Trudy Sundberg may be petite, but she can get a room full of Marines to pay close attention.

The local author of the book “O’Bannon: Lieutenant Presley Neville O’Bannon, USMC Hero of the War with Barbary Pirates in Tripoli,” spoke to nearly 100 Marines from the Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 53 last Friday at the Officers’ Club on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

“Every American pays tribute to Lt. Presley O’Bannon whenever someone sings the first line of the “Marines’ Hymn,” which begins “From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli,”” Sundberg told the crowd.

She shared a little of O’Bannon’s story — of the conditions the Marines endured as they marched 500 hundred miles across the desert and O’Bannon’s triumph as the first man to raise the American flag in victory on foreign soil.

Cpl. Lilani Mayes read an excerpt from the book, and members of the audience asked questions. 1st Lt. Ferguson Dale, who had found Sundberg’s previous book on O’Bannon, “Valiant Virginian,” was curious about the difference between the two books.

“The first was more of a genealogy,” explained Sundberg, adding that the new book goes into greater detail of the Marines’ mission.

“This book will resonate with what’s going on in that region even today,” said MATSG-53 Commanding Officer, Col. Bradley Close, who recommended the book as a good historical reference.

Another player in the story is Gen. William Eaton, who led the mission and who usually overshadows O’Bannon in the accounts of the Battle of Derna.

“He (Eaton) was definitely involved in it, but the whole emphasis is on O’Bannon,” Sundberg said.

“It’s hard not to have Eaton in the book because he was such an audacious character,” agreed Close.

Sundberg drew an appreciative laugh when she explained to the Marines how she got ready for her lecture.

“To prepare for today I have watched six Marine movies,” Sundberg said. She is no stranger to military life, however. Her late husband, John, was a Navy Captain, commanding two squadrons at NAS Whidbey and serving in Washington D.C. as well as a military attache at the Hague, the Netherlands.

Following her presentation, Col. Close presented Sundberg with a unit coin. Marines then lined up to have Sundberg autograph copies of their books. All proceeds will go to Marine bookstores, Sundberg said.

Chief Warrant Officer James St. Pierre said he thought Sundberg’s book should be required reading for all young junior officers who might complain about their job.

“Read this and tell me if Lt. Presley O’Bannon complained,” he said.