Running Between Raindrops

Dale Dye’s March through the Mud to the Movies

Available for Preorder Now! Publish Date: 12 January 2027

The story of Capt. Dale A. Dye’s life: St. Louis, the Marine Corps, Vietnam, and the fight to make Hollywood treat warriors as they actually are. Written in the same voice that trained the casts of Platoon and Saving Private Ryan.

This is the memoir. The 1985 novel Run Between the Raindrops is a separate book.

“Read a book about the war in Vietnam and understand this: Dale Dye was there. Do the same about the recent doings of Show Biz, Hollywood and some of the greatest projects on screen. Dale Dye was there, too. Then, read his book and you will have learned a thing or two.”

—Tom Hanks, Academy Award-winning Actor, Writer, Director

“This is a “must read” by a straight-talking, no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is Marine. It’s the true story of a passionate patriot, a steadfast friend, and a great American. From the battlefield to the Hollywood back lot; Dale Dye has done it all!”

—Oliver L. North, LtCol, USMC (Ret.)

“From Platoon to Alexander, Dale’s been a valuable collaborator, a dear friend, and a wonderful throwback to another era and a culture of hard men. It’s a fun read, and Dale’s dry wit shows on every page—reliving the experiences we shared, as well as some incredible things I’d never heard about before.”

—Oliver Stone, Director/Writer

“Dale Dye is incredibly frank, honest, and in-your-face…and you will love it! Get comfortable because you won’t put it down until you’re finished.”

Dale Brown, New York Times best-selling author of Edge Of Battle and Flight of the Old Dog

“It’s a great read: funny and riveting, right from the git-go. But more importantly, it is an important book. Damned important. As for me, all I can say is, “A damned good job, Marine! Well done!” For all the GIs out there who had to suck shit in the post-Vietnam era, and for all the kids who came home since then and were treated right, I just gotta say, “Thanks.”

—Lt.Col. Dave Grossman, USA (Ret.), best-selling author, On Killing, On Combat

Additional information

Description

It’s a long and twisted road between a two-decade stint in the United States Marine Corps and a legendary career in Hollywood—and Dale Dye has consistently walked it with a colorful step. Early on, Dye found himself pulled between a fascination with men at war and a creative itch that demanded scratching. How he put it all together and shuffled the cards to come up with a winning hand in two distinctly differing worlds is the story he tells in Running Between Raindrops.

It’s an insightful and penetrating look at a man who brought a degree of brilliance to formulating and delivering raw truths to audiences worldwide. In his telling of an often powerful and frequently painful life story, we come to understand Dale Dye’s unique worldview developed in war and in peace in and out of uniform. Here’s an explanation of Dye’s ribald take on the art of war and war as art guiding him to become a reliable source of support for some of the world’s greatest filmmakers.

Running Between Raindrops is also a uniquely personal story, one of opportunities created and taken by a man who rolled with painful punches over eight decades involving physical, mental, and moral wounds to become a celebrated showbiz icon.

Book excerpt

Part I · The Art of War

As I’m wont to do on occasions where I need good council, I was taste-testing a new batch of old bourbon. With me was my best friend and a confirmed scotch snob who was drinking some concocted swill called Rusty Nails. When Mike Stokey began poking at ice cubes with a pinky finger, it seemed the time was right to discuss what was on my mind, which was writing a book about my life.

“Might be some juicy stuff right there.” Mike sucked scotch and grinned. “But I’d advise caution. Might be best if you tried something like a roman à clef.”

“Might work…” I fiddled with a coaster stolen from some Hollywood red carpet event. “If I knew what the hell a roman à clef was.”

Mike sighed. It was his way of indicating I should know such things but didn’t, as usual. “A roman à clef is generally a novel in which actual persons or places are depicted in a fictional guise.”

“Yes. A truthful book lightly layered with bullshit. The same kind of bullshit you usually write.”

“And you should. Write about your life and times. You have lived a very weird life. People might be interested.”

Well, let’s just see about that.

From Running Between Raindrops by Dale A. Dye.

Dale Dye's Autobiography