Doyle Glass (born January 22, 1962) is an American historical novelist and sculptor. He is best known for his bestselling nonfiction books Lions of Medina (2007), Swift Sword (new edition 2023) and for sculpting the Texas Medal of Honor Memorial (2008) and the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial (2001). Glass began writing and sculpting following a career as a criminal prosecutor in Texas and Kentucky.
His first book, Lions of Medina, gives a firsthand account of the sacrifices made by the Marines of Charlie Company during Vietnam.
His second book, Swift Sword, chronicles the gut-wrenching story of valiant Marines in Vietnam who endured a horrific firefight isolated on a lone knoll in the Queson Valley, and was chosen as winner of the 2023 Pencraft Award for Best Nonfiction
Coming in 2025, Unthrottled: The Story of Robert Benoist will reveal the harrowing story of Robert Benoist, a famous French Grand Prix World champion in the 1920s and Le Mans race winner in the 1930s, who risked everything as a British secret agent to help rid France of the Nazi occupation during WWII.
This one-on-one interview shares Doyle Glass’s background and experience in writing Swift Sword: The True Story of the Marines of Mike 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967.
Tell us about Swift Sword: The True Story of the Marines of Mike 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967.
Monday, September 4, 1967.
Eyes peeled and moving quietly, Lance Corporal Jack Swan led 164 of his fellow US Marines from Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marines over the face of a bare, rocky knoll deep in the Que Son Valley of South Vietnam. The men knew every step could be booby-trapped and the enemy might be hiding behind any bush. Carrying unreliable M16 rifles that often malfunctioned, their job was to rescue an isolated company of fellow leathernecks besieged by the Communist North Vietnamese Army.
The sight of a serene, shrub-covered rice paddy greeted the Americans as they crested the knoll. Little did they know, they had walked into an ambush laid by over 2,500 well-camouflaged North Vietnamese warriors. Instead of rescuing their fellow comrades, the Marines now faced complete annihilation.
Outnumbered, out-gunned, and exposed, there was nowhere to hide.
Swift Sword is a true Vietnam War story of epic courage and brotherhood in the face of insurmountable odds that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
What inspired you to write Swift Sword: The True Story of the Marines of Mike 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967?
I hold a life-long admiration for real-life heroes who acted with great courage under life-threatening circumstances. Some of these heroes are historic, household names. Others are everyday souls. What they have in common is, when the stakes were at the highest, they showed true valor in the face of great peril.
As we know truly little of what our servicemen and women faced in Vietnam, I was inspired to write Swift Sword to record for posterity a true story of brotherhood and honor in combat, one that would otherwise be lost forever. In the book, readers will feel the tension of walking beside, and at times inside the skin of these brave men who responded gallantly in the face of jaw-dropping peril. They never gave up, and we should never forget.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
I turned to the arts as a way to tell stories of my heroes.
My first book, Lions of Medina, was so successful and personally rewarding that it inspired me to embark on a career as a full-time writer.
Lions of Medina is based on personal interviews I conducted with survivors of Operation Medina, a military operation conducted by the Marine Corps in the Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam.
Swift Sword is based on personal interviews of nearly fifty survivors of Operation Swift. From 2008 to 2011, I conducted personal interviews of Marine Veterans of Operation Swift, spoke with friends and families of veterans, reviewed twelve after-action reports of the battle of September 4, 1967, and read numerous accounts on the battles in Vietnam’s Quế Sơn Valley. This included a visit to Vietnam in 2009 as well as an interview with a veteran of the NVA command. In addition to the accounts from Marine veterans, I included detailed research on the operation, including maps, photos, and a glossary of military terms. The book details the 11-day operation by recounting what the Marines witnessed, quoting their own words. Their accounts are shocking, brutal, and most importantly, very real.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
Swift Sword emphasizes the strength, courage, and sacrifice of the men that fought in Vietnam, presented in a way that honors their legacy and memorializes those who didn’t make it back.
Through the book, my goal is for readers to learn about and honor the veterans who fought in Vietnam and to express gratitude for all of our veterans who fight to keep us free.
In its portrayal of the horrors of war, the book is an unforgettable reminder that these are real people and what they experienced is unbelievable.
Purchasing the Book
Swift Sword has received positive reviews from veterans, well-known literary organizations and reviewers around the world. Vietnam Veteran Larry D. writes, “I served in Vietnam and reading Swift Sword is as close as you can get to reliving the terror of personal combat without actually being there.” Author Brad Butler writes, “I salute Doyle Glass for honoring the men whose Vietnam War stories are told in ‘Swift Sword.’ Riveting tales of heroism as well as a tribute to all who have sacrificed.”
Swift Sword is available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats. The book can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through independent bookstores nationwide. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTRPH7W1
To connect with Doyle, purchase a copy of the book and receive updates on new book releases, visit: www.doyleglass.com. You can also find Doyle on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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