Bill Paxton knew he wanted to be a marine the day his family buried his dad, a marine who had been killed while fighting the Japanese during the Pacific campaign of World War II. His drill instructor in boot camp had a significant impact on him and would later be the focus of the movie "The DI." His early years in the marines formed the basis for his successful career; he twice served as a drill instructor and had two tours of duty in Vietnam as a grunt. His impact on all who he came in contact with was evident in the drive that pushed Ken Norton, his former recruit, to become the Boxing Heavyweight Champion of the World. Paxton received the Bronze Star for heroic actions in Vietnam and was also awarded several Purple Heart Medals for wounds he received in battle. Having achieved the rank of sergeant major, he retired from active duty after thirty years; still, he proudly says, "Retired, but still active " He has become an icon in the marines and is one of the most well-known marines in the San Diego area.

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, there were two ways of becoming a Marine-being drafted and choosing to join. Author Gregg Stoner, a baby boomer in disagreement with the war, joined the Marine Corps as a protest against the draft and with a strong desire to avoid fighting in Vietnam. Stoner's first enlistment began just after the Tet Offensive and was during a time when most Marines were sent to combat. But he was the only soldier from his platoon of eighty-five to remain stateside. The Yellow Footprints to Hell and Back details Stoner's life in the military-from a private in boot camp to working as a sergeant drill master. Beginning with the first grueling experiences as a new recruit to the immense pride at graduation, Stoner shares his inner thoughts at what it took to become a Marine. He had joined the Marines to avoid fighting overseas, but he gained much more than he had imagined. Filled with abundant anecdotes, this personal memoir relays the interesting and, at times unbelievable, stories of the Marine Corps. It conveys the feelings and attitudes that dominated this special time in American history.

Bill Paxton knew he wanted to be a marine the day his family buried his dad, a marine who had been killed while fighting the Japanese during the Pacific campaign of World War II. His drill instructor in boot camp had a significant impact on him and would later be the focus of the movie "The DI." His early years in the marines formed the basis for his successful career; he twice served as a drill instructor and had two tours of duty in Vietnam as a grunt. His impact on all who he came in contact with was evident in the drive that pushed Ken Norton, his former recruit, to become the Boxing Heavyweight Champion of the World. Paxton received the Bronze Star for heroic actions in Vietnam and was also awarded several Purple Heart Medals for wounds he received in battle. Having achieved the rank of sergeant major, he retired from active duty after thirty years; still, he proudly says, "Retired, but still active " He has become an icon in the marines and is one of the most well-known marines in the San Diego area.

Marines and Navy Corpsmen tell their unique stories about their experiences during their careers. Many of their careers were brought short by debilitating wounds incurred during battles or the results of land-mines and booby-traps left by enemy soldiers. Some have received multiple Purple Heart Medals for being injured multiple times-often returning to combat after healing only to be wounded again. Some of their stories are about daily life in the Marines or Navy-the unique humorous little things that make life interesting to men who, at any moment, could be called to action to some hot-zone somewhere in the world.

The men and women whose stories appear in the this book mostly came from their posts in the web site From the Halls of Montezuma which was designed to be a meeting grounds for Marines and Navy Corpsmen, most of whom served in the Vietnam Era. Their stories reflect their feelings about what they did and how it has impacted them throughout their lives. They range from sad to happy, serious to humorous. Some wrote poetry to reflect their feelings. All wrote from their hearts.

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, there were two ways of becoming a Marine-being drafted and choosing to join. Author Gregg Stoner, a baby boomer in disagreement with the war, joined the Marine Corps as a protest against the draft and with a strong desire to avoid fighting in Vietnam. Stoner's first enlistment began just after the Tet Offensive and was during a time when most Marines were sent to combat. But he was the only soldier from his platoon of eighty-five to remain stateside. The Yellow Footprints to Hell and Back details Stoner's life in the military-from a private in boot camp to working as a sergeant drill master. Beginning with the first grueling experiences as a new recruit to the immense pride at graduation, Stoner shares his inner thoughts at what it took to become a Marine. He had joined the Marines to avoid fighting overseas, but he gained much more than he had imagined. Filled with abundant anecdotes, this personal memoir relays the interesting and, at times unbelievable, stories of the Marine Corps. It conveys the feelings and attitudes that dominated this special time in American history.