John was born in a small town in Texas in 1943.  He joined the United States Marine Corps at age seventeen.  After serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, he left the Marines Corps in 1969. A Night Drive is based on a large, sponteneous operation in the Que Son Valley in 1967.  In that battle, John was wounded on September 6, 1967, and med-evaced.  He voluntarily returned to Vietnam in late 1968, and was involved in the combined action program until he rotated in late 1969.  In October of that year, he decided to leave the Marine Corps and pursue another career.  He currently resides on a small farm in east Texas where he spends his time writing.  John passed away on January 24, 2010, in Tyler, Texas.  His grandson, Steve, created a facebook page---In Loving Memory of John E. Brackeen.  You can also access information on his webpage.