Once an Eagle

http://www.once-an-eagle.com/author.html ^ | 1968 | Anton Myrer

[occamrzr06]

Once An Eagle, a novel by Anton Myrer, was published in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War. Nearly forty years later, this classic novel of soldiers and soldiering remains in print, having sold well over three million copies. It remains a fixture on the Marine Corps Commandant’s Reading List, as well as other military professional reading lists. The novel also spawned, in 1976, an outstanding nine-hour television miniseries of the same name, starring Sam Elliot, Glen Ford, and Darlene Carr.

Once An Eagle is the epic tale of good versus evil. The good is embodied in protagonist Sam Damon, a soldier’s soldier and a consummate professional, noted for his bravery under fire and his dedication to the men who serve under him. Damon’s chief adversary, Courtney Massengale, is evil personified. His dedication is to the advancement of his career, without regard to the devastation it wreaks on his family and the blood shed by those affected by his command decisions.

Once An Eagle is also a remarkable study in leadership. It has become a touchstone for military professionals who aspire to emulate Sam Damon.

This New York Times #1 bestseller, published in nineteen languages, is the sweeping story of America’s fighting men serving in World War I, the peacetime army between the world wars, World War II, and the Khotiane (a fictional Vietnam) War.

A Marine combat veteran himself, Myrer’s battle action scenes rank with the very best. His novel has been compared to Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage and Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front.

[occamrzr06]

The definitive leadership novel!

Comments?

[Tainan]

bkmrk for later commentary observation.

[Daaave]

A good read but long. I can't remember much of Once An Eagle, except for this:

So, in the Libyan fable it is told That once an eagle, stricken with a dart, Said, when he saw the fashion of the shaft, "With our own feathers, not by others' hand Are we now smitten."

I thought Sam Elliot was excellent in the mini series. I looked out for his next work.

[StonyBurk]

Reminds me of Lincoln and his address to the Young Mens Lyceum and how we were destined to live through all time a nation of freemen,or die by suicide.”

[Daaave]

I’ve read most of this speech a few times. The paragraph with the the quote you mention and the paragraph before it, are my favorite parts.