One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer - Nathaniel C. Fick

One Hell of a Book!

Most of us believe that we make reason-based decisions, and, most of us do much of the time. "One Bullet Away" is a masterful book, not only because it explores, as it does, Nate Fick's decision to go from a classics-major Dartmouth graduate into the most rigorous unit of the Marine Corps, but also because Fick explores decision-making under great stress when those decisions can be the proverbial difference between life and death. All-too-often, though, the decisions Fick and his colleagues in the field of fire are cabined by career-focused strategies of those higher in the chain of command.

"One Bullet Away" is a must-read, not only for those in our civilian society curious about the men and women who help preserve our freedoms, but also for our policy makers, both civilian and military. Sadly, many of our civilian leaders forget or ignore the precious lives they destroy in carrying out policies that are the fruit of flawed decision-making or just plain callous disregard. And this is true despite all the sanctimonious genuflections to "service and sacrifice" for the children and siblings of others (why is it that the children of President George W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld, and the like, cannot also serve at States-side veterans hospitals, helping to repair the wounded whom their fathers put into harm's way?).

In a very real sense, Fick's book is but a replication on a smaller scale of H.L. McMaster's superb "Dereliction of Duty," the story of how, with the complicity of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara lied to the American people and to the Congress about our entry into and senseless escalation of the Vietnamese war. Fick's tale is more personal and thus more powerful; it is a story he tells with great sensitivity and insight.

Although starting out as a true believer in the impressed "wisdom" of the chain-of-command, Fick's faith gradually dissipates. He writes half-way through the book how seeing the misuse of the selfless devotion of the incredibly courageous Marines under his immediate command planted "the kernel of a growing unwillingness to watch those Marines mistreated or wrongly employed by those with more power than experience" or ability. It is why, in the end, by-then Captain Fick eschewed further climbs up the military hierarchy.

"One Bullet Away" is a gripping revelation of faith accepted and lost. Those in government who send him and those like him into the jaws and fire of death should read the book well, and again. Perhaps then they will at least think before they sacrifice the lives of others on ill-thought-out missions expended for dubious policies.

What Future Presidents Are Made Of

Mr Fick has the Character, Courage, and Integrity this country needs now, to shape the future for the next generation.

"A terminal LtCol in the US Marine Corps"

The reality of war

'One Bullet Away' by Nathaniel Fick

Nathaniel Fick's literary debut does not disappoint. The author's engaging narrative recounts his decision to join the US Marine Corps in 1998, through Officer Candidate School, Recon Training and eventually tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.

'One Bullet Away' is a solid boots on the ground portrait which reveals the good, the bad and insane of war: from incompetent commanders to maddening postwar planning tactics to unparalleled bravery displayed daily by the grunts to the soul wrenching effects of battle. Fick's idealism is challenged by the realities of battle, however, his solid decision making and focus on keeping his Marines alive and safe while still accomplishing his missions makes for an interesting study.

Anyone looking for an excellent war memoir from someone who was in the "bang bang" or wants to get a better feel for what makes a US Marine should definitely pick up this book. Moreover, this book clearly illustrates the importance of smart decision making and being disciplined enough to always consider the consequences of ones actions. It's a smart and informative read that is as captivating as it is poignant. Mr. Fick, along with many other brave military men and women, has a fairly amazing story to tell and told it well.

Outstanding read for warriors and civilians alike

In a time when many people already consider the war in Iraq pure hubris and stretching of muscles by a superpower gone mad, it is refreshing indeed to read true, honest stories from the men who fought the war.

The good intentions, the fears, the disappointments and triumphs all paint a picture that is very different from the cynical jeering presented to us from almost all media outlets.

While Nate Fick's "One Bullet Away" dedicates a lot of its 369 pages to events that occurred before the war and made Captain Fick the man he is today, the book really earns its keep during the section dedicated to Fick's combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The action is frenetic, the musings are deep and the humor is warm. A very well written book that is a pleasure to read and kept me powering through in three mammoth sittings. Deserves to be held up there with other legendary chronicles of a modern warrior's life.

For any possible purchasers, also consider Evan Wright's "Generation Kill" as a companion piece. Both books deal with the same unit, giving you two separate views on the same events and thus a better overall picture.

Outstanding piece of truth!

Amazingly written by "one of the few and the proud" to inform the readers of the honor, courage and commitment that it takes to be a leader of one of the finest fighting force on the planet.