A raw, unflinching journey from the rice paddies of Vietnam to the fury of war— powerful, honest and impossible to put down
Heart of a Marine is the unforgettable two-volume memoir of LtCol Tom Williams, USMC (Ret). From the mud-sucking paddies of Vietnam to the high-risk skies over Quang Tri, Williams delivers a raw, unflinching account of courage, sacrifice, and survival. Drawn from battlefield diaries and lived experience, these books capture not just one Marine’s truth, but the enduring spirit of all who fought, served, and endured America’s most controversial war.
_JPG.jpg)
FROM ABANDONED CHILD
TO COMBAT LEADER
Vietnam Through a
Marine’s Eyes
​​​​
Doorsteps of Hell is Tom Williams’s raw and riveting account of his first tour in Vietnam. From abandoned child to Marine Corps officer, Williams fought as a platoon and recon commander in the late sixties, surviving the mud-sucking paddies and leech-infested jungles. Drawn from battlefield diaries kept every day in combat, his story captures not only his own fight, but the courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie of the Marines he led. Honest and unflinching, this book brings the Vietnam War to life for veterans, service members, and civilians alike.
190 COMBAT MISSIONS
ONE BRUTAL OFFENSIVE
A Marine’s Story
from the Sky
In 1972, as the North Vietnamese launched their massive Easter Offensive, Captain Tom Williams, USMC, answered the call—again. Volunteering for a second tour, he flew 190 high-risk aerial observer missions, embedded with the South Vietnamese Air Force, directing fire, gathering intel, and risking everything over the deadly skies of Quang Tri. Drawn from his battlefield diaries, Fury of War is an unflinching look at Vietnam’s most brutal campaign—part combat chronicle, part leadership guide, and a timeless testament to courage under fire.
NOW AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE FORMATS INCLUDING
BUDGET-FRIENDLY BLACK & WHITE
190 COMBAT MISSIONS.
ONE BRUTAL OFFENSIVE.
A Marine’s Story From The Sky
​​​​
In 1972, as the North Vietnamese launched their massive Easter Offensive, Captain Tom Williams, USMC, answered the call—again. Volunteering for a second tour, he flew 190 high-risk aerial observer missions, embedded with the South Vietnamese Air Force, directing fire, gathering intel, and risking everything over the deadly skies of Quang Tri.
Drawn from his battlefield diaries, Fury of War is an unflinching look at Vietnam’s most brutal campaign—part combat chronicle, part leadership guide, and a timeless testament to courage under fire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LtCol Tom Williams, USMC (Ret)
Follow Tom Williams’ life story beginning as an abandoned young child, then travelling the world with his ‘new father’. Follow his path to becoming an Officer of Marines—a multilinguist fighting and surviving in the mud-sicking rice paddies of Vietnam.
Doorsteps of Hell is a moving, riveting and informative narrative told in a style that everyone will easily follow. It is Tom’s story, but more importantly, it is the story of his Marines in combat.
Doorsteps of Hell focuses on Tom’s life as a Marine, serving in Vietnam in the late sixties. It is an enthralling account of what really took place on the battlefield.
This honest, no-holds-barred account of America’s most controversial war will not only capture the interest of those who served but just as importantly, those who are still serving. The brilliant narrative, drawn from Tom’s war diaries, will have you, armed forces or not, engrossed from cover to cover.
WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING
"'Where do we find them? Where do we find such men?' This was President Reagan's question at Normandy on the fortieth D-Day anniversary in 1984. I think, Doorsteps of Hell, Tom’s first book in his Heart of a Marine series, answers that question.”
- LT GEN W. C. GREGSON, USMC (RET)
“Tom Williams has written a brilliant account of his decades of sterling service as an officer of Marines. The passion and commitment to serve our country and lead Marines comes through in each experience he recounts. This is an excellent read for every young man or woman who aspires to be a leader in our Corps. His spirit and can-do attitude comes out in each page. Tom leaves a legacy of proud service.”
​
- GEN A. C. ZINNI, USMC (RET)
“Tom Williams epitomizes the dedication and commitment to Country and Corps that are the hallmarks of a Marine. His career of proud service demonstrates his superb warrior skills and ability to meet any challenge.”
- GEN A. C. ZINNI, USMC (RET)
​
"Most of us do not have the discipline to faithfully, over time, record our experiences. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Williams did so during his over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps. The result is an incredibly detailed and rich recounting of his experiences, particularly his service in Vietnam as an infantry officer."
- GEN W.E. BOOMER, USMC (RET)
CONTACT
Follow me:
Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the
Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this book.