BOOT: A MARINE IN THE MAKING

Bostick & Thornley, 1943. FREEMAN, Capt. Edward J.. BAILEY, Corporal Gilbert P. BOOT: A MARINE IN THE MAKING. Photographs by Cpl. Edward J. Freeman and Pfc. John H. Birch Jr. Columbia: South Carolina: Bostick & Thornley, 1943. Small quarto, pictorial boards & cloth spine; 169 pages. Many photographic illustrations. First Edition. Later reprinted by The MacMillan Company in 1944. A look at the U.S. Marine boot camp at Parris Island during World War II. Signed by about 64 boot camp members, apparently from Platoon 823, 12th Battalion and signed in December, 1943. One signature is "Buck Jones (All-Amer) Buffalo, New York." Jones played football at Wake Forest and then joined the Marines during World War II, playing on the Georgia Pre-flight Skycrackers service team in 1944 and the Fleet Marine Force Pacific team in 1945. After the war, he was drafted by the New York Giants and also played for the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 and for the Detroit Lions in 1947 and 1948. Good (contents clean & tight but edgewear to covers). An unusual book! Semper fi. $185.00.