Read more
A poignant memoir that recounts the author's hair-raising--and occasionally hilarious--experiences as a young, not especially gung-ho Marine artilleryman in Vietnam. Gritty and disturbing, Bill Jones' unvarnished narrative probes the lasting physical and emotional wounds of war and offers a combat veteran's wry insight into the influence and relevance of America's long and indecisive misadventure.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Foreword by Vess Quinlan
Poem: The Body Burning Detail
Preface
¿1.¿Pack Your Trash
¿2.¿We Don't Want Any Candy Asses
¿3.¿I Can't Hear You!
Poem: Lights Out
¿4.¿Breathe. Relax. Aim. Sight. Squeeze.
¿5.¿Fortunate Son
¿6.¿You Guys Have No Idea
¿7.¿Shredded Wheat
¿8.¿A Live Dog ... A Dead Lion
¿9.¿A World of Shit
10.¿Chicken Plates
11.¿Magnificent Bastards
12.¿A Mexican Angel
Poem: Fixation
13.¿You Will Probably Get Killed Anyway
14.¿Good Morning, Vietnam!
15.¿I Will Be in the Area All Day
16.¿A Sexist Pig
17.¿Short-Arm Inspection
18.¿A Magic Show
19.¿Ann-Margret's Panties
20.¿Two-Legged Rats
21.¿Smoking Is Hazardous to Your Health
Poem: Chief
22.¿Bob's Wife
23.¿More Like an Earthworm
24.¿Friendly Fire
25.¿Regrets
26.¿Bad News
27.¿In Country R&R
28.¿LZ Sitting Duck
29.¿Playboy Foldout
30.¿A Gook Killing Machine
31.¿Grand Theft Auto
32.¿Fix Bayonets
Poem: Near Laos
33.¿Show Him the Scalp
34.¿Chief
35.¿REMF's
36.¿Miss Congeniality
37.¿Dogpatch
Poem: Heathen Killer
38.¿A Frogman in Miami
39.¿A Lot of Fat Sailors
40.¿Things Are Different Out There
41.¿Search and Avoid
42.¿Go Along to Get Along
43.¿Fire Ants on a Dead Bird
44.¿Full Circle
45.¿Tiger Piss
Poem: Five Days Home
46.¿A Little Too Cute
47.¿Blood Money
48.¿Police Only
Epilogue
Index
About the author
Bill Jones is a retired Special Agent with the CSX Railroad Police and former newspaper columnist with the Wyoming State Journal. A regular contributor to RANGE magazine, his poetry and articles have been published in a variety of anthologies, books and periodicals. He lives in Middlesboro, Kentucky.
Summary
A poignantly written and heartfelt memoir that recounts the author's hair raising - and occasionally hilarious - experience as a young Marine artilleryman in Vietnam. Gritty, unvarnished and often disturbing at times, the book provides a unique window into the lasting physical and emotional wounds of war.
