How much is historical fiction based on history?
In four short questions, we ask author Richard Camp just how much his new WWII novel was inspired by real events and his own experience as a U.S. Marine. Scroll down and enjoy!
What inspired you to write The Commandos?
I noted in one of my Marine Corps reference books that a few Marines at the start of the war had gone through commando training. That information spurred me to research the topic on line, which I found to be fascinating. There is a “ton” of material on the Commando Training Centre at Achnacarry, Scotland; everything from personal accounts of commandos that passed through the center, to descriptions of the facilities, photographs, and narratives of the actual training itself. Once I formed a picture in my mind, I introduced the main characters—Captain Jim Cain, his sidekick Gunnery Sergeant Leland Montgomery, Colour Sergeant Bourne, and of course, a young, attractive female, Loreena McNeal (what military novel would be complete without an attractive female?). Because of Commandos British theme, I also introduced several supporting characters; “Motor Mouth” Finch, LtCol Moss, “Laird of Achnacarry,” and the main nasties, Hauptmann Max Heinz and Kapitanleutnant Dieter.
Fortunately, my top-notch Editor, Ruth Shepherd, was kind enough to pass my rough manuscript to a former British officer to ensure I had the terminology correct, which saved me some embarrassment.
How has your experience as a U.S. Marine Corps informed the writing process?
My 26 years as a U. S. Marine officer and my love for historical fiction gave me a leg up in helping me write Commandos, Set Europe Ablaze. I experienced first-hand most of the events that I wrote about in the book except of course, an attack on a German radar station. World War II was a little before my time.
As a junior officer I commanded a rifle platoon and a reconnaissance platoon, where I learned basic leadership techniques and field tactics, including rubber boat training (it’s a real kick to be launched into the air from a plunging wave) and night time ocean swims through shark infested waters (don’t have an open wound). I participated in a three-week Raid training package in the Northern Training area of Okinawa—repelling down cliffs and climbing them, crossing a chasm on a single rope (first time across is a real grabber), and a 37-mile hump with weapons and equipment (blisters anyone)—culminating in an adventurous four-day voyage on the USS Halibut, a World War II submarine, to conduct a night-time raid on a deserted Okinawan beach, in heavy seas and driving rain. (Not for the faint of heart). As a company commander in Vietnam, I conducted a night-time rubber boat river crossing (fortunately the enemy wasn’t home or someone else might be writing this short essay) and many search and destroy missions against North Vietnamese regulars.
The Vietnam experience gave me insight into the sights, sounds and smells of the battlefield…the crack of a close round, the scream of incoming artillery, the sorrow and pain of a lost comrade, and the comradery of young men in deadly peril.
How much does the modern U.S. Marine Corps owe to those early days of The Commandos?
Within the past few years, the Corps has stood up a Special Operations command (MARSOC), whose stated mission is to recruit, train, sustain and deploy scalable, expeditionary forces worldwide to accomplish special operations missions assigned by U.S. Special Operations Command [USSOCOM]. In my view, MARSOC is patterned after the World War II Marine Raiders, Marine Amphibious Reconnaissance Company and the later Reconnaissance Battalion and Force Reconnaissance Company.
As an author who has done both, what are the key differences when writing about military history in fiction as opposed to non-fiction?
My wife and I joke about this difference…and we have decided I like to write fiction because I don’t have to worry about footnotes, which for me has always been a pain in the buns! Actually, I believe they are both similar…because of the amount of research I have to do. I try to be as accurate as possible in writing fiction, so the story line is believable…only the characters are fictitious…and many of them are compilations of Marines and others I have either served with or complete fabrications. The nasties (no I have not misspelled Nazis) I have introduced are a total figment of my imagination. I try very hard to make the novel as authentic as possible by introducing believable characters, authentic sites and realistic tactics—well, I did use literary license in describing the sea battle…but what the heck it’s a novel, for Pete’s sake…and I love the book.
The Commandos
By Richard Camp
1942: U.S. Marines Jim Cain and Leland Montgomery are sent to Scotland to undertake the brutal British Commando training course. There they are put through the brutal specialized training that will hone their fighting skills and physical endurance. Pitiless forced marches, dangerous live fire exercises and hazardous assault courses separate the men from the boys, while building a strong sense of brotherhood among the British soldiers and the two Marines. Before the course is even finished, the commando squad are sent on a secret mission to destroy a German radar station on Nazi-occupied Alderney in support of the Dieppe raid.
About The Author
Colonel Dick Camp, a Purple Heart recipient, served 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring in 1988. Upon retirement he served as the Deputy Director, U.S. Marine Corps History Division and as the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Vice President for Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia. Currently residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he is the author of many books and over 100 magazine articles on various military-related subjects.
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