Letters From A Warrior

 

 

LETTERS FROM A WARRIOR

P.S. MOM, I LOVE YOU

Dale E. Dallman

GENRE:  Non-fiction Military History

 

"Letters From A Warrior, P.S. Mom, I Love You" is a captivating true story full of adventure and self-discovery. It is portrayed with a relentless wit that offers an intimate glimpse into the world of the US Marine Corps Boot Camp in 1960. This is all done through the eyes of a young man who trades his small-town roots in Minot, North Dakota for the thrilling and challenging life of a Marine.

Through a series of unapologetically honest and unintentionally humorous letters to his mother, the author shares his unvarnished experiences as a naive 18-year-old navigating the tribulations of boot camp. With the specter of his seemingly menacing drill instructors looming large, this young man's quest for a life beyond his hometown quickly becomes a rollercoaster of exhilaration, fear, and personal growth.

Witness the author's transformation from a small-town boy to a dedicated warrior as he overcomes adversity and learns invaluable lessons about courage, resilience, and the true meaning of strength. From his first day at the MCRD to his thrilling new beginning in Hawaii, this unforgettable memoir stands as a testament to the power of determination and the indomitable spirit of youth.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't ever send me anything but mail. DO NOT SEND FRUIT, CANDY, NUTS, POPCORN, or anything other than paper! Only paper letters. Don't even put perfume on the letters. PLEASE. Tell anyone who knows me not to send anything. Tell Peggy not to bake me anything, PLEASE! 

Vacky and a guy from Chicago got packages today at mail call. Vacky got a big box of fudge from his girl, and the guy from Chicago got popcorn balls. The D.I. made each go into the Quonset and get his galvanized bucket. He had them run to the head, fill the buckets with hot water and run back. He made them go three times because they kept spilling the water. He then took a box of salt and dumped half in each bucket. The street in front of our Quonsets is pretty long. 

The D.I. had a recruit stand at each end. One with the water bucket, the other holding the sweets. They had to run to the one with the sweets, eat as much as they could, run to the guy with the water and drink as fast as they could. They had to keep this up until all was gone. They started throwing up right away! It just got worse.

We start bayonet training pretty soon. The D.I. said each of us would try to stick him with our bayonet. He said if we missed, he was going to stick us. 

I think he is nuts!

One time I want to get out of here, the next time I wouldn't quit if I had to. I can't believe I am starting to like being in the Marines. We really are the best. 

We went to a parade and the Navy and Army were there. They march like a bunch of pansies. They have no pride.

LOVE, DALE

About the Author:

Dale E. Dallman, Senior was born on a hot dry day in Britton, South Dakota, just off the Sisseton Indian Reservation, east of Lake Tewaukon, because that was the closest hospital. His relatives all worked for the railroad and/or farmed near Fort Ransom, Cayuga, and Rutland, North Dakota. When his father got the chance to quit farming and transfer to the railroad they moved to Minot, North Dakota where Dale attended grade school at Sunnyside and graduated high school at Minot High.

After Dale and a few of his friends got themselves into trouble towards the end of their senior year, a nice judge “suggested” that he and several of his acquaintances join the United States Marine Corps. The formation of the “NODAK PLATOON” made the timeline fit. The Marines took him to San Diego, California, Hawaii, Asia, and back to San Francisco, California. He grew up fast in the Marines. One of his buddies stuck with him after they were discharged and the two followed each other off and on through life.

His first real job after the service was in Billings, Montana with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. as a road salesman.  This led to other road salesman positions with the American Greetings Company and the Bristol Myers Drug Company.  He ventured into real estate, casinos, auto sales, RV sales, which took him to Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. He became a deputy sheriff in California for a while, then traveled on to Washington, Arizona, Virginia, Germany, and Colorado, to name a few.

Today, Mr. Dallman lives in the South with his wife Cassandra Dallman, a professional photographer and singer out of Atlanta, Georgia.  He enjoys and continues to take great pride in his children and their offspring.  

This book is neither his first nor last written work so please check back to see upcoming books from Dale E. Dallman.

Q&A With the Author

 

Who is your favorite author and why? 

Strangely, I love Louis L'Amour.  I have read so many of his books.  I have seen the many movies inspired by him.  He was writing as a good ol' boy.  No pretense, but could hook you on small things! I grew up in Montana, Wyoming/ Dakotas so I could relate to his style and the prop's he mentioned!

What is something unique/quirky about you? 

Something unique and Quirky--WOW!  Well, I don't fit the mold!  I don't think in the politically correct world!  What you see, is what you get from me!  I have a unintentional sense of humor!  I'm not polished!  

Why did I decide to write book

Then, 2011 gave me a wakeup call!  A flood hit Minot, North Dakota.  It wiped out the family home which I had bought.  Swept it right down river! I went into the vacant lot when it dried out and low and behold, fourteen feet up in a tree was an old trunk.  In that trunk were the letters from the 1960's, Marine Corps Bootcamp!  I immediately made plans to write a book but gave up.  

I was at a V.A. shrink who was treating me for PTSD.  She told me to get back to writing.  I tried, but again just couldn't get over the hump!

A buddy who was in the Marines with me was dying.  He called and wanted to talk to me before he died.  I immediately went to his side and we talked until he took his last breath.   We spent three days going over our life in the Marines!  The highs and lows. 

He recounted how another buddy that was in a helicopter crash with me, had contacted him when he was dying.  I found out then, that the second buddy had also been in treatment with the VA shrinks. I didn't realize that what we had been through had affected all our lives!!  I thought I was just an alcoholic.  I thought all three of us were ok, just wild and untamed!  So the last things he said was, "Dallman, finish that damn book, because I'm in it."   He added a very life changing statement when he said, "I won't be able to read it. I will be dead, but I want you to tell our children and grand kids!" 

I went back home and made myself a promise.  I convinced myself I needed to change!!  I threw away the Cognac bottle, changed my diet, prayed to God for help and re-read the faded letters from the 1960's!  Everything suddenly fit as I recounted the stories, he and I told each other. It took two buddies dying to make me get the courage to write that book!  

THEN-my wife, who is a professional photographer and singer was recording a song in Las Vegas.  I went along and the people she was using for the recording asked me what I wanted out of life.  I told them I had lived a long time and accomplished a lot, but never could finish writing a book!  

Well, they immediately hooked me up with Traci Wooden, a great publisher, and with her guidance and my wife's prodding, I finished.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

I belong to several Marine Corps sites!  For the last decade I posted the series of letters used for this book on those sites every year! The response was enormous!  Every year, the brotherhood would relate!  Now, as I wrote this book, I used a lot of Marine Corps lingo (none that you want to print here) on these sites as I moved through the chapters to entice, provoke, antagonize my brother and sister Marines as I teased them with tidbits!! You must understand.  The Marine Corps is a brand you wear forever!  Once you are granted the privilege of wearing the EAGLE, GLOBE and ANCHOR, it is yours for life! So, the ribbing and threats we flung at each other was the highlight of the writing process!!

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

Well, I have submitted two others to TAWC Publishing.  the one titled "THE FEMALE CAR BUYING ANIMAL" is a book showing the women of the world how to get the car dealers on the ropes!  It details the tricks they pull and the right answers to foil the games they play!  You will laugh, cry, say "WHAT", but in the end, it will guide you.  The rules aren't just for the car business!  Women have been taken lightly.  This helps level the playing field in EVERYTHING you buy!

The other one, "THE WHITE BUFFALO" is a story about a white buffalo calf born in the 1800's by Coulson, Montana Territory.  It follows the sire, the white calf, the mother.  It follows the next generations right up the present as the buffalo in Yellowstone Park are slaughtered to pacify the ranchers!  It started when my daughter and her little friend were running their dogs, north of Billings, Montana.  The rains had washed a gully about eight foot deep.  One of the dogs found a Buffalo skull that came exposed.  I dug it up, took it to the Game & Fish.  They measured it and it was one of the largest found!  I purposely use a BUNCH of Montana towns as the names of the characters in the book.

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I guess I would say, DON’T go for the low hanging fruit!  Strive to reach the ones that seems impossible to get!  I'm no mastermind.  I grew up poor but proud! My parents, three brothers, and a grandma, all in a one-bedroom house! We never went hungry.  We always had clothes!  Maybe not new, but well kept.  There was no welfare, food stamps, school lunches.  I didn't have the chance at a good education, but I choose wisely when I joined the US Marine Corps!  They made me an Alpha male.  They taught me to IMPROVISE, ADAPT, OVERCOME!  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE if you have patience, honor, pride in yourself!  I want to personally ask any of the readers out there!  You all got a book in you!  Don't be afraid of failure!  It took me 50 some years to get one published!

I have dedicated -LETTERS FROM A WARRIOR P.S. Mom, I love you- to every MOM out there that got a flag back instead of their son or daughter!

He can be found at 

https://www.dallmanproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Grizzlytrack

https://www.instagram.com/dallmanproductions/

GIVEAWAY 

Dale E. Dallman will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Please visit the other tour participants for more opportunities to win.

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