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Object Lessons: A Parris Island Memoir
This is an enduring account of one person's journey through basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. For those who have served in the Marine Corps, this will bring back memories of their own regardless of how recent or far removed. For those who have not served in the Marines or any branch of the armed services, this memoir is intended to faithfully depict the experiences of young men fifty years ago in their efforts to join this country's finest fighting force ever, and provide the foundation for those readers to appreciate what it means today to be a United States Marine.
168 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2023
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January 1, 2024
Most people haven’t the foggiest idea what it takes to join one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. They haven’t a clue how much discipline, effort, and sheer grit it takes to earn the title “United States Marine.”
There’s a reason the Marine Corps is known as The Few. The Proud. Author Terry Dwyer shows us why as he takes us back to 1972 and his three months in Marine Corps Basic Training in Parris Island, South Carolina.
In this fascinating and compelling memoir, readers join the author in boot camp with all its requisite bumps, bruises, brains and brawn. As a high schooler, Dwyer is a whiz at the German language. He has his sights set on the Defense Language Institute. After turning down a chance to attend the Naval Academy, Dwyer decides the quickest path to the DLI is to enlist in the Marine Corps. The author explains that he enlisted in the Marine Corps “not out of a sense of duty or service to my country but to escape a dysfunctional, less than desirable home life.” And that’s exactly what he does after graduating from high school.
In 1972, the U.S. Marine Corps “had the highest basic training attrition rate of all the branches of the military.” Because as Dwyer so ably describes, the title
"United States Marine" isn’t given to anyone. Ever. It’s earned. And there’s only way to do so: The hard way.
It’s what Marines do.
Hence, this memoir takes us through a wide variety of experiences at Marine Corps Boot Camp, explaining each phase of training in detail. Tightly written in snap-to precision, this memoir sparkles with wit and insight as Dwyer describes the physical, mental, and moral aspects of his Marine Corps basic training. This includes learning to execute precision movements together as a platoon during close order drill, the rifle range, chow, the obstacle course, learning “military minutia,” and much more. With crisp precision and articulate voice, Dwyer walks readers through every difficult, challenging and hard-won phase of training and each equally hard-won lesson learned. This includes stepping off the incoming bus onto the (in)famous yellow footprints to graduating as a properly prepared, basically trained United States Marine.
Now, you may think this book could be as dry as the Atacama Desert. And you’d be wrong. Cuz it’s not. While Object Lessons may not be everyone’s cup of sunshine, it will certainly appeal to those interested in an “inside look” at what it takes to become a United States Marine. It’s also chockful of fascinating details, tidbits and “inside information” as it chronicles the daily life of a Marine Corps recruit. (Tip: Marine Corps Boot Camp isn’t for the faint-hearted or the lily-livered. If you’re not tough when you arrive, your Drill Instructor(s) will make darn sure you are by the time you graduate. If you graduate.)
Sprinkled throughout the first-person narrative are key takeaways called “Object Lessons.” These include Little things are big things. Give it you all or there will be consequences. Do not take a swing at a Drill Instructor. (Bad idea. Really bad idea.) Life isn’t fair. Deal with it. And if you happen to forget any of these “lessons,” the D.I.s have ways of making you remember.
It’s also what Marines do.
After reading this book, you’ll know why the Marines are known as The Few. The Proud. (You may also want to grab some Tylenol or Aleve. But I’ll leave that up to you.) Hopefully readers will gain a new or renewed sense of pride and appreciation for those who wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor after reading this book.
The author winds down with, “Those three months and the rest of my four-year enlistment taught me the value of sustained hard work, the feeling of pride in one’s self after a meaningful accomplishment, and the real meaning of accomplishment.” He adds, “Am I proud of my time with the Marine Corps? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Yes.”
Imminently engaging and informative, I read Object Lessons cover-to-cover in one sitting. I loved it!
Semper Fi!
My RATING: 4.5
There’s a reason the Marine Corps is known as The Few. The Proud. Author Terry Dwyer shows us why as he takes us back to 1972 and his three months in Marine Corps Basic Training in Parris Island, South Carolina.
In this fascinating and compelling memoir, readers join the author in boot camp with all its requisite bumps, bruises, brains and brawn. As a high schooler, Dwyer is a whiz at the German language. He has his sights set on the Defense Language Institute. After turning down a chance to attend the Naval Academy, Dwyer decides the quickest path to the DLI is to enlist in the Marine Corps. The author explains that he enlisted in the Marine Corps “not out of a sense of duty or service to my country but to escape a dysfunctional, less than desirable home life.” And that’s exactly what he does after graduating from high school.
In 1972, the U.S. Marine Corps “had the highest basic training attrition rate of all the branches of the military.” Because as Dwyer so ably describes, the title
"United States Marine" isn’t given to anyone. Ever. It’s earned. And there’s only way to do so: The hard way.
It’s what Marines do.
Hence, this memoir takes us through a wide variety of experiences at Marine Corps Boot Camp, explaining each phase of training in detail. Tightly written in snap-to precision, this memoir sparkles with wit and insight as Dwyer describes the physical, mental, and moral aspects of his Marine Corps basic training. This includes learning to execute precision movements together as a platoon during close order drill, the rifle range, chow, the obstacle course, learning “military minutia,” and much more. With crisp precision and articulate voice, Dwyer walks readers through every difficult, challenging and hard-won phase of training and each equally hard-won lesson learned. This includes stepping off the incoming bus onto the (in)famous yellow footprints to graduating as a properly prepared, basically trained United States Marine.
Now, you may think this book could be as dry as the Atacama Desert. And you’d be wrong. Cuz it’s not. While Object Lessons may not be everyone’s cup of sunshine, it will certainly appeal to those interested in an “inside look” at what it takes to become a United States Marine. It’s also chockful of fascinating details, tidbits and “inside information” as it chronicles the daily life of a Marine Corps recruit. (Tip: Marine Corps Boot Camp isn’t for the faint-hearted or the lily-livered. If you’re not tough when you arrive, your Drill Instructor(s) will make darn sure you are by the time you graduate. If you graduate.)
Sprinkled throughout the first-person narrative are key takeaways called “Object Lessons.” These include Little things are big things. Give it you all or there will be consequences. Do not take a swing at a Drill Instructor. (Bad idea. Really bad idea.) Life isn’t fair. Deal with it. And if you happen to forget any of these “lessons,” the D.I.s have ways of making you remember.
It’s also what Marines do.
After reading this book, you’ll know why the Marines are known as The Few. The Proud. (You may also want to grab some Tylenol or Aleve. But I’ll leave that up to you.) Hopefully readers will gain a new or renewed sense of pride and appreciation for those who wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor after reading this book.
The author winds down with, “Those three months and the rest of my four-year enlistment taught me the value of sustained hard work, the feeling of pride in one’s self after a meaningful accomplishment, and the real meaning of accomplishment.” He adds, “Am I proud of my time with the Marine Corps? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Yes.”
Imminently engaging and informative, I read Object Lessons cover-to-cover in one sitting. I loved it!
Semper Fi!
My RATING: 4.5
Displaying 1 of 1 review