In 1968, anton myrer, a marine corps veteran of wwii in the pacific, wrote an epic war novel, once an eagle, which became an instant best seller in the military. I made my lieutenants read and discuss the book, named my tank sad sam after damon my xos tank was the wolverine after ben krisler. Eagle run into each other, a kind of epwithinanalbum united by mood and subject matter. Buy once an eagle by anton myrer online at alibris.
The damage once an eagle has done to my army and yes, it. Once an eagle by anton myrer is a very influential novel in the military. Myrer wrote his novel to warn against ambition without principle and the militaryindustrial complex. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Going forward, any book or movie about war will be will compared to this book. Once an eagle is a war novel written in 1968 by american author anton myrer. Twice as long as myrers big war, its a seemingly interminable bivouac from world war i through world war ii and after. Once an eagle, by anton myrer, has worked its way over a generation into the mindset and lexicon of the american military, flourishing as a cult classic even as it withered out of print and vanished from most bookstores. They are meant to help marines develop their personal and professional character. Damon is an honorable soldier who rises in rank by success in field command. Once an eagle leadership assessment essay 2329 words. Army war college the rights to her recently deceased husbands book, once an eagle. Sam damon and courtney massengale are the vehicles for this warning. The novel tells the story of sam damon, career army officer, from his initial enlistment to his rise to general officer rank.
Once an eagle is the story of one special man, a soldier named sam damon, and his adversary over a lifetime, fellow officer courtney massengale. Many army leaders have read the book and often discuss it among. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Sam damon, who i agree was wellplayed by sam elliot in the tv version, is the kind of leader that this nation needs. Once an eagle has long been that rarest of tomes and tome it is, weighing in at a healthy 900plus pages, a book celebrated by the new york. Once an eagle book 21 of 52 books of titans reading list. Henry shelton, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, says it is the only book he has ever read twice. The commandants reading list is a list of books that marines are recommended and often required to read. It follows the story of sam damon, an officer in the army, from his initial enlistment to his rise to general officer rank. Once an eagle rebecca lambert assessment in order to assess the character of samuel damon from once and eagle from a military point of view this paper will follow a rough format of the leadership assessment report blue card used to assess army rotc cadets. Once an eagle has long been that rarest of tomes and tome it is, weighing in at a healthy 900plus pages, a book celebrated by the new york times bestseller list and the military alike, but the internet tends not to have much appreciation for historical relevance. Once an eagle is a 1968 war novel by american author anton myrer. The final book finds sam damon once again in southeast asia, this time as an adviser to a potential conflict in khotiane, an. I needed to know as a military mother things my son would never discuss with me.
Once an eagle is conceivably only for old hawks and the bookofthemonth club. Once an eagle is one of those books that i wont be able to forget. In this episode, jason staples and erik rostad discuss book 21 of the 2017 books of titans reading list once an eagle by anton myrer. Commandants reading list a complete list usmc officer. Damon is a professional who puts duty, honor, and the men he commands above self interest. Once an eagle is the story of one special man, a soldier named sam d.
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