This is Jocko Podcast Number 435 with Echo Charles and me Jocko Willink.

Good evening, Echo.

The night we moved off the beach inland somewhere around Henderson Field.

We were to beef up the small perimeter which had been held by the other two regiments.

Our friends at the beach told us to expect to see some activity after dark as they had just told us about the way the enemy harassed them at night.

Just as we were starting across an open clearing near Henderson Field,

Washing Machine Charlie, the Japanese observation and spotter plane we had been told about

dropped his greenish white but very illuminating parachute flares right over us lighting up

the entire area like daylight

Naturally we hit the deck immediately and not a soul moved.

A moment later, the booming from a Seelark channel came, the horrifying red, hot naval gunfire, ripping up trees and causing the earth to move under you

as each big round came crashing ashore.

This was our baptism.

And that right there is an excerpt from a book called a marine named Mitch

Written by Mitchell Page who served as an enlisted marine, was eventually commissioned, and he was born

in Charlie Roy, Pennsylvania,

August 31st, 1918.

His parents were Serbian.

They had immigrated to America from overseas and he was the youngest of three older sister older brother

Spend his teenage years in the great depression doesn't talk about that too much in the book give some kind of basic background

But as he growing up he sees some it's interesting he see some some violence and whatnot

But it turns out that the military looks like a pretty good option and we're going to get into it get into his life and you're going to hear some stories that you won't forget.

...