Lieutenant General Trainor entered the Marine Corps in 1946 as a private and retired in 1985 as a Lieutenant General. He retired from the post of deputy chief of staff for Plans, Policies, and Operations and Marine Corps deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He attended ROTC and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1951. He then joined the 1st Marine Division in Korea, as infantry platoon leader with Charlie Company 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. During 1955-1959, Captain Trainor served on exchange duty with the Royal Marine Commandoes, where he commanded Alpha Troop, 45 Commando, on the island of Malta. Before going to Vietnam, Major Trainor attended a Special Forces course and, while in Vietnam, served in an unconventional warfare unit (special operations group [SOG]), whose operations were publicly recognized in 2001 by award of a Presidential Unit Citation for heroism. Lieutenant Colonel Trainor returned to Vietnam in 1969 where he commanded 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and then the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1974, Colonel Trainor became the director of the 1st Marine District in New York City, responsible for recruiting and reserve matters in the northeastern states. Brigadier General Trainor was the assistant depot commander at Parris Island in 1976. In 1978 Major General Trainor became the director of the Marine Corps Educational Center. In 1981, Lieutenant General Trainor assumed the duties of director of Plans Division at Headquarters Marine Corps. In 1983, he was appointed to the post of deputy chief of staff for Plans, Policies, and Operations and Marine Corps deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Includes index. Interviews conducted between December 1985 and March 1988.