Imitate the Tiger

by J.F. Cody

The rapid dispatch of Olympia to Murmansk in the spring of 1918 was a direct result of not heeding a warning by George Washington. In the First President

400 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[SemperRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Imitate the Tiger” follows Bill White, a young Marine shaped by shipboard life, small wars, and the brutal reality of World War I. From the Caribbean to France and even the frozen fight in Russia, the novel captures a time when Marines were constantly engaged, often in places history barely remembers.

This novel is about coming of age in a Corps that is constantly at war, whether the world is paying attention or not. The lessons passed down through leaders and experience gained. Respect the fight, but never lose yourself to it. When the moment comes, act with purpose. That idea, drawn from Shakespeare, runs through every chapter.

From rifle ranges to shipboard routines, from ceremony to chaos, everything feels grounded in real experience. The dialogue reflects the mindset of Marines, especially the balance between professionalism, pride, and quiet confidence.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book with all of its inside stories of the Marine Corps in WWI. Also the close relationship of some parts of the story to the career of the writer J.F. body, who was my Captain in the MARDET on the USS Intrepid during 1963 - 64.
Captain Cody was a Mustang meaning he had been an enlisted Marine, and later became a Marine Officer.
A bit of a spoiler at the end when the main character has a sudden change in his career path.