MWSA Review

The Pound, Devil Dogs' War in Nicaragua, by LtCol David Brown is a highly researched book that tells an interesting story about the Marines in Nicaragua from 1928 to 1933. Based on actual events and with real people as characters, the book takes a close look at the life and combat experiences of the Marines. Their mission—that of nation-building: trying to quell rebel activity and allow Nicaragua to effectively evolve into a functioning democracy—faced difficulties caused by the terrain, the weather, and even an earthquake.

The Pound is the Marines' main restaurant/bar where most gathered when they weren't off in the field chasing the rebels. Brown includes dozens of photographs in his book taken from official Marines' historical records. These photographs depict the Marines who were there at the time, as well as relevant Nicaraguans, pictures of the country, and even original maps used by the Marines. I recommend this book to anyone interested in military history and especially someone who likes reading about the history of the Marines.

Review by Bob Doerr (March 2020)

Author's Synopsis

I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps. During my 22-years of active duty, my two tours in Vietnam were remarkably memorable as I was both an advisor and rifle company commander during the 1967-1969 height of the war. Awarded Silver Star Medal. I also instructed economics at the U.S. Naval Academy and headed the Marine Corps Procurement Budget. Upon retirement, I consulted to the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy. Afterwards, I was the Executive Director of the Second Marine Division Association and Chairman of the Board for the Carolina Museum of the Marine. I enjoy writing and have published over 15 articles in the Marine Corps Gazette and Amphibious Warfare Review. I authored books on training, automated information systems, and logistics. My first novel, Battlelines, is an historical fiction written about the gallant men of Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during their five-year deployment to Vietnam. My second novel, Bandits Below, is about the birth of the Marine Corps’ Air-Ground Team in Nicaragua during the late 1920s. My third novel, The Pound: Devil Dogs War in Nicaragua, was published in 2019. The fourth novel will tell the story of the tragic Beirut bombing in 1983. It will be published in the fall of 2020. I hold an MBA from George Washington University and a BA from Denison University.

ISBN/ASIN: ISBN 978-1-68456-268-8, ISBN 978-1-68456-269-5
Book Format(s): Soft cover
Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 376