The Lighter Side of Vietnam

Ceaseless gunfire. Gruesome injuries. Enemies lurking in the dark, muggy jungle-these are the images most people see when they imagine the Vietnam War.

In Pat Capainolo's gripping and very human autobiography, we get a much different viewpoint on this historical event. Rather than the horrors of daily enemy assaults, Capainolo describes entirely unexpected dangers-his fellow soldiers.

That included Bates-a madman who every day lived up to his nickname from the film Psycho-as well as the soldier who sold sodas from his fridge but got violent when asked for change.

The memoir encompasses Capainolo's life from birth in the wake of World War II to his service in Cam Ranh Bay. At every step, Capainolo weaves his story with unwavering honesty, attention to detail, and a touch of humor, creating a captivating look at one man's life and all the crucial ways in which the military derailed, heightened, and shaped the entire course of his story.