.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Kids like me didn’t go to Vietnam,” writes Jack McLean in his compulsively readable memoir. Raised in suburban New Jersey, he attended the Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, but decided to put college on hold. After graduation in the spring of 1966, faced with the mandatory military draft, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for a two-year stint. “Vietnam at the time was a country, and not yet a war,” he writes. It didn’t remain that way for long.
A year later, after boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and stateside duty in Barstow, California, the Vietnam War was reaching its peak. McLean, like most available Marines, was retrained at Camp Pendleton, California, and sent to Vietnam as a grunt to serve in an infantry company in the northernmost reaches of South Vietnam. McLean’s story climaxes with the horrific three-day Battle for Landing Zone Loon in June, 1968. Fought on a remote hill in the northwestern corner of South Vietnam, McLean bore witness to the horror of war and was forever changed. He returned home six weeks later to a country largely ambivalent to his service.
Written with honesty and insight, Loon is a powerful coming-of-age portrait of a boy who bears witness to some of the most tumultuous events in our history, both in Vietnam and back home.
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