Matterhorn

The novel, Matterhorn, was written in 2010 by Karl Marlantes.  The story is about a rifle platoon of Marines in Vietnam in the late 1960's.  And it's graphic, very graphic.  The author is a decorated Marine who served in Vietnam so he probably knows what he is talking about.  Some parts of the book were hard to read.  After reading about what our Marines went through in Vietnam I can totally understand why so many of them are broken and homeless and unable to fit in our society.  I think the author does a fantastic job of describing, in detail, the trials and tribulations of being in Vietnam and fighting against the North Vietnamese Army.  He writes about the leeches, the jungle rot, the malaria, the humping through the dense grass and jungles without enough fresh water and food.  He writes about the K rations and the Kool Aid.  Who else remembers Goofy Grape, Freckleface Strawberry, Rooting Tooting Raspberry and Baron Von Lemon?  He writes about the decisions made by Marines from a distance and sending a rifle platoon into the dangerous jungle without adequate supplies and asking them to do impossible things within insane timelines.  He includes war crimes and the tension between black Marines and white Marines.  He writes about fragging - the attempt to kill unpopular officers or non-commissioned officers. Like I said, this was a hard book to read.  Marlantes also accurately describes the peace marches and the Congressional oversight and the turn of public opinion against the war in Vietnam.  The late 1960's was not a pleasant time for our country.  Sometimes it is good for me to read historical books that are difficult.  If I aim to be a well rounded person, I need to read about our dirty laundry too.