Vietnam

This is the divided country in Southeast Asia where American troops fought on the side of South Vietnam against the North Vietnamese Army, which was backed by China. The war was unpopular in the United States and soldiers like Marlantes were sometimes confronted about their service after returning home. The conflict in Vietnam is usually called the Vietnam War

Columbia River

This is a major river that empties into the Pacific Ocean between Oregon and Washington. Marlantes grew up near the Columbia and helped his grandfather on his fishing boat at the mouth of the river.

Oxford University

This is a distinguished university in Oxford, England, where Marlantes attended on a Rhodes Scholarship.

Yale University

This is a distinguished American university where Marlantes graduated.

The Pentagon

These are the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. Marlantes worked at the Pentagon after...