WEST DICKENS AVENUE A Marine at Khe Sanh

This terse and colorful audiobook is the first-person memory of a young man in the white heat of battle in Vietnam. Corbett is a veteran of Khe Sanh, perhaps the bloodiest spot of that war. Sadly, this is a timely piece in today's war-torn world, though it throws little light on the conflict itself, focusing more on author Corbett's harrowing moments, as well as his bonding experiences with other young Marines. Eric Conger's gruff and gritty reading is a good fit for the content, blown through with shrapnel and body bags as it is. Corbett's story captures the tragedy of young men's lives cut short and the apathetic reception they encountered if they made it home alive. Corbett's editor should have guided him to write a more extended denouement, but for those with little time, this does the job. Semper fi. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]