Young Blood Commentaries
YOUNG BLOOD: a History of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines
Vietnam (1968)
We were a
different group of Marines. We were made up of Marines, officer and enlisted, who
had already completed a combat tour in Vietnam, a few with Korea under their
belts, young exceptional 2nd Lieutenant’s fresh from Quantico, a
healthy smattering of very salty Mustang officers, and young Marines green as
grass all thrown into the blazing combat of Vietnam, 1968. Gary Jarvis, who was
on the battlefield and who shared its horror and heroism reports this history
of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines with painstaking care and exhaustive
research in a format seldom seen. It is factual and unvarnished. It reflects
the courage displayed in a vicious day-on, stay-on combat environment and the
love Marines have for each other. Young
Blood could very well be a definitive tribute to all Infantrymen no matter
the Unit or the branch of Service, or even the Country.
Those of us
who remained standing, God only knows how and why, returned home, got on with
our lives and became doctors, lawyers, bankers, teachers, computer whizzes,
presidents or vice-presidents of corporations and everything in between,
raising families, paying taxes and all are as unassuming as one could imagine.
Americans can now look at and read about the new, “Greatest Generation”. At a
time in our nations history when the coward was exalted, these Marines served
proudly, fought, bled and died. Semper Fi!
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“Gary
Jarvis' effort in producing Young Blood represents not only a staggering amount
of research and writing, but also a monumental labor of love, which stands as a
tribute to his fellow Marines who served in the lst Battalion, 27th Marines in
Vietnam. Sent to Vietnam in the wake of the bloody 1968 Tet Offensive, the
battalion suffered staggering casualties while accomplishing every task it was
assigned. Those who survived only asked that they be called Marines. They did
their duty. They did it with honor and heroism. Anyone who served with them
should be proud.“
Earl Gerheim, a Marine combat correspondent in
Vietnam, was attached to the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines,
during Search and Destroy operations at Hue City. Gerheim spent 23 years as a
reporter and editor, working for three newspapers and the Associated Press.
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“You did a
great job with the research. I can bet you that there is no more thoroughly
researched and documented study on any other unit in Vietnam. Every Marine who
was a member of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines should want to own a copy of
your book.”
Billy Meyers, author of “Honor the Warrior” (July,
2000); Email: redoubt@bellsouth.net
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YOUNG BLOOD Book id#
is: ISBN: 0-9675770-0-4