Vagabonds in Southeast Asia

Book excerpt: Mark Del Savio is deployed to Vietnam ten days after marrying the beautiful but capricious Serena. The forced separation immediately after the nuptials puts an immediate strain on their relationship. Serena miscarries their child early on in Mark’s tour, which begins a downward spiral in their marriage. Mark gets run over by a US Army truck during the Tet Offensive of 1968 while working in the Long Binh Ammunition Depot, has a near-death experience, and begins to cope with life in a hedonistic fashion. This point of demarcation has him living life on the edge as if each day were his last and as one endless adventure. The war itself is simply a backdrop to this story that sometimes interrupts with rocket attacks, massive explosions, and the death of fellow soldiers. When he faces the reality of returning home, it turns out to be his biggest challenge of all.