Ratcatcher, In the Marine Newsletter I receive (www.grunt.com/newsletter ) The book, as well as the show were ripped pretty badly. The main complaint was that even though the author described what he saw because he did not understand the "Marine/military culture" his portrayal was highly inaccurate. Like asking a cave man to describe a helicopter he lacked the frame of reference to understand what was going on around him and often misunderstood events and comments.
For example, pre engagement banter, usually an attempt to lighten the mood, and steady nervous troops is not seen by the author as "elan" and "Esprit de corps", but are portrayed as callousness and cynicism.
Tom,
I would agree with you. He does describe the action but can not understand why things happen. He went from the Village Voice in NYC to a running gunbattle in Iraq in a matter of days. He was clueless but what he was feeliing and seeing are well written.
In one case a Marine offers him a firearm as they are going to make a mad dash thru enemy village in a HUMVEE.
The author refuses because guns make him uncomfortable. The grunt thinks he's nuts.
Mr. Wright makes no bones about the fact that he can't understand the Marines, especially several enlisted men who join after college.
He does praise their courage and teamwork.
IMHO I would say that if you read it you would identify with the Marines and the laugh at the author. My father in law (SGTMAJ USMC) had no problem with it.
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