Nicholas Proffitt
Nicholas Proffitt was an American author and journalist born in 1943 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964, achieving the rank of sergeant. After earning a B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1968, Proffitt worked as a journalist for Newsweek during the 1970s, where he reported from various international locations, including Vietnam, Lebanon, and Kenya. His experiences in journalism heavily influenced his writing, particularly in his novels, which often delve into military themes and the complexities of war.
Proffitt's debut novel, *Gardens of Stone*, explores the Vietnam War and the psychological and emotional impacts of military service on soldiers and their families. The story follows Jack Willow, a soldier seeking glory, as he navigates his journey through disillusionment and loss. His subsequent works, including *The Embassy House* and *Edge of Eden*, continue to reflect his interests in war and its consequences, with a focus on the lives of enlisted soldiers. Proffitt's novels were recognized for their authentic settings and character-driven narratives. He passed away on November 10, 2006, in Naples, Florida, after a battle with kidney cancer.
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Nicholas Proffitt
Author
- Born: February 23, 1943
- Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- Died: November 10, 2006
- Place of death: Naples, Florida
Biography
Nicholas Proffitt was born in1943 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to army sergeant Stanley Proffitt and Rose Angeline Graziani Proffitt. He served in the army between 1961 and 1964, attaining the rank of sergeant. He earned a B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1968.
Proffitt spent the 1970’s as a journalist working for Newsweek magazine. He was a correspondent in Saigon, South Vietnam, between 1971 and 1972 and served as that city’s bureau chief from 1972 to 1973; he later reported from Beirut, Lebanon; London; Houston, Texas; and Nairobi, Kenya. He left Newsweek in 1981 and began writing novels, his dream since childhood.
Proffitt’s journalistic experiences provided him with excellent material for novels. His first novel, Gardens of Stone, is about the Vietnam War and examines the idea of military service, the personalities of military men, and the effects of military life on soldiers’ spouses and partners. At Fort Myer, Virginia, members of the U.S. Army’s First Battalion, Third Infantry Division, are charged with the highly ceremonial burials at Arlington National Cemetery. Jack Willow realizes that by performing this duty, he never will be engaged in combat and will spend the war safely in the United States; Willow desires glory and wants to be stationed in Vietnam. Soon he develops a friendship with two combat veterans, Clell Hazard and Thurgood Nelso, who oppose the Vietnam War. The novel also examines the conflicting views of the women who love these men. Ultimately, Willow makes it into Officer Candidate School and winds up in Vietnam, where he grows disillusioned. He eventually is sent back to Virginia, this time in a coffin, and his friends supervise his burial. The novel was adapted as a motion picture released in 1987
Proffitt’s second novel, The Embassy House, is also set in Vietnam, while his third novel, Edge of Eden, takes place in Kenya during the 1970’s and is about poachers who kill wild animals for profit. Proffitt’s novels received critical praise for their foreign locales, historical and political verisimilitude, and stories about antagonism within the military. Critics were particularly impressed by his focus on the experiences of enlisted soldiers rather than on officers.
Profitt died of kidney cancer on November 10, 2006, at his home in Naples, Florida.