Don't Bunch Up

February 1, 1993
Inspired by Battle Cry, Leon Uris's novel about WW II Marines, Van Zanten joined the Corps in 1957, made it through San Diego boot camp and the even tougher officers' school at Quantico, then saw action in 1965-1966 as an executive officer and company commander in Vietnam. His sojourn there was for the most part a positive and rewarding one, though he had some frustrating experiences, such as getting lost on patrol and dealing with an officer whose quest for medals threatened to endanger his men. Van Zanten's upbeat memoir mostly reflects how impressed he was by the decency, courage and unselfishness displayed by his fellow Marines. Readers will find no brutality here, no bitterness, no drugs, no fraggings or racial confrontations. The memoir is a modest, well-written account of the author's coming-to-manhood during the earlier phase of the Vietnam era (i.e., pre-Tet) when life was simple. Marines will enjoy the book; others may find it naive and sentimental.