How to Tell a True War Story This is true. lighting up villes and bringing smoke to bear every which way. A great sense of humor, too. I had a buddy in Vietnam. His name was Bob Like the time at this river when he went fishing Kiley, but everybody called him Rat. with a whole damn crate of hand grenades. A friend of his gets killed, so about a week Probably the funniest thing in world history, later Rat sits down and writes a letter to the Rat says, all that gore, about twenty zillion dead guy's sister. Rat tells her what a great brother gook fish. Her brother, he had the right she had, how together the guy was, a number attitude. He knew how to have a good time. On one pal and comrade. A real soldier's soldier, Halloween, this real hot spooky night, the dude Rat says. Then he tells a few stories to make the paints up his body all different colors and puts point, how her brother would always volunteer on this weird mask and hikes over to a ville and for stuff nobody else would volunteer for in a goes trick-or-treating almost stark naked, just million years, dangerous stuff, like doing recon boots and balls and an M-16. A tremendous or going out on these really badass night human being, Rat says. Pretty nutso patrols. Stainless steel balls, Rat tells her. The sometimes, but you could trust him with your guy was a little crazy, for sure, but crazy in a life. good way, a real daredevil, because he liked the And then the letter gets very sad and serious. challenge of it, he liked testing himself, just Rat pours his heart out. He says he loved the man against gook. A great, great guy, Rat says. guy. He says the guy was his best friend in the Anyway, it's a terrific letter, very personal world. They were like soul mates, he says, like and touching. Rat almost bawls writing it. He twins or something, they had a whole lot in gets all teary telling about the good times they common. He tells the guy's sister he'll look her had together, how her brother made the war up when the war's over. seem almost fun, always raising hell and So what happens?
How to Tell a True War Story This is true. I had a buddy in Vietnam. His name was Bob Kiley, but everybody called him Rat. A friend of his gets killed, so about a week later Rat sits down and writes a letter to the guy's sister. Rat tells her what a great brother she had, how together the guy was, a number one pal and comrade. A real soldier's soldier, Rat says. Then he tells a few stories to make the point, how her brother would always volunteer for stuff nobody else would volunteer for in a million years, dangerous stuff, like doing recon or going out on these really badass night patrols. Stainless steel balls, Rat tells her. The guy was a little crazy, for sure, but crazy in a good way, a real daredevil, because he liked the challenge of it, he liked testing himself, just man against gook. A great, great guy, Rat says. Anyway, it's a terrific letter, very personal and touching. Rat almost bawls writing it. He gets all teary telling about the good times they had together, how her brother made the war seem almost fun, always raising hell and lighting up villes and bringing smoke to bear every which way. A great sense of humor, too. Like the time at this river when he went fishing with a whole damn crate of hand grenades. Probably the funniest thing in world history, Rat says, all that gore, about twenty zillion dead gook fish. Her brother, he had the right attitude. He knew how to have a good time. On Halloween, this real hot spooky night, the dude paints up his body all different colors and puts on this weird mask and hikes over to a ville and goes trick-or-treating almost stark naked, just boots and balls and an M-16. A tremendous human being, Rat says. Pretty nutso sometimes, but you could trust him with your life. And then the letter gets very sad and serious. Rat pours his heart out. He says he loved the guy. He says the guy was his best friend in the world. They were like soul mates, he says, like twins or something, they had a whole lot in common. He tells the guy's sister he'll look her up when the war's over. So what happens?
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