Derl HornAUTHOR & U.S. MARINEBuy the book

THE MAN BEHIND THE MEMOIR

Derl Horn

Marine. Husband. Father. Author.

Derl Horn beside the shadow box of his military decorations

A life beyond
the battlefield.

Derl grew up in Springdale, Arkansas, and married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn. Military service took him to Cuba and Vietnam, where he served with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

His memoir brings together the memories of combat, letters between husband and wife, and the faith and family that helped him through. After returning home, Derl and Marilyn raised three children.

Read about the memoir →

U.S. MARINE CORPS · FEBRUARY 1966–FEBRUARY 1968

Service record

  • TrainingMarine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego; infantry training at Camp Pendleton; and training at Camp Lejeune.
  • CubaStationed at Guantanamo Bay before deploying to Vietnam.
  • VietnamLance Corporal, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division—“The Walking Dead.”
  • July 2, 1967Survived the Operation Buffalo ambush, the battle at the center of his memoir.

Explore the Library of Congress collection and the VA’s profile of Derl’s service.