cover image Memories Unleashed: Vietnam Legacy

Memories Unleashed: Vietnam Legacy

Carl Rudolph Small. Casemate, $29.95 (192p) ISBN 978-1-61200-698-7

Debut author Small takes an innovative approach to his fairly typical combat experience in the Vietnam War, structuring this brief, introspective memoir as a series of short stories written in the third person, referring to himself only as “the marine.” During his 1969–1970 tour of duty, Small saw much combat as a Marine Corps rifleman in two assault force units—a “ ‘Grunt’; ground-pounder; man-hunter,” as he puts it—though his mind turned often to prayer and his beloved girlfriend at home. The best stories evoke the world of a Marine Corps grunt in and out of combat: killing a Viet Cong soldier in hand-to-hand combat, bartering chocolate bars for a tree to decorate for Christmas to boost morale, confronting fellow servicemembers’ addictions, approaching a village only to see a parent run past and set down a swaddled baby, for protection. The recreations of war experiences are powerfully written in sincere, staccato prose. Those looking for a creative, slightly different type of Vietnam War memoir will find this one to their taste. [em](Apr.) [/em]