Jarhead cover

Jarhead is a Gulf War memoir by author Anthony Swofford. Image File history File links Jarhead_(novel). ... Image File history File links Jarhead_(novel). ... Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 660,000 545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The Gulf War (1990–1991) (also called the First Gulf War, Persian Gulf War, or Operation Desert Storm) was a... As a literary genre, a memoir forms a subclass of autobiography, although it is an older form of writing. ... Anthony Swofford is the author of the book Jarhead, published in 2003. ...

This book recounts Swofford's enlistment and service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the First Gulf War, in which he served as a Scout Sniper with the STA (Surveillance and Target Acquisition) Platoon of 2nd Battalion 7th Marines. After leaving military service, the author went on to college and earned a Masters Degree in Writing at the University of Iowa. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... Scout Sniper, (MOS 8541) is a specialist in the United States Marine Corps whose mission to deny the enemy freedom of movement by shooting enemy leaders, crew-served weapons operators, radiomen, observers, messengers, and other key personnel with single, well-aimed shots. ... Surveillance and Target Acquisition or S.T.A, (pronounced stay) snipers were United States Marine Corps units used primarily for information-gathering. ... The 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment (2/7) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. ... The University of Iowa is a major national research university located on a 1,900-acre campus in Iowa City, Iowa, USA, on the Iowa River in East Central Iowa. ...

Having seen very little actual combat during the war (like most of the half million troops stationed there), Swofford's narrative tends to focus on the emotional and psychological struggles of the young troops, especially sexual frustration and violence among themselves. Swofford also recounts the profound disappointment of having trained so long and so hard, only to never have the chance to engage the enemy, due to the brevity of the war. The book thus runs counter to most autobiographical military chronicles, sidestepping the stereotypes of slaughtering civilians or a soldier's best friend dying in his arms. Critical reaction was generally positive; Marines who actually served in the Gulf War are sharply divided on the book's merits and accuracy. For example, this post at Blackfive.net

It was adapted into a screenplay by William Broyles Jr.. The 2005 film Jarhead, directed by Sam Mendes, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard. Reviews were generally positive. Jarhead is a 2005 film starring Jake Gyllenhaal as U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford, and is based on Swoffords 2003 Gulf War memoir Jarhead: A Marines Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles. ... A screenplay or script is a blueprint for producing a motion picture. ... William Broyles Jr. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jarhead is a 2005 film starring Jake Gyllenhaal as U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford, and is based on Swoffords 2003 Gulf War memoir Jarhead: A Marines Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles. ... Sam Mendes Samuel Alexander Mendes, CBE (born August 1, 1965) is an English stage and film director born in Reading, Berkshire, England. ... Jacob Benjamin Jake Gyllenhaal (pronounced Jill-en-hall) (born December 19, 1980) is an Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning American actor. ... Jamie Foxx (born Eric Marlon Bishop on December 13, 1967 in Terrell, Texas), is an American Oscar-winning actor, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling R&B singer, and comedian. ... Peter Sarsgaard (born March 7, 1971) is a Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor. ...