Robert Francis Donalee is 18 years old. He has grown up a red-blooded all-American boy. He played sports in high school and was vice president of his class. After graduating he goes to work as an auto mechanic. Susie, his high school sweetheart, and he are saving money for their destined wedding. Life is enjoyable and fun. He never expects to get drafted. He certainly does not expect to become a marine. His MOS (method of service) is 0311, a rifleman. Like most Marines in the 1960s, he is a grunt, a ground pounder, an expendable piece of U.S. government property. Six months later he is fighting for his life in a jungle 9,000 miles away. This is the story of his time in Vietnam-how he goes from a naive country boy to a killer. The depravity, hardship, and suffering of war. While his story is not typical, for many it was. The language, actions, and events are from that time period. I make no attempt at a political statement, only thoughts and beliefs of a young Marine in the 1960s. The readers who are too young to remember Vietnam will find his story enlightening. If I offend my brother Marines or anyone that served in Vietnam, I apologize up front. Remember this is a novel. IF I made any procedure or technical errors, I am an old man now, trying to remember events from fifty years ago.
