Radioman: Twenty-Five Years in the Marine Corps

Book excerpt: A U.S. Marine Corps veteran gives a personal account of his twenty-five years of service in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in this memoir. From a Gulf War grunt to a full-fledged Marine Major in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Andrew Hesterman saw it all. Radioman offers a highly personal and unfiltered view of the Marine Corps as it transitioned from the post-Vietnam analog Reagan era to the post-9/11 high-tech George W. Bush and Obama years. Radioman begins with Andy as a recruit at boot camp and the ensuing training that leads to formally becoming a Marine. After comm school and the reserves, Andy is called to active duty in 1991 for the Gulf War, where he experiences combat up close in Kuwait. The next personally, professionally, and politically tumultuous decade brings marriage (and divorce), flight school and helicopter missions in Kosovo, the shock of 9/11, another marriage, and children. Andy’s journey culminates as an officer in Iraq, where he directs air support for the Marines in Fallujah. Co-authored by Robert Einaudi, a close friend of Hesterman’s since high school, Radioman provides an honest and vivid military portrait of the Marine Corps and the modern U.S. military seen through the experiences of one Marine. Praise for Radioman “Both gripping and honest, Radioman is also told with a humor and humility that makes for an extremely pleasurable read.” —Scott Anderson, New York Times–bestselling author of The Quiet Americans “Radioman tells a universal story—about war, family, and growing up. Andy Hesterman’s 25 years in the Marines span a huge range of world events and personal experiences. I found myself laughing, rooting for him, and shaking my head at the insanity of it all. A great book!”—Nathaniel Fick, New York Times–bestselling author of One Bullet Away “From a recruit surviving boot camp to a Major flying combat helicopters and controlling F/A-18s in Iraq, Andy Hesterman shares the pride of the Corps and the pain of saying goodbye to your family for yet another deployment. With Radioman, you’ll feel like you’ve put on the Marine cammies and marched alongside Hesty for over two decades of service to our country.” —Dell Epperson, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)