Author Spotlight & Review
Marshall's Marauders
by Allan Lobeck
Blurb
The story of Marshall Rooker becoming the nation's most decorated war hero ever. Marshall Rooker is an infantry officer headed to fight in the Vietnam War. He is unsure of himself and how best to protect his men. The book takes this young country high school athlete and molds him into a war hero. While performing he is wounded and almost dies while winning the Medal of Honor. He feels he was only doing his assigned tasks and protecting his men and shuns any publicity. After winning the Medal of Honor he is asked to lead one more mission into Cambodia.
The story of Marshall Rooker becoming the nation's most decorated war hero ever. Marshall Rooker is an infantry officer headed to fight in the Vietnam War. He is unsure of himself and how best to protect his men. The book takes this young country high school athlete and molds him into a war hero. While performing he is wounded and almost dies while winning the Medal of Honor. He feels he was only doing his assigned tasks and protecting his men and shuns any publicity. After winning the Medal of Honor he is asked to lead one more mission into Cambodia.
Allan Lobeck has more than 10 years of experience in writing, and he was inspired to write MARSHALL'S MARAUDERS five years ago, when he found out that veterans of the Vietnam War were still suffering.
He enjoyed sharing the stories he learned about the war with his grandchildren without getting too graphic. His grandson became very interested and wanted to learn more, so he and Allan's wife encouraged him to write this historical fiction book about it. From that came MARSHALL'S MARAUDERS.
He enjoyed sharing the stories he learned about the war with his grandchildren without getting too graphic. His grandson became very interested and wanted to learn more, so he and Allan's wife encouraged him to write this historical fiction book about it. From that came MARSHALL'S MARAUDERS.
Allen Lobeck is the winner of 2 bronze stars for valor in combat
MY REVIEW
In this intense first person account of Vietnam, we find a new and inexperienced officer suffer from culture shock as he leaves his old world behind and must learn the new rules of life on a battlefield. Fear consumes him as he begins his journey, yet he is too naive to even know what to fear. But he will. Military life becomes second nature to these soldiers, but even things such as saluting a superior officer must be reversed for safety in combat. Name identity is stripped from the soldiers as they are referred to by numbers. Thus 3-6 as he is called learns that the enemy can come in many forms--including other military personnel looking to steal credit or place blame, mortar fire preventing a good night's sleep, adrenaline rushes that interrupt logical thinking, and even the Saigon River preventing the retrieval of fallen soldiers. When commended for his men's kill count, he responds, "We were just doing our job." This book is an accurate, gripping, and fascinating account of the realities of war. From fear and insecurity to the wanting to be home eating apple pie with a loved one, this novel explores every emotional roller coaster ride in a form that reads like a diary.
The characterization pulls the reader in and never lets go The author has a fast paced style and describes the setting and feelings without a bunch of poetic prose. This is raw and honest look into the hearts and minds of men, as well as the challenges they face. Details civilians never even consider are explored such as dealing with the respiratory consequences of Agent Orange on a daily basis and being issued weapons that are used and sub-par. Anyone who loves military or historical fiction and non-fiction would love this novel. Honestly, readers of all genres should read such a book to know what it is others have gone through to provide them with the freedom to sit and read a book in peace and quiet--without mortar shells flying through their windows or friends being shot and killed.
On a special note, I personally would like to thank the author for his service to the US military. I also whole-heartedly apologize to the author, as I was given a copy of this book for and honest review and due to personal complications, I failed to make a timely read of it. Now I am not only ashamed, but annoyed with myself that I deprived myself of this work until now.
The characterization pulls the reader in and never lets go The author has a fast paced style and describes the setting and feelings without a bunch of poetic prose. This is raw and honest look into the hearts and minds of men, as well as the challenges they face. Details civilians never even consider are explored such as dealing with the respiratory consequences of Agent Orange on a daily basis and being issued weapons that are used and sub-par. Anyone who loves military or historical fiction and non-fiction would love this novel. Honestly, readers of all genres should read such a book to know what it is others have gone through to provide them with the freedom to sit and read a book in peace and quiet--without mortar shells flying through their windows or friends being shot and killed.
On a special note, I personally would like to thank the author for his service to the US military. I also whole-heartedly apologize to the author, as I was given a copy of this book for and honest review and due to personal complications, I failed to make a timely read of it. Now I am not only ashamed, but annoyed with myself that I deprived myself of this work until now.
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