10 Facts About Anthony Swofford

Anthony Swofford's father had served in the Vietnam War, and before that his grandfather had fought in World War II.

Terrified of being a failure in a "normal" life, Anthony Swofford wanted to join the Marines from an early age, as he saw it as "an entry into manhood".

However, Anthony Swofford's father was against his joining, and the first of two recruiters to visit were escorted from the house.

Anthony Swofford joined the US Marine Corps at the age of 18, and shortly after he turned 20 he was deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, awaiting the start of the Persian Gulf War.

Anthony Swofford was a lance corporal while serving as a Scout Sniper Trainee with the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.

Anthony Swofford was uncomfortable with the notion that he was a hero, and deliberately missed the homecoming parade near his base.

Anthony Swofford returned to the United States, doing a variety of jobs to pay his way.

Anthony 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.

Anthony 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.

Anthony Swofford is a Michener-Copernicus Fellowship recipient and currently teaches creative writing at West Virginia University.