This book is great story telling by Major Ralph Stoney Bates Sr., USMC (Ret), an accomplished and respected Marine, instructor on military and naval subjects at Furman University's Life-Long Learning Program (OLLI), and a previously published contributing author and editor of "Short Rations For Marines." It is, in a word-lively! It's not at all boring or dull reading; rather it brings history alive. It immediately sparks your interest, and paints a vivid word picture describing the Marine Corps in a manner that most people have never been so accustomed. The reader will simply want more, and will get it. It tells the story of who the Marines are and how they became what they are today. It explains in unique and simple detail why and how John Archer Lejeune (pronounced luh jern), became "A Marine Called Gabe," charted the course for the Marine Corps to follow into the future, and once that course was set, literally fashioned the Marine Corps that fought across the vast Pacific in World War II, and in every following war and skirmish-right up to today. This is the Marine Corps that often deploys on massive humanitarian and rescue missions on a world-wide scale. This is the Marine Corps that possess the will, character, and capability to project military and naval power anywhere, at any time, and always accomplishes its mission. This is a Marine Corps envisioned by its architect John Archer Lejeune. At the conclusion of the book, "A Marine Called Gabe," there will be no doubt that John Archer Lejeune is "the greatest leatherneck of them all." During his life, especially his developing life leading toward the Naval Academy and active duty time as a Marine, John Archer Lejeune developed abilities and traits that allowed him to redirect his Marine Corps into the proud, professional, proficient organization that would possess the skill, ability and the mettle to strike adversaries from the land, sea and air. It is very likely that, had John Archer Lejeune not arrived at the helm of the Marine Corps at that particular critical time in our history, the War in the Pacific would have had a totally different outcome and the Marines would be vastly different today-if in existence at all. This book is an eye-opener. Up until this time, only two books have been written about Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune, USMC (Ret): "Reminiscences of a Marine," by John Archer Lejeune, and "Lejeune: A Marine's Life," by Merrill L. Bartlett. Both excellent, informative, and factually oriented. This book is the third. It is a novel containing a myriad of facts, surrounded by studied opinions based on those facts, and (here's the good part) pure Marine Corps logic and conjecture. The author, Ralph Bates, a 26 year active duty Marine, along with his research assistant (wife) Lyn, have traveled to dozens of locations, interviewed dozens of people at each, read public and private documents, books, articles, letters and notes, to uncover a treasure trove of information about Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune and those who knew him. Without question, he indeed, quietly, steadily and without fanfare, guided the United States Marine Corps to be what it is today. This novel should find its way toward the Marine Corps Reading List for all Marines, and Fleet Marine Force sailors, plus historians, military historians and cadets at Virginia Military Institute and midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy to enhance their knowledge and appreciation of "the greatest leatherneck of them all," Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune, United States Marine Corps (Retired), "Mister Semper Fi."
About the Author: Ralph Stoney Bates Sr. is a 26 year veteran of the regular, active, United States Marine Corps, currently retired and, in addition to writing, teaches military and naval subjects at Furman University's Life Long Learning (OLLI) program. In addition to being a Marine, retired, he is a retired law enforcement officer. Ralph is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He served as a Marine Drill Instructor at Parris Island, was a military policeman, served in the infantry and aviation, as a criminal investigator, brig officer, a provost marshal, a deputy sheriff (in NY and FL), and has been a teacher and instructor (military and civil) of a variety of subjects for over 55 years. He held teaching positions at Los Angeles City College, University of Hawaii, Saint John Fisher College and the University of Maryland. He graduated in the 124th session of the FBI National Academy. He belongs to the FBI National Academy Associates, the Disabled American Veterans, The Marine Corps Association, The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and the Marine Corps League. He and his wife, Lyn, live in Taylors, South Carolina. They travel often (when not writing books-he has another one "cooking" in the oven) to interesting, sometimes exotic (sometimes not) and learning locations, to meet interesting and nice (sometimes not) people.