If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

395 Days

by Gary G. Kasten

524 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-2404; ISBN 1-4251-0646-3; US$32.00, C$36.80, EUR24.95, £16.54

A High School senior enlists in the Marine Corps and goes to South Vietnam for 395 days...

About the Book

It is about a young Marine being sent to Vietnam and my experiences in the infantry. Assign to the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, Charlie Company 2nd Platoon. Just before I get to my new outfit, a Marine that has been in Vietnam for a while come up to us and tells us that we're going to a badass outfit.

I joined the 2nd platoon of Charlie Company with 46 men in March of 1967 and ended up with only four men left in Dec. pf 1967. During that time with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines other Marines outfits called us "the Walking Dead". From the time I was with them the N.V.A. have hit us with mortars, artillery, human wave attacks, flamethrowers, and ambushes. The only people that help us were artillery from both the Army and Marines and F-4 Phantom aircrafts.

On Dec. 16, 1967 I transferred over to a new Recon outfit being for in the 3rd Marines Division called "E" Echo Company. The last time this company was formed was back in World War II. When back to Okinawa for thirty days to be trained as Recon and then sent back to Vietnam to finish my tour. I stayed with this outfit until I rotated back home which was April 1, 1968.

About the Author

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, After I graduated from High School I first joined the Army and be a Paratrooper like my father but buddies of mine told me that I should join the marine Corp so I could play for the Quantico Marines Football team. I enlisted in the Marines to do just that nit I had a little detour and that was a tour in Vietnam. I made it back and did make it on the Quantico Marines Football Team and started on offense. The year was 1968.

I had the chance to play Pro Football or go to college on a scholarship. I decided to go to college and play football for Drake University. Received a Bachelor degree and became a teacher and coach. I married a wonderful woman; Karen and we have two sons named Michael and Adam. After a few years I gave up teaching but remain in coaching different sports throughout the years. I worked for the post Office until I retired.

Excerpts