Firsthand Account of Marines’ Unparalleled Dedication and Bravery

In “Frontline Brothers – Shattered Glory,” local author Rick Barnes has provided a firsthand account of one of the fiercest battles in the Vietnam War, describing in detail the dedication and bravery demonstrated by the Marines who were involved in that conflict.  

A resident of Isles of Capri and formerly a resident of Marco Island, Barnes spent his early years growing up in the Ozark Region of Missouri. His parents moved the family to Highland, Indiana in the early 1960s, where he attended high school and entered the Marine Corps. Barnes served in Vietnam and was involved in one of the war’s most brutal battles, in which his platoon lost more Marines in eight hours than in any other battle.

Officially, the conflict known as the Vietnam War took place from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. The North Vietnamese looked to reunify the nation after they defeated the French in 1954. They sought a single government, modeled after their communist allies, the Soviet Union and China. This was the polar opposite of their South Vietnamese counterparts, who looked to preserve a unified government that was more aligned to the West.

America’s involvement initially saw an infusion of military advisors to assist the South Vietnamese in their conflict with the Communist-backed North Vietnamese. Upon the election of President John F. Kennedy, the U.S. involvement steadily increased, beginning in 1961.

For many American military men and women, as well as their families, that conflict still lingers in their minds. Barnes’ book and the process of writing it has become as much a part of the healing process as were his almost-four months spent in military hospitals, struggling to overcome his serious injuries.

There have been numerous books written about the conflict by historians who never put a boot on the ground. However, “Frontline Brothers – Shattered Glory” is written by Barnes, a Marine who was one of only two survivors of one of the fiercest battles ever fought during the 20-year conflict.

“I’m writing this so others can understand the toll war takes on a solider psychologically as well as physically, no matter what the conflict they or their family members have been involved in,” said Barnes.

In “Frontline Brothers – Shattered Glory,” Barnes takes readers through his time in Vietnam, detailing the encounters that he and his “brothers” fought in, up until they entered the jungles of Que Son Valley in a battle for the Village of Vinh Huy.

For Barnes, who served 15 months with Fox Company Second Battalion Fifth Marines in Vietnam, writing about his experience served as a release. In addition, he felt a responsibility to the families of those he served with, to tell them the full story of their loved ones’ dedication to duty and unparalleled bravery. Many of these brave Marines never made it back home, and of those who did return, many bottled up their emotions in a dark corner of consciousness and never spoke of their time in Vietnam.

The book described in detail the battle that resulted in Captain James Graham calling for close air support by declaring “Broken Arrow” onto their position. “Bring the heat,” were his final words. Six seriously wounded Marines made a final stand against 200 heavily armed Vietnamese soldiers looking to overrun the position the brave American Marines had held for over seven hours. Only two of those Marines survived the last stand at the tree line, and this is their story.

Barnes’ chilling recollections of the bravery of the Marines in battle can be found in “Frontline Brothers – Shattered Glory,” available on Amazon for download (Kindle), and in hardcover and paperback formats.