Bruce Sydow

Bruce Sydow's Portrait
Painted by his wife, Danella Sydow

Danella Sydow, the artist, in 2024
Celebrating a quarter-century of love

Combat-Decorated Marine

Bruce Sydow's Book Cover Portrait
Painted by his wife, Danella Sydow

Bruce Sydow in Vietnam, 6/17/1970
Combat Photo by a Fellow Marine

A Marine Corps veteran, Bruce Sydow was a 19-year-old Huey door gunner in Vietnam, flying in combat missions in Landing Zone Baldy and Hill 63.

He holds the following medals for courage and devotion to duty:
Family Life

Danella Sydow Holds Lady Liberty
Photo by Erika Schultz, The Seattle Times

Bruce lives in a picturesque seaside village on the Case Inlet with his soulmate and extraordinary wife, > Danella Sydow. A graduate of the University of Washington, she holds a Master of Fine Arts from Washington State University.

Celebrating 25 years of love in 2024

Danella & Bruce on Wedding Day
Acrylic on Canvas by Danella Sydow

Published Author

Bruce Sydow's poem, "Surviving Christmas," was nominated for the 2024 > Pushcart Prize. It is published in an anthology with a cover featuring Danella's painting of Bruce as a 19-year-old Marine. The book, edited by Mary Senter of Milltown Press, was a 2024 finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.  

Photo by Mary Senter, Publisher and Editor

Award-Winning Counselor

Bruce holds a master's degree from the University of Washington in Seattle (where he received a research assistantship from the National Institute of Mental Health).  He served as a counselor in treatment centers providing therapy for over 1,000 clients. 

Rebuilding Hope! (the Sexual Assault Prevention Center of Tacoma and Pierce County) elected Bruce to their Board of Directors and honored him with the > Gold Star Award.

Award-Winning Professor

Over 10,000 students, at two universities and five community colleges, have enrolled in Bruce's courses. He was elected Professor of the Year at two colleges and is the recipient of the Board of Trustees > Exceptional Teaching Award at another college.

Home on the Case Inlet

The Sydows moved into their craftsman-style house after negotiating an all-cash purchase without the use of realtors or agents. They live a mortgage-free life.

The Sydow's Rural Home in Lakeland Village

Located near a seaside village on the Case Inlet in Mason County, their home is an hour drive from Danella's extended family. Their one-third acre backyard has become a sanctuary for migratory birds, deer and other wildlife. 

The Sydow's Backyard

The redesign of their property (which features two large porches, three skylights and a 17-foot cathedral ceiling) involved removing and repurposing 1,000 square feet of decking. View their > renovations.

They are richly blessed

Selected Publications

The Spray of Destruction
Gonzaga University, Reflection, 2026

The D.I.'s Homage to Emma Lazarus
Poetry Society of Virginia, 2026

Surviving Christmas
G.I. Days: Anthology of Military Life, 2024

Lord, Let the Water Run Clear
Proud to Be, 2023

We Were Hollywood Marines
Proud to Be, 2020

Shooting the Curl
Castabout Literature, 2019

A Sunlit Poppy Morning
Proud to Be, 2018

Dragon Fruit Cacti
Blue Streak: Journal of Military Poetry, 2018

Rolling Thunder, Vietnam
Perfume River Poetry Review, 2017

Requiem for Nu
Proud to Be, 2017

R & R in Sydney
Penduline Press, 2016

All Marines are Green
Proud to Be, 2015

My North Star
Proud to Be, 2014

Destiny in Bangkok
Tell Us a Story, 2013

Charlie is Stealing for Home
Proud to Be, 2013

Lake Serene
Proud to Be, 2012

Union Town
In Tahoma’s Shadow, 2009