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John was born in a small town in Texas in 1943. He joined the United States Marines Corps at age seventeen. After serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, he left the Marines in 1969.
A Night Drive is based on a large, spontaneous operation in the Que Son Valley in 1967. In that battle John was wounded on September 6, 1967, and med-evaced. He voluntarily returned to Vietnam in late 1968, and was involved in the combined action program until he rotated in late 1969. In October of that year he decided to leave the Marines and pursue another career. After Action Report: At 10AM, January 29, 2010, in Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery near Athens, Texas, former Marine Lt. John Brackeen, commander of 2nd Platoon Bravo 1/5 in the Que Son Valley from May, 1967 to September, 1967, was laid to rest in the red sands of East Texas, the land he so loved with Miliatary Honors. Through the gentle falling rain, an American Flag, which he had fought for so bravely inVietnam, was folded and presented to John's wife, Gwen Brackeen. This was followed by the soft commands given to the Marine Corps Honor Guard resulting in a twenty-one gun salute and then, Taps could be heard across the cemetery and fields surrounding the burial site. Semper Fi "Another Brother Marine is guarding Heaven's Gate".
A NIGHT DRIVE
An officer finds his career in disarray after taking casualties on a company-sized operation. He is relieved of duty, but an attack in force from a large Vietnamese unit compels his battalion commander to reinstate him. He moves from disgrace into the terror of hard combat within hours. He emerges from the battle confused and reflective about his role and future in the military after witnessing the tactical and political struggles of the officers commanding him in the field.
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