Puller won the Pulitzer Prize for this book but killed himself a few years after it was published. His suicide undercut the message of the book, which was how he overcame the psychological scars of being a triple amputee. Puller was the son of the most famous Marine in U.S. history. As such, much was expected of him. He went to Vietnam, stepped on a mine, and lost two legs and one arm. Post-surgery, he struggles with the psychological impact of being a triple amputee and with alcoholism. One of his friends during recovery was another amputee, Bob Kerrey, who went on to be a U.S. Senator.

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Gripping emotional autobiography by the son of the USMC's most decorated and famous Marine who decided to follow his father's path. It came very close to killing him and his long journey thru recovery is painful and enlightning. A wide eyed view and critique of America's participation in and subsequent coming to terms with the Vietnam conflict.

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