Common sense views from an uncommon retired Marine Colonel!
Marine Infantrymen are today’s Spartan Warriors, leading the way on the battlefield and first to fight!
“Men of action!”
Every Marine is a Rifleman, but not every Marine is an Infantryman…there is a huge difference, which I address at the graduation ceremony of Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion (School of Infantry West), Camp Pendleton, California…Semper Fi!
I’m ordering a second spare tire cover for my Bronco that features four of my books. The front page displays are much larger with only four of my eight books displayed. Is this the tire cover that will make me a millionaire from royalties? I will let you know…LOL!
Will this be my “wheel of fortune,” generating millions of dollars in royalties from the sales of my eight books? I will be sure to let you know! This is my soon to be spare tire cover for the back of my Bronco.
Eight books by retired Marine Colonel, Dan Wilson.
Here’s an easy way to order any of my eight books.
Point your smart phone camera at the embedded QR code, which takes you straight to the book on Amazon, which can be ordered in any of four formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Book, and Kindle/Ebook versions.
I’m having a car cover made up as my guerrilla marketing idea!
Pickleball players live longer according to scientists! My opinion is that the better a Pickleball player you are, the longer you live, but I’m not a scientist and I didn’t play one on TV…LOL!
If you want to get better at Pickleball, and live longer, why not read my book, PICKLEBALL BATTLEFIELD, or have me read it to you! Click on the link in the caption to order your copy now and live longer!
In Undaunted Gladiator, Colonel Dan Wilson recounts his epic fight for justice after false accusations shattered his distinguished Marine career, revealing shocking flaws in the military justice system and the power of unwavering faith.
Imagine a battle-hardened Marine Colonel—39 years of service, 11 deployments, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, and a life forged in the crucible of Africa’s wilds and Iraq’s fiercest firefights—falsely accused of raping a child at a simple dinner party. Relieved of duties, dragged through a 14-month “witch hunt,” thrown into pretrial confinement, convicted in a politically charged court-martial, and locked away in the brig for 33 brutal months. That’s not fiction. That’s the jaw-dropping true story at the heart of Undaunted Gladiator by Colonel Dan Wilson.
From his missionary childhood in Sudan, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia—learning to track game with Bushmen, speaking seven languages, and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro at 14—Wilson was destined for the Corps. He enlisted in 1981, graduated Boot Camp as Platoon and Series Honor Man, earned meritorious promotions to Sergeant in just 16 months, and rose as a “Mustang” infantry officer. He commanded four platoons, three companies, and four battalions; fought in Desert Storm and the Second Battle of Fallujah; briefed generals in the Pentagon; and served as G-3 Operations Officer for II MEF. Decorated 52 times, he lived the Marine ethos: “Semper Fi” wasn’t a slogan—it was his heartbeat.
Then came the dinner party implosion on 13 July 2016. A junior officer’s wife accused him of inappropriately touching her six-year-old daughter. NCIS launched a global fishing expedition, storming his home several times, interrogating his terrified wife, and stacking 27 charges. A second accuser emerged months later with her own wild claims. Wilson was relieved of duties, confined for seven months pretrial, and ultimately convicted on the child sexual abuse charge plus lesser misconduct counts. Sentenced to five-and-a-half years, he entered the brig wearing orange, Prisoner #00128660 Whisky Delta—Cell #13.
What follows is pure fire. Wilson doesn’t break—he rises. He finds God in the darkness (“be like that tree!”), turns to daily prayer and meditation, forges unbreakable bonds with fellow prisoners (the “finest Marines I ever served with”), and watches his brilliant civilian appellate lawyer, Katie Cherkasky, dismantle the case. On 1 July 2019, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals delivers a stunning unanimous reversal, and rebuke to the generals who convicted him—“set aside with prejudice”—the rarest of victories. A double rainbow appears over Camp Pendleton that same weekend. Divine confirmation.
Yet the system wasn’t done. Wilson signs a “dirty deal” under duress for release: voluntary retirement in exchange for “no punishment.” The convening authority reneges. He’s retired in the pay of a Lieutenant Colonel with an “Other-Than-Honorable” characterization of his very honorable service—losing $5,000+ monthly in benefits for life, banned from all Marine Corps bases for life. The very policies meant to protect victims weaponized against an innocent warrior.
Undaunted Gladiator isn’t just a memoir—it’s a clarion call. Wilson exposes how #MeToo zeal, unlawful command influence, and a “believe the female accuser at all costs” culture have corrupted military justice. He names the rot: NCIS overreach, stacked charges, biased panels, and careerist generals protecting the institution over truth. But he also shows the light—unshakable faith in God, family loyalty (his wife and daughters earn “Medals of Honor”). Post-release, he lives the “Life of Riley” in Myrtle Beach—writing, mentoring, working out, and playing Pickleball daily. He has published eight books, produced a music album and is working on finishing up three more books.
Wilson’s message rings eternal: “Everything happens for a reason.” His Higher Power whom he calls God, guided him through hell to emerge stronger, calling readers to demand reform so no other patriot suffers the same fate. Raw, riveting, and redemptive, this book will leave you furious at the system, inspired by the man, and moved to tears by the love that carried him.
If you believe in truth, justice, and the Marine Corps we all swore to defend—read Undaunted Gladiator. Buy it. Share it. Join the fight to fix what’s broken. Semper Fi, Colonel. Your story isn’t over—it’s just beginning.
How I am recovering from alcoholism and my addictions.
I’m a late bloomer. It took retiring from the Marines, after nearly 39 years on active duty, to embrace a recovery program and stop using alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. I was 60 years old.
I was inspired at the four-year mark to write down my story in order to share my experience, strength and hope with others who might be inspired to quit any addiction that might haunting them. The insanity of it all!
In the tradition of Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, I decided to have the book authored by Dan W., given Bill wrote a book by Bill W. In the book, I candidly describe how I am recovering from the addictions of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. I say recovering specifically because I firmly believe that I will have the disease of alcoholism for the rest of my life. The second that I proclaim myself “recovered,” I believe that it will only be a matter of time before I start drinking alcohol again. “Complacency kills!” I view my sobriety as a temporary reprieve, and that my continued sobriety is contingent upon my spiritual condition. Therefore, I must put prioritize my spiritual growth every single day in order to stay away from that next drink. I take it one day at a time and today marks 1885 days of continuous sobriety…five years and two months exactly. I’m very thankful to my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God, for His grace and mercy and gifting me the miracle of sobriety for the longest period ever in my adult life.I sincerely hope that if you are able to read my story that you are inspired to commence a recovery journey of your own. I pray that you are one of the chosen ones afflicted with alcoholism, or addiction, and that recovery rockets you into the fourth dimension of living that you may live a life of serenity; happy, joyous, and free. These past five years have been the most awesome years of my life. I pray the same for you.
Here is my book and the link allows you to buy it straight from Amazon in any of four formats. If you do happen to read it, I’d certainly appreciate a review. Thank you, and may your recovery journey be slow. Enjoy the journey!
A must read for all Pickleball players at any level. This book WILL improve your game!
“Pickleball Battlefield: Mastering the Court with Warrior Legends” by Colonel Daniel Hunter Wilson is a groundbreaking fusion of military strategy and paddle sport genius. Drawing from legends like Shaka Zulu, Sun Tzu, and Chesty Puller, Wilson—a retired Marine infantry officer with nearly four decades of active duty experience—transforms Pickleball into a strategic battlefield.
Each chapter distills warrior wisdom into actionable tips: envelop opponents like Zulu horns, deceive like Sun Tzu, or charge relentlessly like Patton.
Humorous, insightful, and packed with personal anecdotes from Wilson’s African childhood to Iraq deployments, this book elevates your game while entertaining.
A must-read for warriors at heart. You will definitely improve your Pickleball game after reading the good Colonel’s book, whatever level player you are! Perfect for enthusiasts seeking an edge with a wink—Semper Fi on the court!
Hey there, fellow book lovers! If you’re anything like me, you occasionally stumble upon a story that doesn’t just entertain you—it reshapes how you view the world. That’s exactly what happened when I dove into Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. This isn’t just a book; it’s a raw, unflinching chronicle of one man’s extraordinary journey through hell and back. It is the ultimate example of human resilience!
Louis Zamperini’s life story is a masterclass in what it means to endure, adapt, and ultimately triumph. He exemplified what all of us Marines are taught by our Drill Instructors: “adapt, improvise and overcome!”
Unbroken follows the life of Louis Zamperini, a mischievous kid from California who channels his rebellious energy into becoming a world-class Olympic runner in the 1936 Berlin Games. But that’s just the setup. When World War II erupts, Zamperini’s path takes a dramatic turn into the Pacific theater, where he’s thrust into unimaginable trials: a harrowing plane crash, weeks adrift at sea facing starvation and sharks, and then the brutal realities of Japanese POW camps.
Hillenbrand, the same author behind Seabiscuit, weaves this narrative with meticulous research and vivid prose. She draws from interviews, diaries, and historical records to paint a picture that’s as historically accurate as it is emotionally charged. It’s not just a biography; it’s a pulse-pounding adventure that reads like a thriller, with themes of forgiveness, faith, and redemption threading through the chaos.
Zamperini isn’t a superhero—he’s flawed, impulsive, and very human. Yet, in the face of relentless physical and psychological torment, he clings to his dignity and will to survive. Hillenbrand doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors: the beatings, the deprivation, the mental breakdowns. But it’s through these that we see resilience in its purest form—not as some abstract ideal, but as a gritty, day-by-day choice to keep going.
What struck me most is how the book explores resilience beyond mere survival. It’s about rebuilding after the war, confronting PTSD (though it wasn’t called that back then), and finding peace. Zamperini’s story reminds us that true strength often emerges from our darkest moments. In a world where we all face our own battles—be it personal loss, health struggles, or everyday stresses—Unbroken is a beacon. It shows that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about piecing yourself back together when you shatter. A real-world Humpty Dumpty story of putting yourself back together with God’s spirit: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
Hillenbrand’s writing elevates this even further. Her attention to detail brings the era to life—the roar of bomber engines, the sting of saltwater, the quiet moments of camaraderie amid despair. If you’ve ever wondered how ordinary people rise to extraordinary challenges, this book answers it with unflinching honesty.
If you’re into history, biographies, or stories of triumph over adversity, Unbroken is a must. It’s perfect for fans of books like The Boys in the Boat or Band of Brothers. Even if WWII isn’t your usual jam, the universal themes make it accessible and inspiring. Just a heads up: it’s intense, so brace yourself for some tough scenes—but the payoff is worth it.
Unbroken left me in awe of the human capacity for endurance and forgiveness. It’s one of those rare reads that sticks with you long after the last page, urging you to reflect on your own resilience.
This book was a huge inspiration to me when I read it as a full bird Colonel on Parris Island. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Ah, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – hailed as a cornerstone of American literature, a satirical masterpiece that captures the spirit of the antebellum South. Or so they say. As someone who picked it up with high hopes, expecting a rollicking tale of rebellion and freedom on the Mississippi, I found myself more adrift in frustration than Huck ever was on his raft. This book, for all its acclaim, stretched my suspension of disbelief to the breaking point and left me questioning why it’s still peddled as essential reading. Let me count the ways it fell flat – and trust me, there are plenty.
First off, the plot meanders like the river it’s set on, but without any real current to propel it forward. Huck and Jim’s journey starts with promise: a boy escaping his abusive father, teaming up with an enslaved man seeking freedom. Sounds gripping, right? Wrong. What follows is a series of episodic detours that feel tacked on and utterly pointless. From the absurd feud between the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons – a pointless bloodbath that comes out of nowhere and resolves just as abruptly – to the con artists Duke and Dauphin hijacking the narrative with their ridiculous schemes, the story lurches from one contrived adventure to the next. It’s like Twain couldn’t decide on a cohesive storyline, so he just threw in whatever popped into his liquor-addled head. By the time they hit the Phelps farm for that interminable finale, I was begging for the book to end. Yes, begging!
Speaking of stretching incredulity, let’s talk about the sheer implausibility of it all. Huck, a barely literate kid from the backwoods, outsmarts adults left and right with disguises and lies that wouldn’t fool a toddler. He dresses as a girl? Sure, and no one notices his obvious boyish mannerisms until it’s convenient for the plot. Jim, portrayed as superstitious and naive, somehow survives endless perils through sheer luck rather than agency. And don’t get me started on the ending – Tom Sawyer’s elaborate “rescue” plan for Jim, which involves ridiculous contraptions like baking a pie with a rope ladder inside. It’s supposed to be satirical, poking fun at romanticized adventure novels, but it comes off as infuriatingly juvenile and undermines the book’s serious themes of slavery and morality. If satire requires me to suspend disbelief this much, count me out – it just feels lazy.
Then there’s the handling of race, which is a minefield of outdated stereotypes that make the book uncomfortable at best and offensive at worst. Jim is meant to be a sympathetic character, but Twain reduces him to a caricature: overly superstitious, speaking in dialect that’s played for laughs, and often the butt of Huck’s pranks. The infamous use of the N-word – over 200 times – is defended as “historically accurate,” but in a modern reading, it grates and distracts. Sure, Twain was critiquing racism, but the execution feels half-baked; Huck’s moral growth arc, where he decides to “go to hell” rather than turn Jim in, is poignant in isolation, but surrounded by so much problematic portrayal, it loses its impact. Why glorify a book that perpetuates harmful tropes under the guise of satire when there are better ways to explore these issues today?
Pacing is another sore spot. The book drags in parts, with long descriptions of the river and Huck’s introspections that add little to the momentum. Twain’s folksy narration might charm some, but to me, it read like filler – endless tangents on Southern life that bog down the action. And the humor? Overrated. What passes for wit often relies on slapstick or exaggerated dialects that haven’t aged well, leaving me more cringing than chuckling.
In the end, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn promised an epic tale of freedom and friendship but delivered a bloated, unbelievable mess that tests patience more than it enlightens. If you’re looking for a classic that holds up, skip this one and raft on to something else. Twain might be a legend, but this particular adventure sank for me. What about you – have you read it? Share your thoughts in the comments, but don’t expect me to defend it!
A 110 PERCENT MENTALITY-THE COLONEL'S CORNER 