Yesterdays Are Forever: A Rite of Passage Through the Marine Corps and Vietnam War

A compelling story of a young mans personal growth and maturation as he engages the challenges presented during his eight years in the Marine Corps concluding with his experiences in the Vietnam War. In 1960 after graduating from Marshall College, unsure of himself, his future opportunities, and manhood, he choose to become a Marine Officer, believing the training would provide the character building, discipline, and self-confidence necessary for his personal growth.

Starting with an introspective view of why he chose that destiny, we follow his experience and observations, as he makes his way through the Marine way of life as an Infantry Officer.

All of this is only a prologue of what was to come while he served as a thirty year old Rifle Company Commander, in combat, during the Vietnam War in 1967.

On his first night in command of Mike Company, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division, he was quickly indoctrinated, by the enemy, when his company position was hit with over 250 rounds of mortar fire. We travel through the combat zone, and follow the action over the next five months, as his company engages the enemy in a variety of locations and unique circumstances in the Northern Sector, near the DMZ, of South Vietnam.

Official Military archival information is presented with his personal recollections on the unorthodox methods and tactics Mike Company employed to win the war, in their battle sector against both the Viet Cong and North Vietnam regular army. We hear his fears, poor judgement, and ultimate successes, while learning of the people and that influenced his life and Rite of Passage through the United States Marine Corps.

Richard D. Jackson maintains his residence in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has lived since leaving the Marines. His business experience includes the Presidency of two separate banks and a Vice-Chairman position with an information services company. He is now semi-retired, working part time as a business consultant and motivational speaker, and serves on several Corporate Boards of Directors. He is active in various outdoor recreational activities and he and his wife Elaine, live part time in Sun Valley Idaho.