Capturing the chaotic nature of the U.S. Marine experience at war in Vietnam, this memoir recounts the experiences of a young officer in a series of unrelated short pieces. In a narrative as fragmented as the war itself, the only resolution is the same one reached by the Marines who fought--the conclusion of a tour of duty with no happy ending. Each chapter describes a specific event, a story of emotion, or a remarkable person (some are heroes, some are cowards). The reader lives the experience alongside the author, gaining a true sense of the pulse-pounding contact, surrealism, pathos, humor, and beauty that defined one of the low points of the American experience. "Franklin Cox has written about U.S. Marines in the Vietnam War in a strong, spot-on, and impressive way. For the Vietnam vet the words are a dramatic look back at what we experienced as young combat warriors. Cox hits the wave tops of the emotions, fear, challenges, hardships, and personal and professional achievements we now look back and reflect upon. Bravo Zulu, well done!" --Robert Coram, author of Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War ; "The ethos of Marines in battle has never been captured better. Franklin Cox is the new balladeer of the USMC." -- H.C. "Barney" Barnum, Colonel of Marines (Ret.) and Medal of Honor Recipient-Vietnam (added by author) Mirroring the chaotic nature of the American experience at war in Vietnam, this memoir recounts the experiences of a young Marine Corps officer in a series of unrelated short pieces. The flow of the narrative is as ephemeral and fragmented as the war itself. The only resolution is the same one reached by the Marines who fought--an ending of a tour of duty with no happy ending. Each chapter describes a specific event, a story of emotion, or a remarkable person (some are heroes, some are cowards). The reader lives the experience alongside the author's memory, gaining a true sense of the pulse-pounding contact, surrealism, pathos, humor, and beauty that defined one of the low points of the American experience. Mirroring the chaotic nature of the American experience at war in Vietnam, this memoir recounts the experiences of a young Marine Corps officer in a series of unrelated short pieces. The flow of the narrative is as ephemeral and fragmented as the war itself. The only resolution is the same one reached by the Marines who fought--an ending of a tour of duty with no happy ending. Each chapter describes a specific event, a story of emotion, or a remarkable person (some are heroes, some are cowards). The reader lives the experience alongside the author's memory, gaining a true sense of the pulse-pounding contact, surrealism, pathos, humor, and beauty that defined one of the low points of the American experience. The late Franklin Cox, former CEO of Pecan Productions Studios, Inc., lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Used Book in Good Condition