Loon - Jack McLean [96]
While writing, I received encouragement and support from family, friends, neighbors, professional colleagues, and fellow Charlie Company survivors in an abundance that I continue to regard with awe. Terry and Nancy Tillery kept me focused by providing food, love, and unlimited access to their beach house in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. In Georgetown, Vera and Dandy Dickie were my daily visitors, keeping me sane with an encouraging word and a welcome wag. Thank you.
Former Charlie Company commander Bill Negron was a font of information. Many technical details are from his memory, and several of the better stories were borrowed with his blessing from his own writings. Bill, a uniquely American character, was a remarkable marine, and a dear friend to all of us. Thanks, Skipper.
Among Charlie Company veterans, I thank Dan Burton, Mac Mecham, Jack McQuade, Robert Rodriguez, Benny Lerma, Buck Willingham, Doug McPhail, Clabie Edmonds, Neil Downey, Wayne Wood, and Gaylord Flippen. Semper Fi, brothers.
For support in Washington, I thank former marines Peter McCarthy and John Miller, as well as John Shlaes, Tad Howard, Tom Coleman, Peter Van Allen, David Mitchell, and author David Maraniss. Andover classmate Ray Healey was a steady cheerleader. Ray never served in the military, but has dedicated his life to veteran advocacy. Thanks from all of us, Ray.
My three daughters and three siblings were unconditionally supportive rocks throughout the entire process. Thank you Sarah, Martha, Sylvia, Don, Ruth, and Barbara.
Present in spirit and never to be forgotten are the forty-three grand young sons of Charlie and Delta companies, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division who breathed their last on LZ Loon during those three horrific days in June 1968.
Rest in peace, brothers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The third of four children, Jack McLean was born in Huntington, New York, on May 26, 1947. He was brought up in Summit, New Jersey, where he lived until admittance to Phillips Academy, Andover, at age fourteen. Upon graduation, McLean enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After boot camp and a year of stateside duty, he served in Vietnam with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
McLean returned to enter Harvard University in the fall of 1968 as the college’s first Vietnam veteran. After graduation, he held marketing positions in New York, Boston, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C.
McLean is the father of three daughters and is currently the Tsien Writer in Residence, Fort Lee, New Jersey.
While all of the incidents in Loon are real, certain dialogue has been
reconstructed, and some of the names and personal characteristics of
the individuals have been changed. Any resulting resemblance to persons
living or dead is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
Copyright © 2009 by Jack McLean
Title-page photograph copyright © 2009 by AP Images
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Presidio Press, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
PRESIDIO PRESS and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Oakfield Avenue Music and
John Cale Music, Inc., for permission to reprint lyrics from “I Believe,”
written by Lou Reed and John Cale. Copyright © Oakfield Avenue Music and
John Cale Music. Copyright © Metal Machine Music and John Cale Music, Inc.
U.S. and Canadian rights for Oakfield Avenue Music administered
and controlled by Spirit One Music (BMI). World excluding
U.S. and Canadian rights controlled and administered by EMI Music Publishing,
Ltd. International copyright secured. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
eISBN: 978-0-345-51535-3
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