Gates of Fire Book Report

Gates Of Fire hold got Report Title Gates Of Fire LCpl Yaccarine A. J atomic number 18d Author St evening Pressfield Publisher Turtle certify Books promulgated 1999 This script is slightly the Spartans strugglerior ending and how it ties into the shipboard soldier corps values, and the present twenty-four hour period warrior culture of our devil dog corps. My opinion on this script is that it is a prominent and interesting read that captures the attention of the reader and ties in ideally to our Marine corps values. It depicts perfectly on what it is to be a warrior whether it is past, present, or future.I calculate that every Marine should read this book or at to the lowest degree look into the history of the Spartans and their dedication to their way of life and culture of war fighting. I strongly believe the book should remain on the Commandants development list. Introduction My book report is on Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. He was a prior Marine leaving the M arine Corps in 1966, he was inspired to write this book based of the proportion he saw with the Marines he served with and the unitys he met presently and the warrior culture of the Spartans.His book has been taught in multiple places of military significance including the Marine Corps canonic School at Quantico, and it is added to the curriculum of the Naval War College. The book itself is abtaboo the leg dismissary bout of Thermopylae and the terce hundred Spartans who fought that battle cognise that the outcome was certain death. When reading the book you can clearly differentiate the levels of Honor, Courage, and Commitment these men had, and how they were go aparting to sacrifice everything for their homeland.After reading this book readers willing clearly see how the author found the link between the Spartans, and the Marine Corps. Body The book starts off describing the very basics of the Spartan culture, what take ins them Spartans, how they ar made, and the tria ls they had to spirit to earn their place amongst the other Spartans. When Spartans are born from the mean solar day of birth they are inspected, the ones who seem weak or unfit are killed to preserve the warrior culture. From a early age the children are taken away from their parents and put through a series of trials, one of which is to kill a slave.At a young age the children are already forced to kill, steal, and bring home the bacon in a merciless environment that in the future will give them the mental fortitude to be amongst the greatest warriors kn take to history. At the age of eighteen they are thrown into the wilderness to fend for themselves, with zero point but will they must do this, and if they can make it back to their society they will be official Spartans. The main char make uper of the book King Leonidas is the one who ultimately decides to take his warriors to the Gates of Fire to handle the Persian army of King Xerxes as long as possible.He selects three hu ndred of his finest Spartans and departs knowing very strong that they will not return. This is where the Spartan culture ties into that of the Marine Corps, King Leonidas and his men had the courage to go face overwhelming odds knowing that the chances of survival were slim if even there. disposed(p) opportunities of forsaking or retreat the Spartans denied them choosing rather to die and give Sparta as much time as possible then to save their own lives.This can relate to the present Marine Corps in some ways, it is well known that the Marine Corps fights and wins battles, and that we do not surrender we win or we die that is what is expected of us. Just as the Spartans did in ancient Greece we have upheld those basics of a warrior culture even when others have not, and that sets us apart from other services, be arrive at we live by those values. Sometime during the battle King Xerxes seeing the prowess of the Spartans, and their ability for war sought to make a truce with King Leonidas.Promising wealth, and success Xerxes attempted to bribe Leonidas to tie him telling him he could have it all if he would simply kneeling before him. Leonidas quickly refused the offer, of power and told Xerxes that they will continue to fight. Outraged by this Xerxes sent wave after wave of his men into the Spartan formation. Leonidas had reward in his actions, doing the right thing, overlooking personal gain, and staying faithful to Sparta and his men. With the Marine Corps value of honor, we as Marines also do these things.With espirit de corps, and a unswerving allegiance to our country we have always been looked upon to do the right thing even when others will not. Even our motto Semper Fidelis is our promise to upkeep that honor. In the end of the book the Spartans end up being surrounded, their flanks taken and completely out numbered Xerxes asks Leonidas one last time if he will kneel. In one last act of defiance Leonidas and his men make a last stand and a attem pt on Xerxes life fully well knowing that there was no escaping a certain death.Their commitment to their cause was unwavering believing fully in what they fought for they were committed to the point of willfully giving up their lives for their cause and they did so with pride. This one final act ties into how the Marine Corps is very much like the Spartans of old as the showed that final value that is used by our own warrior culture daily. Marines signing a contract umpteen of them giving up four days if not more of their life fully committed to something they believe in. With many others giving up their lives for a cause that they truly believe in.Conclusion overall I think this book was great, it showed a clear link on our warrior culture, and the warrior culture of the Spartans. It showed that our Corps values are the values of a warrior culture and it was shown through one of the most infamous warrior cultures in history. It not solo was a entertaining read but it taught valuable lessons, and gave a thought of what it means to be a warrior and what is expected of warriors, and like the Spartans the Marine Corps using those values as a base will cater our actions to echo through out eternity. Signature X___________________________________