Not one for reading books from a Marine officer's perspective, I did not think I would enjoy this, and I'm not even sure why I have it. But it was a stunning read. Really captured the absurdity, brutality and inanity of the war. It felt honest, which is what I appreciate most. And if things were this messed up from the invader's side of things, imagine what was inflicted on the Vietnamese, who hardly enter into the equation in this novel. Well, that actually doesn't have to be imagined, as it has been well documented.