Lullabies for Lieutenants: Memoir of a Marine Forward Observer in Vietnam, 1965-1966

by Franklin Cox

Overview

Capturing the chaotic nature of the U.S. Marine experience at war in Vietnam, this memoir recounts the experiences of a young officer in a series of unrelated short pieces. In a narrative as fragmented as the war itself, the only resolution is the same one reached by the Marines who fought--the conclusion of a tour of duty with no happy ending. Each chapter describes a specific event, a story of emotion, or a remarkable person (some are heroes, some are cowards). The reader lives the experience alongside the author, gaining a true sense of the pulse-pounding contact, surrealism, pathos, humor, and beauty that defined one of the low points of the American experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786455935
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	01/10/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	220
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Franklin Cox is CEO of Pecan Productions Studios, Inc. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Franklin Cox is CEO of Pecan Productions Studios, Inc. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Preface     

PART I: FORWARD OBSERVER
1. We Never Promised You a Rose Garden     
2. Landing at Red Beach     
3. Forward Observer     
4. Ambush     
5. Hearts and Minds     
6. Night Vertical Assault     
7. Her Majesty     
8. Surrounded     
9. A Captain of Marines     
10. Anger     
11. The Lieutenants     

PART II: HEROES AND GOATS
12. A Culture Like No Other     
13. Okinawa     
14. Second Battalion, Ninth Marines Headquarters     
15. Cam Ne Burning     
16. The Loser     
17. Disaster     
18. Gooks     
19. Meltdown     
20. The Disappearance of First Lieutenant James T. Egan, Jr.     
21. Twenty Minutes of Terror: Night Sapper Attack     
22. Random Chaos     

PART III: HOPES AND DREAMS
23. Her     
24. Short Timer     
25. Irony     
26. Residuals: Denial, Anger, and Risk-Taking     
27. Mao, Ho, and United States Policy     

Glossary     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

powerful...recommended...incredible...required reading”—Military Writers Society of America; “a fine job...evocative addition...a compelling read”—Vietnam Magazine; “gripping…striking…paints a clear picture”—Phoenix Military History Examiner; “Strong, spot-on, and impressive...a dramatic look back at what we experienced as young combat warriors. Cox hits the wave tops of the emotions, fear, challenges, hardships, and personal and professional achievements we now look back and reflect upon. Bravo Zulu, well done!”—H.C. “Barney” Barnum, Colonel of Marines (Ret.) and Medal of Honor Recipient–Vietnam; “capture[s] the young Marine warrior: his thoughts, his emotions, his experiences, and the pride that binds him to his brother Marine.”—Ron Christmas, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.), President & CEO, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation; “The ethos of Marines in battle has never been captured better. Franklin Cox is the new balladeer of the USMC.”—Robert Coram, author of Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.

From the Publisher

gripping...striking...paints a clear picture

Phoenix Military History Examiner

a fine job...evocative addition...a compelling read

Vietnam Magazine

powerful memoir...recommend[ed]...an incredible job

Military Writers Society of America