LESSONS LEARNED: LEADERSHIP, FIELDCRAFT & CHARACTER
A Pocket Resource from the Heart of a Marine Series
By LTCOL Tom Williams, USMC (Ret.)
About the Book
From a Spartan childhood to commanding Marines in the jungles of Vietnam, Tom Williams forged his leadership in the crucible of real danger, real mistakes, and real growth. Lessons Learned captures that lived wisdom and delivers it in a compact, rugged guide designed for use in the field.
Small enough to slip into a cargo pocket but packed with battlefield insight, this guide is written especially for cadets, junior officers, and service leaders-in-training. It doesn’t deal in hypotheticals—it teaches what works under pressure.
What’s Inside
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Short, focused chapters on leadership, decision-making, and command presence
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Advice on discipline, confidence, and leading by example
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Fieldcraft insights rooted in real operations, not theory
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Moral lessons on integrity, loyalty, courage, and service
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Language that speaks directly to the reader—clear, respectful, and direct
Built for the Field
Smaller than standard format (4.5" x 6.5"), the book is ideal for stowing in a pocket or pack. This compact leadership and fieldcraft guide is drawn from a lifetime of military experience, Lessons Learned is designed to be used in the field—not just read at home. Durable, concise, and written in a style that reflects Tom Williams’ decades of service across multiple deployments, this is a true pocket companion for cadets, training officers, and emerging leaders who want practical tools they can carry anywhere.
A Voice You Can Trust
Written by LTCOL Tom Williams, USMC (Ret.), whose Heart of a Marine series has earned praise from senior commanders and veterans alike. His battlefield diaries and decades of command experience form the foundation of every lesson in this book. “These aren’t just tips from a textbook. They’re hard-earned truths from the field—passed on to prepare you for the moment when it’s your turn to lead.”
— Tom Williams