Above is Karl Marlantes, the author of the excellent Vietnam novel, Matterhorn and, more recently, his nonfiction book, What It’s Like to Go to War.
And this is the author Tim O’Brien, author of many fine books, but author most indelibly, most immortally of The Things They Carried, about his time in Vietnam. They don’t come much better than this book.
Both are works that help us understand and honor our combat veterans better.
It is our job to do so.
PS: Yes, we know that it’s Memorial Day, not Veterans’ Day, but were taking this opportunity anyway.