Authentic short stories from a career Marine and combat veteran
Using skillful storytelling, hilarious episodes are presented alongside heartbreaking tales from war and its aftermath.
Laughing & Crying as a U.S. Marine contains 50 stories drawn from over 25 years of service in every clime and place. This emotive collection reveals vignettes of leadership and fosters a love of Corps.
This book is for Marines of all generations and for those who love their Marines.
About the Author :
Adam Walker served as an infantryman for twenty-five years, retiring from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunnery Sergeant with three tours in Iraq and a Purple Heart. Authoring over one hundred articles, he's been published in Leatherneck, the Marine Corps Gazette, The War Horse, AT EASE! Veterans Magazine, We Are The Mighty, and Lethal Minds Journal. A native of Western NC, Adam settled down in Eastern NC after the Marines and now writes stories from an old field desk.
Review :
"In Laughing & Crying as a U.S. Marine, Adam Walker masterfully captures the raw, authentic essence of life in the Corps through a collection of stories that blend side-splitting humor with profound heartbreak and sorrow. From absurd barracks antics and leadership lessons to the stark grief of combat loss in war, Walker's observant and affectionate storytelling honors the heroic Marines he served alongside over 25 years. This heartfelt tribute not only preserves the timeless spirit of the Marine Corps but also offers valuable insights and camaraderie to veterans, serving members, and their families alike. Laughing & Crying as a U.S. Marine is a must-read for anyone who loves the Corps."
- Jason Angell, former U.S. Marine - Author of Running Towards Gunfire: Courage and Brotherhood in Ramadi
"Laughing and Crying as a U.S. Marine is Adam Walker's straight-from-the-deck plates collection of true stories from twenty-five years in the Corps, including three hard tours in Iraq.
Walker writes with affection for Marines as they are: young, stubborn, brilliant, flawed, and relentlessly human. Names have been changed, not the truth. The lessons in this book land with humor and honesty, making it a book you can hand to family, a young Marine, or anyone who wants to understand what camaraderie costs-and what it gives back.
If you've ever wondered how fear turns into humor, and how leadership turns into responsibility that follows you home for years, this book is your invitation to learn what it means to be a Marine".
- John A. Dailey USMC (Ret.) - Author of Tough Rugged Bastards
"Laughing and Crying as a U.S. Marine is a masterpiece. I could vividly see and hear the stories as if I were there myself. The book evokes a powerful range of emotions, including laughter, suspense, and sadness. This book successfully captured so many different sides of the Marine Corps, from the reality of all-day working parties to the gravity of being wounded and the loss of fellow Marines. This is a must-read, especially for anyone aspiring to join the ranks or for folks trying to understand the culture of the warrior."
- Ryan Rogers USMC (Ret.) - Author of Lions of Marjah
"Laughing and Crying as a U.S. Marine is a one-of-a-kind look into the Marine Corps-where misery and hilarity share the same fighting hole. From the terror of combat and bitterness of loss to the unforgettable absurdity of day-to-day life in the Corps, this book captures the extremes that define those who choose the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Its vignettes weave together a story of brotherhood, sacrifice, loss-and the laughter that leavens it. Technology evolves. Battlefields change. Uniforms are redesigned. But the Marines remain the same. Place this book in the hands of a Marine from World War II, Korea, or Vietnam, and they would recognize themselves in its pages. Give it to Marines fifty years from now, and they will too...and it has a special flavor for those of us who were fortunate enough to serve with the author."
-Justin Carroll, Former Sergeant, USMC - Author of Competent & Dangerous: Master the Skills to be a Man Among Men
"In Laughing & Crying as a U.S. Marine, Adam Walker captures something that every infantry Marine understands, but few can articulate: the strange and inseparable bond between hardship and humor. These stories are not polished war memoirs or self-congratulatory recollections. They are honest, gritty, and often hilarious accounts of leadership, brotherhood, loss, and the absurdity that so often accompanies life in the Corps."
-LtCol Thomas Schueman, USMC, best-selling author of Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter
