Young Vandegrift, known as "Archer" in his boyhood, had an interest in the military – both from reading military history novels and from stories of ancestors who fought in various wars.
Den unge Vandegrift, der blev kaldt "Archer" mens han var dreng, havde interesse for militæret – både fra at læse militærhistoriske romaner og fra at høre historier om forfædre, der havde kæmpet i forskellige krige.