Beatles Books, Bombs, and Beyond

Few periods in US history can compare to the incredible 1960’s when a society changed almost overnight. The moon landing, the Beatles, Vietnam, Martin Luther King, feminism, the Great Society, free love, miniskirts, civil unrest, Cuban missiles, Fidel Castro, MLK assassinated, JFK assassinated, RFK assassinated, Elvis, Woodstock, Cassius Clay, the Beach Boys, and a whole lot more. 

This true story recounts college life, fast friendships, and boys becoming men. There is plenty of humor, love, determination, and rambunctious mis-adventure as three eager young men enroll at one of the most liberal universities in America. It is the start of the decade before the Vietnam catastrophe had not even become a blip on the radar screen. They proudly sign up to become United States Marines and watch their lives as ROTC students become more and more tumultuous within the rising flood tide anti-establishment sentiment. Even when it becomes clear that the ugly cloud of Vietnam is destined to seize their lives after graduation, their commitment does not waiver. As they are processed through accelerated military training it is bittersweet time. New marriages struggle to coalesce awaiting the terrifying separation which is imminent.

One is immediately off to Vietnam and returns home before the other two, who have trained to become fighter pilots, join combat squadrons in country. Dreadfully, the pilots never return and perish resolutely carrying out their assigned missions in cockpits over the jungles and seas of that God-forsaken place. At home their families care, but few others do. “Thank you for your service” are delayed almost a half century. Was this horrible price worth it? That dilemma has taken a half century to contemplate.