Praise

ONCE A MARINE
I could “feel” the heart of R.D. Parrish in Once A Marine. He disclosed some tough times during his teenage years. His time spent in the Marines helped to mold him into a great person while also bringing suffering to his life. A great read!

HOLLOW GROUND
Packed full of suspense since the first page!! I loved it!!!

ONCE A MARINE

I don’t usually pick up modern memoirs unless something
about the title feels honest. Once a Marine did. What I found
inside was not a polished, heroic retelling, but a deeply
human account of what service actually leaves behind in a
person.

R.D. Parrish writes with a kind of quiet restraint that makes
the heavier moments land even harder. The brotherhood
described in these pages feels real, not romanticized. The
bonds between Marines are shown through small gestures,
shared silence, and the kind of understanding that never
needs long explanations.

What stayed with me most was how the book handles
tragedy and illness. Parkinson’s is not treated as a side note
but as part of the continuing story of resilience and identity.
There is frustration here, yes, but also dignity. The author
does not ask for pity. Instead, he invites the reader to
witness what it means to keep going when the body no
longer obeys the spirit.

At times I had to put the book down simply to absorb what
was being said. It is not written for entertainment. It is
written from experience, and that difference is
unmistakable.

A powerful, sobering memoir that earns its place among the
most honest military reflections I have read in years.

THE FIELD

This was a suspenseful read and an enjoyable page turner. I did not expect the ending! A great read!