ONE BULLET AWAY

A Marine officer remembers his basic training and a brief combat mission in Iraq. Lt. Fick's descriptions of intense firefights emphasize the mortal danger and hardships our troops face in the Middle East. The details come wrapped in profuse and profane military lingo; a poor abridgment leaves noticeable gaps. The author's monotonous narration portrays him as having an emotionless affect, making him believable as a trained gunman. He delivers his short sentences like fleeting bullets, sometimes emphasizing the last word, and sometimes throwing it away. He coldly reads: "The bad news is we won't get much sleep this night. The good news is we get to kill people." J.A.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]