Battle Cry by Leon Uris, published in 1953

Written by a WWII United States Marine shortly after wartime, the novel Battle Cry follows a group of young men from the train ride that takes them to boot camp in San Diego through South Pacific fighting. A few of the characters:

"Mac": A Master Tech Sergeant, a career Marine with 30 years of service in the Corps, and the Battalion Communications Chief. He gives his name only as "Mac." He is the book's primary narrator and provides much of the old hand viewpoint of the story, also providing perspective on changes in the Marine Corps during the war.

Daniel "Danny" Forester: An All-American boy from Baltimore. While the book does not have one central character, the story tends to focus on Danny more than anyone else. He leaves High School before graduation and gives up a scholarship to Georgia Tech to join the Marine Corps when the war breaks out; goes through Boot Camp and becomes a member of 2nd Battalion's radio squad.

Lamont Quincy "L.Q." Jones: The unit's clown, from Los Angeles. He goes through Boot Camp with Danny and is assigned to the radio squad.

Constantine "Ski" Zvonski: A street youth from Philadelphia, from a Polish immigrant family. He also goes though Boot Camp with Danny and LQ, and is assigned to the radio squad.

Marion "Sister Mary" Hodgekiss: A small town boy and the unit's intellectual, with a fondness for classical music and poetry, particularly Shakespeare. Aspires to be a writer. A member of the radio squad.

Leon Uris as a young Marine in WWII