One Bullet Away Sparknotes

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The Making of a Marine Corps Officer One Bullet Away is a military memoir written by and about Nathaniel Fick’s terrifying journey through blood, sweat and tears in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before he joined the Marine Corps, he was at Dartmouth University doubting his life decisions. He didn’t understand how his friends were signing six-figure contracts, going off to more schooling, and doing more reading and studying instead of living. Knowing that more college didn’t appeal to him, he wanted to go on an adventure to prove himself and serve his country. There was no better place to do that than the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, so he signed up and was shipped to Quantico Virginia. Climbing off a white school bus at a Marine Corps base …show more content…

Quickly after receiving the message, the fleet heads straight to the coast of Afghanistan to begin bombing missions. During his time in Afghanistan, Fick plays a role in two separate missions. First, he leads his platoon by air into enemy territory to defend an area while a cargo helicopter retrieves a crashed Black Hawk. Second, Fick spends scorching hot days and frigid nights defending an airfield and the surrounding area in Jacobabad for a course of around 3 months. On Christmas morning, Fick’s platoon packs up gear and heads back to the USS Dubuque to be shipped back home. While on the two week trip back home, Fick is approached by Eric Dill, The Marine First Recon Commander, and is asked to join the prestigious group. Recon is a highly trained, specialized small group of individuals ready to accomplish anything that is thrown at …show more content…

He saw things that most people wouldn't see or comprehend, and things that would keep him up at night. For his service and bravery in Iraq, he was promoted to the rank of a Captain. After being a platoon commander in Afghanistan and Iraq, he was ready to retire from the military and start his life at home. Everytime Fick looks back on his experiences, he sees that he brought all of his men home safely, gave everything he had for them, and together they all passed the test of combat. He isn’t regretful, scared or upset for what he did and saw, instead he is a proud United States Marine that served his country

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