Non-Semper Fidelis by author Sam Foster takes place during the Vietnam War although the war itself plays little role in the book. The story is ostensibly that of Private Jack Kendrick stationed at Officer Candidate School at Quantico but much of it is devoted to other people both on and off the base. This is a very short book and, in many ways reads like a series of short stories, the most interesting being that of Black corporal William Buck.

With very little time left in service, Buck returns to his home in Memphis to visit his mother and to apply for a job once he reenters civilian life. However, just before his leave ends, Dr Martin Luther King is assassinated, precipitating violent riots in the city. Buck makes the choice to be found AWOL rather than leave his mother unprotected.

I don't read a lot of books about military life and I wasn't sure what to expect but the blurb on this one intrigued me so I decided to take a chance. Too often, it seems, these books, especially about US Marines, are just right wing action packed with plenty of USA USA with little or no nuance. Not so this book. It's deals with the chain of command and how too many officers use it for petty reasons and punishments; about the racism that Black marines had to face as well as their limitations within the ranks; and about how, at least in this book, non coms were willing to stand up against these abuses,

Overall, I found Non-Semper Fidelis well-written. interesting and compelling. I liked most of the characters especially Kendrick and Buck. And therein lies my criticism of the book and why 3.5 stars instead of a full 4. I would have liked more background on these characters, more fleshing out, as well as more interconnection between the events.

Still, this novel gives the reader a nuanced and insightful look at what life was like for Marines during the Vietnam era and I recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in reading a military story that go beyond the simplicity of a recruiting poster.

3.5

An interesting premise with very promising characters, this book is just too short to be a truly satisfying read. I would love to see it fleshed out with more background on the characters and greater time spent on their back stories and relationships.

“Non-Semper Fidelis” is a relatively short novel (print length 144 pages) about stateside life in the Marine Corps in 1968. Set against the backdrop of the Viet Nam war and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it examines issues of esprit de corps, military justice, and racism.

Jack Kendrick is an officer candidate who, for various reasons, doesn’t make the grade and must finish his enlistment as corporal/clerk in the office of a captain where he experiences a variety of disciplinary problems, including one of his own.

I found it somewhat reminiscent of some of the works of James Jones (“From Here to Eternity”) and those who enjoy his novels may well find something to enjoy here. I thought the writing was pretty good, even literary in places with some passages written in such a way as to reflect the kind of orderliness and precision inherent in military life.

But, all in all, I found the novel somewhat thin and the plotting somewhat disjointed. While the characters are likable, even admirable, we aren’t told a whole about them or their backgrounds. And it’s not exactly clear what they want or what’s at stake or risk for them. There are scenes that portray racism (and be warned, there is racist language and behavior) and Viet Nam and the peace movement are in the background, but we don’t really see how the characters are emotionally affected by them. In other words, I thought this a novel that needed more “fleshing out.”

My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing me with an electronic copy in exchange for an honest, independent review