Col. John "Ace" Astle USMC (Ret.), Maryland State Senator (Ret.) Celebrates his 60 years of public service with book launch.
December 15, 2021 - “Many autobiographical books have been written about the Vietnam experience, most of them years after the fact based upon imperfect memory. By contrast the contents of this book reflect immediate reactions to the grim reality I encountered in Vietnam at the time on a daily basis.” -John C. Astle, Colonel USMC (Ret.)
Jungle Combat is John’s story.
Maintaining an audio diary between the spring of 1968 and the summer of 1969, Marine Aviator John (Ace) Astle kept folks and friends at home in Barboursville, West Virginia up to date - the drama of facing danger in combat to the frustration of dealing with the military bureaucracy, to the excesses of exhausted Marines in drunken revelry. His account is unabridged and, in the words of Lt. Col. George Forrest U.S. Army (Ret.) (“We Were Soldiers Once”) “...a power packed, no holds barred account...”
John Astle went on to spend 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, receiving 31 Air medals and two Purple Hearts among others. He spent four years as a presidential helicopter pilot. John spent his entire life in service to his country, including 24 years as a Maryland State Senator. He retired from the senate, having contributed 60 years of public service.
