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Gunner's Glory: Untold Stories of Marine Machine Gunners
They were warriors, trained to fight,
dedicated to their country,
and determined to win.
At Guadalcanal, the Marine Corps’ machine gunners took everything the Japanese could throw at them in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II; their position was so hopeless that at one point they were given the go-ahead to surrender. Near the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, as the mercury dropped to twenty below, the 1st Marine Division found itself surrounded and cut off by the enemy. The outlook seemed so bleak that many in Washington had privately written off the men.
But surrender is not part of a Marine’s vocabulary. Gunner’s Glory contains true stories of these and other tough battles in the Pacific, in Korea, and in Vietnam, recounted by the machine gunners who fought them. Bloody, wounded, sometimes barely alive, they stayed with their guns, delivering a stream of firepower that often turned defeat into victory–and always made them the enemy’s first target.
dedicated to their country,
and determined to win.
At Guadalcanal, the Marine Corps’ machine gunners took everything the Japanese could throw at them in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II; their position was so hopeless that at one point they were given the go-ahead to surrender. Near the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, as the mercury dropped to twenty below, the 1st Marine Division found itself surrounded and cut off by the enemy. The outlook seemed so bleak that many in Washington had privately written off the men.
But surrender is not part of a Marine’s vocabulary. Gunner’s Glory contains true stories of these and other tough battles in the Pacific, in Korea, and in Vietnam, recounted by the machine gunners who fought them. Bloody, wounded, sometimes barely alive, they stayed with their guns, delivering a stream of firepower that often turned defeat into victory–and always made them the enemy’s first target.
- GenresHistoryMilitary Fiction
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 23, 2004
About the author
Johnnie M. Clark
11 books30 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes as Johnnie Clark
Johnnie Clark was wounded 3 times with famous 5th Marine Regiment as a machine gunner. He was awarded the Silver Star, 3 Purple Hearts, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry among other decorations. GUNS UP! was his first book, a non-fiction classic now in a 34th printing. It has been required reading in many high schools and colleges as well as the Commandant's list for suggested reading for all Marines. His second novel SEMPER FIDELIS also made the Commandant's list. Johnnie has two children Shawn and Bonnie. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Nancy and dog Gunner. He owns and operates Johnnie Clark Tae Kwon Do and Judo School, A Christian Do Jang. He is an 8th Dan Grandmaster. He is a member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Johnnie Clark was wounded 3 times with famous 5th Marine Regiment as a machine gunner. He was awarded the Silver Star, 3 Purple Hearts, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry among other decorations. GUNS UP! was his first book, a non-fiction classic now in a 34th printing. It has been required reading in many high schools and colleges as well as the Commandant's list for suggested reading for all Marines. His second novel SEMPER FIDELIS also made the Commandant's list. Johnnie has two children Shawn and Bonnie. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Nancy and dog Gunner. He owns and operates Johnnie Clark Tae Kwon Do and Judo School, A Christian Do Jang. He is an 8th Dan Grandmaster. He is a member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2014
Interesting first person accounts of the battles of Marine machine gunners.
One might take some if the stories with a grain of salt, keeping mindful of the fragile memories of the old men recounting them. The narrator of the first account talks about a Marine who used a .44 magnum on the island of Tulagi. The gun and the ammunition, however, wouldn't be invented for another dozen years. Stories grow with the telling, and this is to be expected.
It's still a fun read for fans of the Marines.
One might take some if the stories with a grain of salt, keeping mindful of the fragile memories of the old men recounting them. The narrator of the first account talks about a Marine who used a .44 magnum on the island of Tulagi. The gun and the ammunition, however, wouldn't be invented for another dozen years. Stories grow with the telling, and this is to be expected.
It's still a fun read for fans of the Marines.
February 19, 2019
Unbelievable Read
This book makes the horrors of war so real as the author tells the stories of these young Marines. Gives me a brand new appreciation for their courage, the hardships, pain, suffering and death they experienced. Sad that anyone must go through this but I’m thankful for their sacrifice. I hope we never forget.
This book makes the horrors of war so real as the author tells the stories of these young Marines. Gives me a brand new appreciation for their courage, the hardships, pain, suffering and death they experienced. Sad that anyone must go through this but I’m thankful for their sacrifice. I hope we never forget.
August 23, 2025
Marine Corps bravery in their own words
The author has written a motivational and inspiring book about Marines fighting for their lives and protecting their comrades. Those machine gunners knowing that in combat, their life span was measured in minutes and seconds were willing to sacrifice their lives. By writing this book the author has immortalized every marine mentioned for all eternity. I highly recommend this masterpiece.
The author has written a motivational and inspiring book about Marines fighting for their lives and protecting their comrades. Those machine gunners knowing that in combat, their life span was measured in minutes and seconds were willing to sacrifice their lives. By writing this book the author has immortalized every marine mentioned for all eternity. I highly recommend this masterpiece.
April 17, 2023
This was a great read that kept me glued to its pages. True stories from the men behind the machine guns, spanning WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, men whose life spans were measured in a handful of seconds after the enemy targeted them and tried to knock out their guns. Like everyone who has ever served in the armed forces, these men were heroes, and their tales are extraordinary.
May 29, 2019
loved how the truth is told and how their faith helped them through the wars.
January 6, 2025
My father has portions of his story in this book. I only wish I had read it sooner and before he passed. It’s really eye opening to what these Marines faced.
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October 20, 201012-8-10
I just finished reading Gunners Glory. It was a very good book and i enjoyed reading it. The end of the book wasnt as good as the rest. It was all a flash back and just kept dragging on it seemed like. I just started reading In The Lake Of The Woods by Tim o'brien. Im about 40 pages into it and its going good so far.
11-17-10
I am currently on page 136 of Gunners Glory. This book is filled with action on every page and it keeps me into the book and wanting to read more. I would recomend this book to anyone who like war books or likes books with a lot of action in them. The only part i dont like is when he talks about some flash backs, there really boring and i dont like reading them. This book has great detail in it and puts a picture into your head.
12/1/10
I am just about finished with Gunners Glory. I am hoping to finish it by the end of the week. So far the end is really boring and just keeps talking about his time in the marines before he get deployed to war. Other than the flash backs the rest of the book was very good and filled with alot of action.
I just finished reading Gunners Glory. It was a very good book and i enjoyed reading it. The end of the book wasnt as good as the rest. It was all a flash back and just kept dragging on it seemed like. I just started reading In The Lake Of The Woods by Tim o'brien. Im about 40 pages into it and its going good so far.
11-17-10
I am currently on page 136 of Gunners Glory. This book is filled with action on every page and it keeps me into the book and wanting to read more. I would recomend this book to anyone who like war books or likes books with a lot of action in them. The only part i dont like is when he talks about some flash backs, there really boring and i dont like reading them. This book has great detail in it and puts a picture into your head.
12/1/10
I am just about finished with Gunners Glory. I am hoping to finish it by the end of the week. So far the end is really boring and just keeps talking about his time in the marines before he get deployed to war. Other than the flash backs the rest of the book was very good and filled with alot of action.
September 23, 2009
this book so far has a lot of action and gore. ever since its been past the part of his childhood its been almost constant violence or stories of battles. this is a good book if the reader likes faster pace battle violence and action. the only thing i dont care for is that the author likes to repeat some points a couple times... it gets annoying, and some parts that seem good are only touched on then goes right into a random act.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews