Pvt Johnson

Jack Johnson

Description

This book is specifically for the enlisted Marine. The officers have their books. Who will tell our stories of what happens and maybe why? What could have been done differently? This book contains a story part and a dialogue aspect. It dares asks so many essential questions; left for the young Marine (that all deserve deeper explanations and answers for some of the things that are not always so obvious)? The story itself, begins with boot camp and the dialogue centers around how we can possibly improve the single greatest elite fighting force in history. This book is obviously an American tale and it is ours. It is brutal, profane, and all too real. The few, the proud; the Marines.
Semper Fi

Sujets

• Biography
• Military
• Autobiography
• Jack Johnson

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 10 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669876984
• Langue: English

Extrait

PVT JOHNSON
 
 
USMC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jack Johnson
 
Copyright © 2023 by Jack Johnson.
Library of Congress Control Number:
2023908911
ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-6698-7697-7

eBook
978-1-6698-7698-4
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 05/09/2023
 
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
853464
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
PRIVATES LOG-DAY ONE
THE RIFLE RANGE
 
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again….who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at least knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while doing greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt
FOREWORD
One day, I was waiting in the lobby for a procedure I was going to have done at Bethesda, when a young man in a Marine Corps jogging suit sat next to me. He was missing an arm and a leg. I spoke to him and thanked him for his service. He asked me if I had served. I told him yes but it was a long time ago. He asked about some of my experiences and when I told him a few-he felt that a lot of young Marines might be interested in my story because he felt it still resembled a lot of his. He had obviously been wounded but wanted no parts of any “pity party”. The young Marine told me how much he loved his country and that he would gladly fight for it again if called on. This young Marine really touched me. This book, in part; is written in honor of him and the many young people serving or planning to serve in any branch of military service. Never have so few, given so much to so many. The honor of being in the unique position of serving one’s country cannot be expressed in mere words. A few good men and women. You deserve so much in return; especially honesty. Marines come from all walks of life and that means every day civilization. There are no supermen in the Marines. Cut them and they will bleed. Shoot them they will fall. Perhaps, not as easy a fight as many-because they are molded tougher, to endure more and to win with less. Up front, I am going to tell you my good and bad experiences. There are going to be many contradictions, simply because I reserve the right to explain things one way in certain situations and maybe another way in another. Not because its lies, bullshit, or unnecessary grandstanding. More like “if-then” type of contradictions. I would not waste the toner if I didn’t feel I had something useful to offer. I am not trying to teach you rocket science or even patriotism-for that matter; that simply is not my job. I don’t even pretend to be that smart. I wanted to make you laugh, cry, but mostly be exceptionally proud of the United States Marine Corps. I have literally massaged the ink off the paper in some spots, because it means that much to me-trying to get this all right. I learned early in life; if blessed with an intelligent audience; at least, have something smart or interesting to offer. Maybe I have done that. If you do learn something different, new and or meaningful-that is great. Nothing, that I say or anybody says should ever affect your decision to serve your country. Some of this shit might be tough for some. (Joke em if they can’t take a fuck) I cannot make everybody happy-so I really don’t care if your little feelings are hurt by something that I wrote or how I said something. I curse a lot (okay-too much), I don’t try to hide who or what I am, or sound smarter, cute, or funnier than anybody else. This is my nickel, and I will tell you that to your face. Also, keep in mind these are only my experiences. Much of your individual experiences will differ from mine. That’s why they are called yours. It was admittedly a long time since I stood in formation, all experiences vary. Certain aspects of military life will never change. That fact is good and bad. Still, despite some of the worst shit that could ever happen to a man-did happen to me. (Sun don’t always shine on the same dog’s ass.) Don’t feel sorry for me. Some of the best shit happened, too. You don’t even have to ever thank me for serving. Serving my country is the greatest single accomplishment of my life, I love America (that means dealing with the worst of our madness and the greatness benefits in the world of our sense of democracy as well) and I too would proudly do it again; today if called upon.
My name is PVT Johnson and this is my book. Make no mistake about it, this book is only a glimpse into the beginning of my life as a Marine, so unfortunately it will address life (as real as it gets) and death. I only titled it “Private Johnson” because it is only about a very specific time in the beginning of my military career. I am not a writer, nor do I have any ambition of trying to write a “Best Seller”. Mispelled words, poor grammar, run-on sentences, collapsed structure, high-low clarity index; throw all of that bullshit out of the window. (Hell, even a broken clock is right twice a day.) This is just a book, not a military manual or King James bible. I am not a perfect man. I have my flaws, still. If you want your wars fought; I am still; your huckleberry. I AM A WARRIOR-I AM A MARINE. In this book, I honor this young Marine and the thousands like him; those who gave all of themselves in service of their country. There are other solid reasons that I wrote this book. Not fame, fortune or trying to impress any reader is one of them. I honestly believe that it is far more important for you to read this book to understand some of who this young man really is and the many sacrifices that he and so many like him make in service of their country. I believe that it really matters and I hope that you will understand why I feel that way, later. The freedoms that we all enjoy; the pumpkin spice latte, the fat trust funds, and crazy I-Phone/social media; not every country enjoys all of that good weird shit. We are blessed beyond measure. That shit is not free, and is paid for in blood, sweat and tears of America’s youth-mostly.
As for me; this all happened a long time ago, yet my book may prove to be even more relevant today; than when I first started to write it several years ago. I had a change of heart and put it aside, after sending it to a couple of interested publishers(who I thought were trying to steal it). You cannot steal my story-I have the medals, the photographs, and the wounds. I also understand that some Americans don’t care about people like me; who did the kind of shit that we did and do every single minute of every single day, in defense of this great nation. I have actually talked to some people that couldn’t give two shits about how it gets done, as long as they or their children don’t have to get dirty. I get that. Its okay, it takes all kinds and maybe this book ain’t for you. Please put it back on the shelf, and step away from the truth. Carry on with your life. Have a happy sparkling day! There is a lot here to understand and even some that may think that they want to understand; may still find some of this hard to digest.