My Son - by Mark Nielsen (Paperback)

About the Book

"Lance Corporal Scott Nielsen was deployed to Afghanistan as a US Marine machine gunner from April to November of 2010; his father, Mark began keeping a journal to record his thoughts, the news, and the day to day happenings in his life during his son's seven month absence. [This journal] gives us a glimpse into the life of a Marine who is fighting for our nation's freedom in a far-off land, and it offers insight into the lives of the families who hold down the fort while waiting for their loved ones to come home"--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

A Chicago Firefighter's first born son joins the Marine Corps just out of High School. He decides to go "all in" and becomes a machine gunner with the Thundering Third infantry battalion of the 1st Marine Division. The United States is currently involved in two wars. With his chosen military profession, the new grunt is destine to be involved in heavy combat somewhere in the world. At the age of twenty, the young Lance Corporal deploys to the hostile and distant land of Afghanistan. The United States military death toll is at a record high since the inception of "Operation Enduring Freedom". While his son patrols the town of Garmsir in the Helmand Province and fights on the border of Pakistan, Dad writes down his thoughts. This book documents a father's daily concerns and worries during his son's 6 1/2 month (felt like 6 1/2 years) tour of duty on the other side of the globe.