Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (Memories of War) [Hardcover]

Col. Wesley L. Fox USMC (Ret.) (Author)

Book Description

Series: Memories of War | Publication Date: May 2002

Intrigued by the mystique and challenge of the Marine Corps, eighteen-year-old Wesley Fox enlisted in the summer of 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War. He saw action with the First Marine Division in Korea and was wounded in 1951. After Korea, Fox advanced steadily in the enlisted ranks, reaching the rank of first sergeant, and, early in the Vietnam War, he received an appointment as second lieutenant. While serving as a rifle company commander with the Third Marine Division in 1969, he was twice wounded in a vicious battle during Operation Dewey Canyon. Early in this battle, every member of the company’s command staff was either wounded or killed. In an all-or-nothing effort led by First Lieutenant Fox, his company repulsed the attack of a much larger enemy force and then counterattacked with devastating results. “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,” Fox received the Medal of Honor, which President Richard Nixon presented to him at the White House. Despite the personal sacrifice and frequent danger, Fox resolutely embraced the ethos of the Marine Corps, risking his life on numerous occasions and emerging as a leader in one of the most respected and feared fighting organizations in the world. Readers interested in U.S. military history from the second half of the twentieth century, in the Marine Corps, and in inspiring tales of personal achievement will find plenty of each in Fox’s extraordinary memoir.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Col. Wesley L. Fox, USMC (Ret.), retired from the Marine Corps in 1993 after forty-three years of distinguished service. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he received two awards of the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star with Combat V, four awards of the Purple Heart, and numerous commendations. From 1993 until his retirement in 2001, Fox served as deputy commandant of cadets at Virginia Tech. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 428 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's Inc.; 1 edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574884255
• ISBN-13: 978-1574884258
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #458,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great American, December 13, 2002

By 

M. T. Sharp (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (Memories of War) (Hardcover)

In this age of phoney celebrities and victim-heroes, Colonel Fox is an authentic American hero. He is an accomplished leader, warrior, and a living legend in the Marine Corps. His exciting story should be required reading for anyone holding a position of leadership, anyone interested in service in the US Armed Forces, and anyone interested in the history of the Marines since 1950. It's a great read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn Leadership From This Legendary Marine!, October 18, 2003

By 

Richard K. Biggs (Gainesville, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (Memories of War) (Hardcover)

I first heard of "Marine Rifleman" while sitting next to the author at the funeral of highly decorated Marine General Ray Davis. Col. Fox mentioned his book, but little else about his distinguished career in the Corps. That night, while checking out his website, I discovered that Wesley Fox was a Medal Of Honor (MOH) recipient!

Not only was I impressed with this great leader's humility, but I was also intrigued by his 43-year track record as a Marine.
Fox was a drill instructor and recruiter. He was an elite Force Recon Marine and Pathfinder. He fought in Korea. He received the MOH in Viet Nam. He moved up through the enlisted ranks before becoming an officer and serving in a variety of challenging assignments. After his retirement, Col. Fox served as the Deputy Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech--a total of 51 continous years in which he wore the Marine uniform.

His book reveals why the Marine Corps is unrivaled in raising up quality leaders. At the end of each chapter, the author shares "Lessons Learned" that include:

--Eleven weeks of boot camp make a Marine for life.
--Discipline and heritage are the makings of a Marine.
--Strength and endurance are factors of motivation.
--A tour of duty in a combat zone is one thing; a firefight is another.
--Integrity, dedication, and enthusiasm pave the road to leadership.
--Seek followers with pride and commitment.
--Positive leadership brings out the best in us.
--The art of leadership is so important to our society, why are there so few institutions of higher learning that offer a degree in something so important to the people?

As a student and teacher of leadership for many years, I'm proudly adding this book to my vast collection on this crucial topic. Leaders and potential leaders from all sectors of society will be well-served by learning from Col. Fox's vast storehouse of knowledge and experience. Semper Fi, sir!

Sgt. Richard K. Biggs
USMC 1964-68

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pass this book on to others!, April 13, 2005

By 

Lloyd LeBlanc (Mill Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (Memories of War) (Hardcover)

I gave "Marine Rifleman" to my 17-year-old son last week, not to have him again revisit my Marine Corps "era" through this terrific book, but to have him exposed to these thoughts:

-- "Normal" people can have a successful military career. And Marines are not cold-blooded killers to begin with, nor trained as such.
-- Military careers can co-exist with a family lifestyle. The Fox family is a wonderful example.
-- We owe a considerable debt of gratitude to those who have served, especially in combat situations. Our comfortable life is largely due to the sacrifices of thousands of military personnel since 1900. Many of these sacrifices are short of serious wounds or death, but are not experienced by or even known to the public-at-large.
-- You can lead AND command without losing respect for your subordinates (very important today!!!), or having them lose respect for you.

Does "Marine Rifleman" bring out these lessons? You bet it does. Get the book, read it, pass it on to others. The reader does not have to be Marine-familiar. It will be one of their better reads from the bewildering choices in the bookstores. Especially for young people. Let them experience the personal growth of this man Fox as he maintains his spirit and integrity through a demanding career.