“The Boys in Blue White Dress”

By William F. Lee

Authorhouse, 2007, $ 25.50

ISBN # 978-1-4343-2727-7

www.authorhouse.com

Reviewed by Andrew Lubin

All too often authors are told not to use the first person, or to not to personalize their story; what a shame because William Lee’s excellent novel “The Boys in the Blue White Dress” could have been one of the better memoirs of 2007.

In addition to being one of the Marine Corps “The Few…The Proud,” William Lee was a Marine officer who had the rare distinction of serving on the “Death Watch” as President John Kennedy’s casket sat in the White House, and then on public display at the Capital’s Rotunda back in November 1963.

Those old enough to remember those days can think back to those few ramrod-straight Marines on our black & white television sets who stood guard – so few people alive in the world today can claim such a view of history.

Lee has written an interesting book about the Marines who present the motivating Friday Evening Parade at “8^th & I” – the Marine Barracks. A unique job even by Marine standards, Lee treats the reader to the stories that illustrate both the humanity and the effort necessary to for their pageants and presentations.  Some of his vignettes of the Marines with whom he served are laugh-out-loud funny, as Lee personalizes the men under his command – all while woven into the surrounding tapestry of his and his Marine’s efforts and feelings during those tragic November days.  Included are photographs from ‘back in the day’ that only serve to reinforce the rarity of Lee’s unique view of history.