Anthony Swofford
Encyclopedia
Anthony Swofford is a writer and former United States Marine known for being the author of the book Jarhead
, published in 2003
, which is primarily based on his accounts of various situations encountered in the first Gulf War
. This memoir was the basis of the 2005
movie
of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes
. The title is derived from the name of the traditional high and tight
haircuts favored by the Marines.
Born into a military family, Swofford was raised living on a military base. His father had served in Vietnam
, and before that his grandfather had fought in World War II
. In fact, he was conceived in Honolulu while his father was on a 24-hour break from fighting in Vietnam.
Terrified of being a failure in a 'normal' life, Swofford wanted to join the Marines from an early age, as he saw it as "an entry into manhood". However Swofford's father was against his joining, and the first of two recruiters to visit were escorted from the house. Swofford's father had said "I know some things about the military that they don't show you in the brochures".
, Saudi Arabia
, awaiting the start of the Gulf War.
He was a Lance Corporal while serving as a Scout Sniper
with the Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Platoon
of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
, however during his deployment in the Gulf he never fired a shot in anger, despite being fired upon both by the enemy and his own side.
Following the war Swofford was promoted to Corporal
and was uncomfortable with the notion that he was a hero, and deliberately missed the homecoming parade near his base. As far as he was concerned, he had simply done his job, and wanted to forget it.
Swofford returned to college, doing a variety of jobs to pay his way. His first job upon his return to civilian life was as a bank teller; however, after only a few months he was robbed at gunpoint, which led him to quit. Swofford also found work in warehouses.
, a community college
in Sacramento
, Swofford was published in and was the-editor-in-chief of the American River Review
, an award-winning literary magazine. Later, he received a Bachelor's degree
in English from University of California, Davis
and earned a Master of Fine Arts
from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
, at the University of Iowa
.
Swofford committed himself to writing in 1995, at the age of 24, and built on the encouragement he received at college to write Jarhead, which documents his time spent in the Gulf. In the book he portrays a grim view of life as a Marine, and indeed shows himself in a rather unflattering light. He said himself "I could have written a flattering portrait of myself as a young Marine, but it would have been a much lesser book." Reviewing Jarhead for the New York Times, Michiko Kakutani
said the book combined "the black humor of Catch-22
with the savagery of Full Metal Jacket
and the visceral detail of The Things They Carried
."
Following his time at the University of Iowa, and Texas Swofford served as an English professor at Lewis and Clark College, where he taught a class in the school's "Inventing America" program, and St. Mary's College of California until he sold the film rights
to Jarhead
. Swofford has had articles, both fiction and non-fiction, published in The New York Times, Harper's, Men's Journal
, The Iowa Review
, and other publications. He is a Michener-Copernicus Fellowship
recipient and lives in New York
. His first novel, Exit A, was published in January 2007.
’s documentary Operation Homecoming
, and has made appearances on several talk shows and in documentaries.
Jarhead (book)
Jarhead is a Gulf War memoir by author Anthony Swofford. After leaving military service, the author went on to college and earned a Masters Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Iowa.- Synopsis :...
, published in 2003
2003 in literature
The year 2003 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Peter Ackroyd - The Clerkenwell Tales*Atsuko Asano - No...
, which is primarily based on his accounts of various situations encountered in the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. This memoir was the basis of the 2005
2005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
movie
Jarhead (film)
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to...
of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes
Samuel Alexander "Sam" Mendes, CBE is an English stage and film director. He is best known for his Academy Award-winning work on his debut film American Beauty and his dark re-inventions of the stage musicals Cabaret , Oliver! , Company and Gypsy . He's currently working on the 23rd James Bond...
. The title is derived from the name of the traditional high and tight
High and tight
The high and tight is a military variant of the buzz cut. It is a very short hairstyle most commonly worn by men in the armed forces of most countries. Due to the functionality of this hairstyle, it is also popular with law enforcement officers and other public safety personnel...
haircuts favored by the Marines.
Early years
In his own words Swofford describes his younger self, before and during his time in the Marine Corps, as "a reader and a loner".Born into a military family, Swofford was raised living on a military base. His father had served in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and before that his grandfather had fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In fact, he was conceived in Honolulu while his father was on a 24-hour break from fighting in Vietnam.
Terrified of being a failure in a 'normal' life, Swofford wanted to join the Marines from an early age, as he saw it as "an entry into manhood". However Swofford's father was against his joining, and the first of two recruiters to visit were escorted from the house. Swofford's father had said "I know some things about the military that they don't show you in the brochures".
Military career
Swofford joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18, and shortly after he turned 20 he was deployed to RiyadhRiyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, awaiting the start of the Gulf War.
He was a Lance Corporal while serving as a Scout Sniper
Scout Sniper
Scout Sniper is a secondary MOS designator of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have successfully graduated from a USMC Scout Sniper School. Scout Snipers provide close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion...
with the Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Platoon
STA platoon
STA platoon were the "Surveillance and Target Acquisition" platoons of the United States Marine Corps. They were within the Headquarters and Service Company of U.S...
of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
2nd Battalion 7th Marines
The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines is a light infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors...
, however during his deployment in the Gulf he never fired a shot in anger, despite being fired upon both by the enemy and his own side.
Following the war Swofford was promoted to Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
and was uncomfortable with the notion that he was a hero, and deliberately missed the homecoming parade near his base. As far as he was concerned, he had simply done his job, and wanted to forget it.
Return to civilian life
After leaving the Marine Corps following the end of the war in the Gulf, Swofford at first found it difficult to adapt to civilian life. In his own words, it felt "strange to be in a place without having someone telling me to throw my gear in a truck and go somewhere".Swofford returned to college, doing a variety of jobs to pay his way. His first job upon his return to civilian life was as a bank teller; however, after only a few months he was robbed at gunpoint, which led him to quit. Swofford also found work in warehouses.
Writing career
While attending the American River CollegeAmerican River College
American River College is a California community college located in the southern edge of unincorporated Foothill Farms in Sacramento County, California....
, a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Swofford was published in and was the-editor-in-chief of the American River Review
American River Review
The American River Review is a literary journal, first published in 1984, by students and faculty of American River College. An entirely student-produced magazine, the faculty at American River College facilitate in the financial and legal facets of production...
, an award-winning literary magazine. Later, he received a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
and earned a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
, at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Swofford committed himself to writing in 1995, at the age of 24, and built on the encouragement he received at college to write Jarhead, which documents his time spent in the Gulf. In the book he portrays a grim view of life as a Marine, and indeed shows himself in a rather unflattering light. He said himself "I could have written a flattering portrait of myself as a young Marine, but it would have been a much lesser book." Reviewing Jarhead for the New York Times, Michiko Kakutani
Michiko Kakutani
is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for The New York Times and is considered by many to be a leading literary critic in the United States.-Life and career:...
said the book combined "the black humor of Catch-22
Catch-22
Catch-22 is a satirical, historical novel by the American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953, and the novel was first published in 1961. It is set during World War II in 1943 and is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century...
with the savagery of Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
and the visceral detail of The Things They Carried
The Things They Carried
The Things They Carried is a collection of related stories by Tim O'Brien, about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, originally published in hardcover by Houghton Mifflin, 1990...
."
Following his time at the University of Iowa, and Texas Swofford served as an English professor at Lewis and Clark College, where he taught a class in the school's "Inventing America" program, and St. Mary's College of California until he sold the film rights
Film rights
Film rights are the rights under copyright law to make a derivative work—in this case, a film—derived from an item of intellectual property. Under U.S...
to Jarhead
Jarhead (film)
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to...
. Swofford has had articles, both fiction and non-fiction, published in The New York Times, Harper's, Men's Journal
Men's Journal
Men's Journal is an American men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and "gear". It is owned by Jann Wenner of Wenner Media....
, The Iowa Review
The Iowa Review
The Iowa Review is an American literary magazine that publishes fiction, poetry, essays, and reviews.Founded in 1970, this magazine is issued three times a year, during the months of April, August, and December. Originally, it was released on a quarterly basis. This frequency of publication lasted...
, and other publications. He is a Michener-Copernicus Fellowship
Michener-Copernicus Fellowship
The Michener-Copernicus Fellowship is a literary award. Past recipients include:* Anthony Swofford* Peter Craig* Emily Barton* Brett Ellen Brock* Justin Kramon* Malena Watrous* Andrew J. Porter* Nam Le* Kevin Gonzalez* Drew Keenan...
recipient and lives in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His first novel, Exit A, was published in January 2007.
Television and film appearances
Swofford co-produced and narrated the 2006 documentary Semper Fi, is featured in Richard E. RobbinsRichard E. Robbins
Richard E. Robbins is an American filmmaker and documentarian, who has produced and directed several documentaries for ABC and PBS. The most notable is Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience, which puts forward the perspective of American troops returning home from service in Iraq...
’s documentary Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 transports flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick...
, and has made appearances on several talk shows and in documentaries.
Further reading
- Anthony Swofford; Jarhead: A Marines Chronicle of the Gulf War; Scribner, 2003. ISBN 0743235355
- Anthony Swofford; Exit A: A Novel; Scribner, 2007. ISBN 074327038X