SAMUEL K. BEAMON

Dale Mad Dog Messmer -- USMC Vietnam Veteran

Review date: 07/02/2010

Sam...  Sorry it has taken me so long to answer, have four of our 9 grandkids here for the summer (and I'm the 'entertainment committee), and I have been meaning to write you.  The book is GREAT, and that ain't just one old Marine bullshittin' another.  I really enjoyed it.  I think your book is on the money and a really good read, at least in my opinion. 

 I was especially taken by your depictions of life for a young black guy growing up, which I am a little embarrassed to admit I have never given any thought to before.  I never had any experiences with black guys until I went to college, and then I was assigned to room with a guy from Detroit who was a basketball player, and I was a football player, but I got there too late and that bed was the only one left in the athletic dorm.  His name was Cleveland Evans, and we remian close friends to this day.  Cleveland taught me a lot about how much we were really the same.  Served me well in The Corps, where there are ONLY 'GREEN Marines. 

"Semper Fidelis"