Perspective

Marlantes' book is highly personal and his arguments are drawn directly from his own experiences in combat and as a combat veteran. He is writing about forty years after his combat experience in Vietnam and has a perspective colored by those intervening decades.

His own changing perspective on his Vietnam service is a frequent subject in the book. He recognizes that his perspective as a young officer in his early 20s was very different than the perspective he has now in his 60s. As a young man in combat, he was thrilled by the action and sought situations where he might be recognized for his heroism. He relates the two incidents that eventually resulted in his being awarded Navy Cross medals. His perspective changed once he returned home, however. He believed his recognition as a war hero gave him privileges, but was set straight by a superior officer...