review 1: The first half of this memoir details the life of Robert Timberg, when he was serving as a U.S. marine in Vietnam. With his countdown to going home down to a meager 13 days, he suffers horrendous injuries from a land mine. The story of the pain and suffering and multiple surgeries he endured almost brought me to tears. But, in the second half of the book, it seems his ego took over and ran wild. He was a man of contradictions. He despises young men of his generation who avoided the draft by any means possible, but at the same time he mentions his own uncertainty as to why the war was fought. He writes of the IranContra Affair and seems to lose his perspective as a reporter. He excuses the actions of those brought down by the affair because they were good Marines an... mored Annapolis graduates. As was he. I just couldn't get very invested in him once he turned the book into, what seemed to me, a vendetta against those who protested the war. And a blank check for those who didn't. review 2: I enjoyed Timberg's book, "The Nightengale's Song," and this memoir doesn't disappoint either. I have some things in common with him: USNA graduate and Marine officer and perhaps a desire to be journalistic-like. But that's where it ends. He was only 13 days away from completing his tour in Vietnam when on a simple admin errand to pay the troops his vehicle struck a mine and his life was forever changed. This is candid and confessional up to a point. Timberg sounds like a difficult man to live with as he fought his demons. He owns up to bad behavior and bears his soul throughout while still keeping some secrets to himself. He is now twice divorced and gets along fabuously with his ex-wives and his children. I wish him the best and hope he has some more books to produce as he is objective while being passionate. less
