Vietnam: A Marine at War

By Robert P. Mangieri

This book is dedicated to the brave United States Marines who served during the turbulent era of the Vietnam War. Although this book is fictional, some of the events portrayed are based on the actual experiences of the author. My motto in life is "God, Country, Corps."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644242391

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Vietnam

A Marine at War

Robert P. Mangieri

Copyright © 2019 Robert P. Mangieri

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-64424-238-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64424-239-1 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

FOREWORD

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE BRAVE UNITED STATES MARINES WHO SERVED DURING THE TURBULENT ERA OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND THOSE MISSING IN ACTION.

ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK IS FICTIONAL, SOME OF THE EVENTS PORTRAYED ARE BASED ON THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCES OF THE AUTHOR.

IT IS THE SPRING OF 1965. I AM PREPARING TO GRADUATE FROM CITY COLLEGE IN THE UPPER EAST SIDE IN NEW YORK CITY TO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION TO DESIGN ROCKET ENGINES. THE WAR IN VIETNAM IS HEATING UP. PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY SAYS, ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. I DECIDE TO JOIN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TO FIGHT IN VIETNAM AND DO MY PART.

I GRADUATE ON A WEDNESDAY. THE NEXT DAY, I GO TO FORT SCHUYLER IN THE BRONX TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.

I AM NOTIFIED ON A MONDAY TO REPORT TO DUTY AT FORT SCHUYLER THEN TO BE TRANSPORTED TO PARRIS ISLAND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE MARINE CORPS BOOT CAMP.

I ARRIVE AT THE FORT AND LOADED ON A MILITARY TRUCK WITH OTHER RECRUITS. WE TRAVEL ALONG GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO BOARD EASTERN AIRLINES TO SOUTH CAROLINA. AS WE PASS THE WORLD’S FAIR IN FLUSHING, I SEE ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME. I WONDER AS THEY ARE HAVING A GOOD, WILL I BE KILLED, DISABLED, CAPTURED, OR TORTURED?

WE FINALLY REACH THE AIRPORT AND BOARD THE PLANE. THE FLIGHT TAKES FIVE HOURS. WHEN WE GET TO THE AIRPORT IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE ARE LOADED ON A TRAILWAY BUS TO PARRIS ISLAND. WHEN WE REACH PARRIS ISLAND, THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR JUMPS ON THE BUS AND SCREAMS, WELCOME TO THE MARINE CORPS.

THE BUS TRAVELS ALONG A NARROW ROAD TO THE BASE. THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR ORDERS US OFF THE BUS AND RUNS US INTO THE CHOW HALL TO EAT DINNER. ONCE WE FINISHED EATING, WE ARE RUN INTO THE BARRACKS TO SLEEP.

THE MATTRESSES WE SLEEP ON ARE TORN WITHOUT SHEETS.

THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR ENTERS THE BARRACKS WHERE WE ARE SLEEPING AT 5:00 A.M. AND SCREAMS AT US AND THROWS A GARBAGE CAN DOWN THE SQUAD BAY. HE ORDERS US TO STAND FROM OF OUR RACK. HE GRABS THOSE WHO ARE STILL SLEEPING BY THE NECK AND THROWS THEM TO THE FLOOR.

I AM ASSIGNED TO THIRD BATTALION, KNOWN AS BLOOD ALLEY BECAUSE OF THE BRUTALITY OF THE DRILL INSTRUCTORS. I MEET MY THREE DRILL INSTRUCTORS.

FROM THERE, WE ARE MARCHED TO GET A PHYSICAL. WE ARE RUN THROUGH A GAUNTLET TO RECEIVE TWENTY-FIVE NEEDLES IN EACH ARM TO PREVENT DISEASE. WE DO NOT SAY A WORD. WE ARE MARINES.

WE ARE TAKEN TO THE TAILOR TO GET OUR UNIFORMS AND BOOTS. WE NEXT RUN TO THE DRILL FIELD TO LEARN TO MARCH.

NEXT, WE ARE