Once An Eagle
Encyclopedia
Once an Eagle is a war novel by American author Anton Myrer
. A #1 New York Times Bestseller, Once an Eagle has been a favorite of American military men and women since its writing. The novel tells the story of Sam Damon, career Army officer, from his initial enlistment to his rise to general officer rank. Along the way, he encounters Courtney Massengale time and again, an opportunistic, smooth talking Army officer devoid of the honor and integrity that guide Sam Damon during his career. A television mini-series based on the book was aired on NBC in 1976, with actor Sam Elliot portraying Sam Damon. The book appears on the Commandant
's required reading list for all First Lieutenants
in the United States Marine Corps
, and frequently serves as a text for Cadets
in leadership classes at West Point
.
The book has also been on the Army Chief of Staff's recommended reading list for professional development, and is currently on the Marine Corps Commandant's recommended reading list as well.
, based on the book and directed by Richard Michaels and E.W. Swackhamer. The picture was written by Peter S. Fischer and starred Sam Elliot as Damon, with Cliff Potts
portraying Courtney Massengale. The first and last installments of the seven-part series broadcasted two hours each, while the interim episodes each broadcasted for 60 minutes. The mini-series concerns the thirty year careers of two military men, from the outbreak of World War I to the aftermath of World War II.
Anton Myrer
Anton Olmstead Myrer was an American author, known best for writing the historical fiction military novel Once An Eagle .-Early years and military service:...
. A #1 New York Times Bestseller, Once an Eagle has been a favorite of American military men and women since its writing. The novel tells the story of Sam Damon, career Army officer, from his initial enlistment to his rise to general officer rank. Along the way, he encounters Courtney Massengale time and again, an opportunistic, smooth talking Army officer devoid of the honor and integrity that guide Sam Damon during his career. A television mini-series based on the book was aired on NBC in 1976, with actor Sam Elliot portraying Sam Damon. The book appears on the Commandant
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
's required reading list for all First Lieutenants
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, and frequently serves as a text for Cadets
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in leadership classes at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
Book 1: Orchard
Covers the young Sam Damon's years in Nebraska, including his decision to enlist in the Army after being put on a wait list for West Point. Damon joins the Army, and soon enough is south of the border during the Mexican expedition, though he sees no combat.Book 2: Wheat
Covers Damon's service in World War I, including his battlefield commission and actions that led to his being awarded the Medal of Honor. Sam rises to the rank of Major before the war ends, and falls in love with General Caldwell's daughter. They start their Army career together at Fort Hardee, a desolate fort that leaves Sam less than thrilled and that Tommy despises.Book 3: Chaparral
This section covers the time between the wars, including Sam's interactions with Massengale, Ben Krisler, and the birth of Donny Damon.Book 4: Liana
This section covers World War II and Sam's promotion to division commander, including the disastrous Operation Palladium run by Corps commander, General Massengale.Book 5: Delta
The final book finds Sam Damon once again in Southeast Asia, this time as an adviser to a potential conflict in Khotiane, a fictionalized name for Vietnam. He is battling General Massengale's desire to increase American participation, which Damon views as calamitous.Characters
- Sam Damon (Protagonist. Honorable, forthright officer dedicated to the Army and his soldiers)
- Courtney Massengale (Antagonist. Conniver and malefactor, using family political connections to move up the ranks)
- Tommy Caldwell Damon (Sam Damon's Wife, Daughter of General George Caldwell)
- General George Caldwell (Sam Damon's Commanding Officer during World War I, Father of Tommy Caldwell Damon)
- Jack Devlin (Sam's best friend during World War I)
- Ben Krisler (Sam's best friend during the interwar years and World War II)
- Donny Damon (Sam and Tommy's son)
- Emily Massengale (Courtney's wife)
Literary significance and criticism
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf described Once an Eagle as "[a] classic novel of war and warriors. Sam Damon doesn't preach, he lives his values and they are universal, not only military."The book has also been on the Army Chief of Staff's recommended reading list for professional development, and is currently on the Marine Corps Commandant's recommended reading list as well.
Adaptations
In 1976 NBC created a nine hour American television mini-series, likewise titled Once an EagleOnce an Eagle
Once An Eagle is a nine hour American television mini-series directed by Richard Michaels and E.W. Swackhamer. The picture was written by Peter S...
, based on the book and directed by Richard Michaels and E.W. Swackhamer. The picture was written by Peter S. Fischer and starred Sam Elliot as Damon, with Cliff Potts
Cliff Potts
Cliff Potts is an American television and film actor most noted for supporting roles and guest appearances in more than sixty episodic television series between 1967 and 1999....
portraying Courtney Massengale. The first and last installments of the seven-part series broadcasted two hours each, while the interim episodes each broadcasted for 60 minutes. The mini-series concerns the thirty year careers of two military men, from the outbreak of World War I to the aftermath of World War II.
Other Works by Anton Myrer
- Evil Under the SunEvil Under the SunEvil Under the Sun is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in June 1941 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in October of the same year...
- The story of a group of artists, literary figures and locals during a summer on post-war Cape Cod. Prejudices, lingering war trauma, and frustration about the state of post-war America results in violence. Not to be confused with the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. - The Big WarThe Big WarThe Big War is the second novel of Anton Myrer, published by Appleton Century Crofts in 1957. While Myrer is best known for his 1968 novel Once an Eagle, this was his first commercial and critical success....
- The Violent Shore
- The Intruder
- The Tiger Waits-The story of one man's rise to academic and then political prominence in an administration, his love-hate relationship with Boston society, and how he discovers and handles a plot that threatens war.
- The Last Convertible - The story of five Harvard men and their coming-of-age during World War II through the early 1960s New FrontierNew FrontierThe term New Frontier was used by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Democratic slogan to inspire America to support him...
/CamelotCamelotCamelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
/John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
era. The elegant "last convertible" of the title is seen by them as the symbol of their romantic youth. - A Green Desire