Tom Clancy Biography

1453 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Wars effect on literature

The American spirit is one that has burnt bright since the beginning of the United States’ upbringing. We have seen it throughout history often like in the wars that our country has fought, both on our land and foreign land. Many people have written about this patriotic spirit. Tom Clancy is a patriotic writer who wrote many novels and nonfiction works. Clancy’s militaristic interests, the 1980s era, and his works have influenced many.
Clancy grew up with interests and intentions surrounding the military. He was born Thomas Leo Clancy, Jr. (“Tom” Web) on April 12, 1947 (Lansford 381) in Baltimore, Maryland (Byers 70). His parents both had occupations; his father was a mail carrier and his mother was a credit manager. Growing up, Clancy had a love for reading as he often read (“Tom” Web). He enjoyed reading science fiction and military related books (Lansford 382).
Clancy’s education was based upon the family’s beliefs as they were Catholic, and they made sure he was raised in Jesuit institutions. He was first educated at Loyola Blakefield in Townson, Maryland (“Tom” Web). He then graduated from Loyola High School, Townson, Maryland, in 1965 (Lansford 382). Clancy then went on to study English at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland (Rooney 98). He excelled and participated in chess club and debate while at Loyola College (“Tom” Web), and in 1969, Clancy graduated from Loyola College (Byers 70).
Clancy had always expressed interest in the military as he always had liked books on the military and contraptions/technology. While at Loyola College, he joined the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or the ROTC. However, due to his nearsightedness, Clancy was not allowed to serve (Rooney 98) and had no future in ...

... middle of paper ...

...es Marko is defecting, but his idea is rejected by military officials. Jack is then sent to stop Ramius while Ramius is trying to avoid both the United States and the Soviet Union (Lansford 392). In Clancy’s works, I feel that the 1980s is, in perspective, reflected and that the politics and conservatism of the time had a great impact on Clancy. The rest of the 1980s, however, did not attributed any significant impact to his writings.
Patriotism and the American spirit rings true to this day in the hearts of United States citizens. The notion of freedom and liberty will always be a part of this, and both of these ideals are two that will continue to be fought for with this patriotic spirit. A very patriotic writer himself, Tom Clancy has written many novels and other works. Clancy’s militaristic interests, the 1980s era, and his works have influenced many.

Show More
Related

  • American Patriots Sparknotes

    1813 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Revolutions do not sustain themselves through ideas alone” (Breen 17). American Insurgents, American Patriots is a scholarly novel that researches and tells about the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War from a different viewpoint then normal works on the revolution. It was written by T.H. Breen and published in 2010 by Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, who have been awarded twenty-one nobel prizes in literature. Hill and Wang focus on historical nonfiction works for the educated reader (Macmillan). The book may appear to be novel like, however, it is a scholarly work and has been reviewed by multiple professors of history at respected universities. Aside from

    Read More

  • Analysis of Philip Caputo's A Rumor of War

    1888 Words  | 4 Pages

    Giving way to the parties and the fun associated with college kids, Caputo failed out of college and realized what he really wanted to be was a Marine. He joined the Marines and went through a lot of officer training until he eventually reached what would be known as his final rank of Lieutenant. Introduced to the Vietnam War in 1965 as a Platoon leader, Caputo walked into the war a little scared but with a lot of determination. Caputo started the war with a lot of field work including jungle expeditions and shooting escapades, and eventually was sent to keep track of the everyday deaths occurring during the war and all the paperwork associated with such a job. Later he was put back in charge of a platoon which eventually lead to his downfall following an unethical order he gave his men that resulted in the killing of a couple Vietnamese pedestrians believed to be part of the Viet Cong.

    Read More

  • Stephen Ambrose's To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    Living from 1936 to 2002, Ambrose published many great historical works. Perhaps his greatest work was finished months before he passed away, as he finished writing one of his last books, To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian. This book was his final goodbye to the country he so dearly loved. The topics he covers in this book range from the beginning of the Founding Fathers to World War Two to the turn of the millennium. Throughout his life, he was always fascinated with militaries and war. This book reflects his perspective on matters regarding the history of America and one message he portrays was his fascination with war, the military, and the men who lead or served in battle, such as Dwight Eisenhower. This also exposes Ambrose’s great patriotism for his country. He portrays his messages by using many descriptive adjectives and an upbeat style of speech as well writing about achievements he has done throughout his life, for instance launching a museum in commemoration for World War Two veterans. Ambrose was also very influenced by historical and biographical factors such as his Father, the period in which he grew up in, and of American figures.

    Read More

  • The Guilt They Carried in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried

    1414 Words  | 3 Pages

    Take Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, for example. Although he had no desire to be in Vietnam, not to mention be leading troops there, it is evident that he is selfless in the pursuit of the war, and genuinely concerned about the welfare of his men. Unfortunately, he is blinded by guilt to these qualities.

    Read More

  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Book Report

    1436 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas L. Clancy, Jr. was born on the 12th of April 1947, he is married

    Read More

  • The tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    In McNamara's first chapter he discusses his journey into the Washington spot light and the three events that shaped his life. The first even that shaped his life was The Great Depression, at the time; fully 25% of male adults of this country were unemployed and McNamara's drive for scholastics excellence derived from the fact that neither his mother, nor father attended college. The second and third events that ultimately shaped McNamara's life was attending the University of California at Berkeley and meeting his wife, Margaret. From Berkeley to Harvard McNamara contours his path into politics. From living in a cramped one bedroom apartment with wife Marg, to being known as apart of the "Whiz Kids" McNamara eventually lands himself the secretary of defense for President Kennedy and created a bond between the two men that will last forever.

    Read More

  • John Kennedy Jfk Inaugural Speech

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kennedy was born into a very wealthy Irish Catholic family in Brookline Massachusets on May 29, 1917. His father Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr, was a businessman and politician while his mother, Rose, was a philanthropist. His father kept him and the rest of his family in the media as much as he could,

    Read More

  • Myth of Courage Exposed in The Things They Carried

    2673 Words  | 6 Pages

    As students we are brainwashed by ancient myths such as The Iliad, where war is extolled and the valorous warrior praised. Yet, modern novels such as Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried (THINGS) challenge those very notions. Like The Iliad, THINGS is about war. It is about battles and soldiers, victory and survival, yet the message O'Brien gives us in THINGS runs almost contradictory to the traditional war story. Whereas traditional stories of war take place on battlefields where soldier battles soldier and the mettle of man is tested, O'Brien's battle occurs in the shadowy, private place of a soldier's mind. Like the Vietnam War itself, THINGS forces Americans to question the foundations of their beliefs and values because it calls attention to the inner conscience. More than a war story, O'Brien's The Things They Carried is an expose on personal courage. Gone are the brave and glorious warriors such as those found in the battle of Troy. In THINGS, they are replaced by young men who experience not glory or bravery, but fear, horror, and a personal sense of shame. As mythic courage clashes with the modern's experience of it, a battle is waged in THINGS that isn't confined to the rice-patties, jungles, and shit-fields of Vietnam. Carrying more than the typical soldier's wares, O'Brien's narrator is armed with an arsenal of feelings and words that slash away at an invisible enemy that is the myth of courage, on an invisible battlefield that is the Vietnam veteran's mind.

    Read More

  • General George S. Patton

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    George S. Patton was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California (General, Bio).George grew up knowing that he wanted to become a hero (The Official, Bio). Of course the reason why he wanted to become a hero is that his family was a military family and he wanted to be like them (The Official, Bio). Patton’s ancestors and relatives fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and the Mexican War (The Official, Bio).

    Read More

  • Vietnam War Biography

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Vietnam War was arguably one of the most controversial wars the United States has gotten involved in. Not only did many men not have a choice about whether they joined the military during this time, but much of America was against getting involved with this war, especially college students. People and college students all over the country protested and picketed against the United State’s involvement. This was waged on from 1954 to 1975, but the U.S. was only fully involved with the fighting from about 1965 to 1973. This Vietnam War biography tells the story of a young Lowell Rogne, who served in the Marines during this time.

    Read More

  • Tom Clancy's The Hunt For Red October

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...unt for Red October, Clancy was suddenly a celebrity. He was invited to the White House for a private meeting with President Reagan and was met by military enthusiasts around the country. Now he had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience with the military operations and hardware he had known only from books and technical manuals. Clancy observed joined in training exercises and spent a week at sea on a mishearing frigate, and another on a submarine. Despite the detailed descriptions of life aboard a submarine in The Hunt for Red October, Clancy had never set foot on one until after the novel was published.

    Read More

  • The Vietnam War

    1443 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the Vietnam War, the first platoon (approximately forty men) was lead by a young officer named William Calley. Young Calley was drafted into the US Army after high school, but it did not take long for him to adjust to being in the army, with a quick transition to the lifestyle of the military, he wanted to make it his career. In high school, Calley was a kind, likable and “regular” high school student, he seemed to be a normal teenager, having interest in things that other boys his age typically had. He was never observed acting in a cruel or brutal way. In Vietnam, Calley was under direct order of company commander, Captain Ernest Medina, whom he saw as a role model, he looked up to Medina. (Detzer 127).

    Read More

  • Stephen King’s Biography

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    born in Portland, Marine on Sept 21, 1947. He was raised by his mother, Nellie Pillsbury,

    Read More

  • A History of the 714th Tank Battalion

    3836 Words  | 8 Pages

    A month after graduating from high school in June of 1940, young Othal T. Parsons joined the army to "serve my country, beat the draft, and become a bigshot." He was lured by the Army recruiting posters clarioning "I WANT YOU." Parsons worked his way up through four different armored divisions as an enlisted man until he became Second Lieutenant Othal T. Parsons, Mortar Pla...

    Read More

  • Stephen Crane and American Realism

    1508 Words  | 4 Pages

    If it was not for Stephen Crane and his visionary work than American Realism would not have taken hold of the United States during the eighteen hundreds. During the years following the Civil War America was a melting pot of many different writing styles. Many scholars argue that at this time there was still no definite American author or technique. Up to this point authors in the Americas simply copied techniques that were popular in regions of Europe. Stephen Crane came onto the scene with a very different approach to many of his contemporaries. He was a realist, and being such he described actions in a true, unadorned way that portrayed situations in the manner that they actually occurred (Kaplan). He had numerous admired pieces but his most famous work was the Red Badge of Courage (Bentley 103). In this novel he illustrates the accounts of a Union soldier named Henry Fleming. At first the writing was considered too graphic and many people did not buy the book. Eventually the American people changed their opinions and began to gravitate towards Crane’s work. The readers were fascinated by the realistic environment he creates even though he himself had never fought in a war (Bentley 103). By spreading the influence of realistic writing Crane has come to be known as the first American Realist.

    Read More

More about Tom Clancy Biography

Open Document