This novel of the Vietnam War displays the ambitions of a young Marine Lieutenant who want to command a unit to further his political ambitions at home.  Read how this hard charging officer meets opposition and how and why he rethinks his plans.  The author karl Marlantes is a cum laude graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.  Karl was also a Marine in Vietnam where he was awarded the Navy Cross, The Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten Air Medals.  This book is on 17 CDs and is completed in 21 hours.