The Marine And The Flower Child

The Marine and the Flower Child By: Dale McInerney, with Michael (Mac) McInerney The story of a Marine overseas and his girl back home in New York. Their letters encompass a first handlook at the Vietnam War and the love forged during a year apart. MAC: “Everything I’ve ever done －whether it was a mistake or a great success － I’ll stand up to － all my letters are a part of me － I don’t care who sees them － you can print them in the NY Times if you want － and I’ll say yup － I sure did say that!” Dale: “Pretty soon there’ll be no room for clothes in the drawer where I keep your letters. Ruby said I should make them into a book. So I got a loose leaf folder and titled it ‘Letters from Mac - July 1968’. I’ll start another for August. The mailman was funny, handing me your letter today he said, “Why don’t you marry this guy, it would save an awful lot of postage.” MAC: “Today has been one of those long days － DaNang started to get hit － the VC are still rocketing and mortaring the city and surrounding installations. When I was on the flight deck, I could hear and see the explosions. Then we started to take medevacs aboard the ship hospital.” Dale: “As long as you are honest with me about what you’re doing in Nam, I’ll rest a lot easier. I believe there is basic reason at work in the universe, we met at that specific time, to make sure both of us knew that we had a reason for staying alive. We are going to stay together.” MAC: “I must have started six letters without getting past the second line. After a year apart I have nothing left to say － and everything to say. I know, for both of us － we’re tired of missing each other － tired of living in the past and the future － it takes the life right out of me － and having you involved in all of this － tears me apart. But loving you fills me with more happiness than I ever dreamed possible.”

Love Walk is ... the unlikely story of what happens when a Flower Child marries a Marine! In Book One, Love Song of a Flower Child, Mary chronicles her journey as a rebel from New York to Berkeley and then to Big Sur, California in a desperate search to find purpose and meaning. She has a dramatic encounter with God that forever changes the trajectory of her life and the lives of her children.

This is a riveting story of redemption, and a journey to discover truth, love, and purpose. The author has graphically documented her need for healing from the effects of drugs, the occult, and New Age philosophy. She lived in Berkeley during the chaos of social rebellion and drug-induced insanity as a college dropout and former wife of a drug dealer. She also gives us a glimpse of life in the coastal community of Big Sur, where she was miraculously saved in 1972, and which she calls the land of her second birth. When I met Mary and John in 2004 on the mission field, I knew this story needed to be told. The union of a flower child and a warrior in marriage is sure to bring the most dramatic stories. But the beauty of this book comes from the heart of God who continued to prepare, refine, and work by revealing Himself throughout their story. Youre going to love this one! Andy Braner, author, speaker, teen advocate, but most of all a curious observer, discovering Gods Beautiful universe

This is the true story, a memoir of S. Fenyoaée McKinney, PFC, “Private Flower Child,” a young black man from Chicago who, in 1970, is discovering his individuality. It’s subtitle is “Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer.” It is a time when the Vietnam War and civil rights marches are a regular feature of the nightly news. In an era when many young men are faced with the reality of war but are unaware of its consequences, PFC has become a protagonist of the "Age of Aquarius", the peace movement, hippies, iconoclasm, Jimi Hendrix, and the new age of rock. He is a young man who wants to be part of the "revolution.” The story line parallels the lives of two brothers, PFC and his elder brother, PRINCETON, who are both in the military during the Vietnam War. As he challenges the system, his brother embraces the war. Intermittently throughout the story, bold images of PRINCETON in combat in Vietnam are juxtaposed with the nonconformist capers of the pacifist PFC. PFC is an adventurer seeking to be free, questioning social norms. He rejects conformity, especially the military but finds himself drafted at a time when the Vietnam War is escalating. In stark contrast, his older brother, PRINCETON has voluntarily joined the U.S. Marines. He wants to serve his country by fighting in Vietnam and become one of the “few good men.” The tale of “Private Flower Child” begins at the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus headquarters in Venice, FL where he is rehearsing for the upcoming tour season. He receives a call from his mother instructing him to return home to Chicago or the military will arrest him as a draft dodger. On April 15, 1970 he is involuntarily inducted into the U.S. Army. The story follows him from his idealistic survival as a pacifist through the rigorous disciplines of military life. His army buddies call him PFC, "Private Flower Child" which was a vicarial substitute for the Army rank, Private First Class. The story recounts PFC’s adventures with friends and enemies in the military world. Each anecdote chronicles a chapter in his army experience from boot camp to his honorable discharge. During basic training, he pan–handles at Chicago's O'Hare Airport and parties with friends at “Love In” gatherings at Grant Park. The antics continue when PFC paints his combat boots "red, white, and blue". His song, “I Got The Army Blues, Baby" and its defiant lyrics performed at his battalion’s talent show, add to his many military infractions resulting in an Article 15 reprimand. In addition, this autobiographical insight reveals PFC's escapades during his assignment in Germany where he becomes the personal stenographer for Brigadier General George Patton, IV who will determine his fate when he is convicted for the possession of .06 grams of hashish. He became a member of a blues-rock band, The Last Transaction, with two German civilians and an Army buddy. He continues with frequent AWOL "holidays" in Switzerland and Austria. He buys a 1961 Porsche, names it “Smack,” then paints the Superman “S” logo on the hood. At last, he returns home to Chicago and enrolls into college. After completing two tours of duty in Vietnam his brother also returns home. Days later his brother dies. Later he finds that after a car accident, his girlfriend’s mother, a recovering addict, gave him methadone to relieve the head pain incurred from the accident. The coroner attributes his death with the drug and alcohol he had taken earlier. Motivated by the loss of his brother, PFC establishes a career as The Fabulous FENO, “the world’s only talking mime.” He creates the “What Is Cool”, a program that encourages youths to say no to drugs and alcohol and yes to education and to a healthy, positive lifestyle. He appears on numerous TV shows and performs at schools all across the US. The result of his work is exemplified by the positive outcome on the many lives he has inspired to this day.

The history and lore of the United States Marine Corps are likely unmatched. Steeped in the rich history and tradition of the Corps since its founding in 1775, this book focuses on more recent history, specifically the author’s experiences as a young Marine in the 1960s, including his tour of duty in Vietnam. It also includes biographical profiles of more than 100 other Marines who fought in Vietnam or other conflicts. Most of those profiled are Marines with whom the author served or has come to know since his active military service. The 30th Marine Commandant, General Carl Mundy, has written: “Few who have borne the title [United States Marine] fail to identify with it throughout their entire lives.” Marines are, as Shakespeare has written, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” And brothers are members of a family. This family is “The few. The proud. The Marines.”

Is he brave enough… To start over? Retired marine Gideon Holder knows he and his baby girl need a fresh start. The job at the charming sister-owned Ballad Inn is beyond his expectations—as is widowed nurse Margo Ballad. They both know what it is to lose someone…and how it feels to still hope for love. But finding that spark is one thing. Finding the courage to take the leap is quite another. USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging. A Ballad Inn Romance Book 1: A Home for the Doctor Book 2: A Home for the Marine Book 3: A Home for Thanksgiving