Body Burning Detail

Bill Jones is a retired Special Agent with the CSX Railroad Police and former newspaper columnist with the Wyoming State Journal. A regular contributor to Range magazine, his poetry and articles have been published in a variety of anthologies, books and periodicals. He lives in Middlesboro, Kentucky.

“The poignant autobiography of Bill Jones that recounts his hair-raising experiences as a young, but not especially gung-ho Marine artilleryman in Vietnam. Gritty and disturbing, his unvarnished narrative probes the lasting physical and emotional wounds of war and offers a combat veteran’s wry insight into the influence and relevance of America’s long and indecisive misadventure. An extraordinary and inherently riveting read from beginning to end...will prove to be an enduring valued contribution to the growing body of Vietnam War literature. Very highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsForeword by Vess QuinlanPoem: The Body Burning DetailPreface1. Pack Your Trash2. We Don’t Want Any Candy Asses3. I Can’t Hear You!Poem: Lights Out4. Breathe. Relax. Aim. Sight. Squeeze.5. Fortunate Son6. You Guys Have No Idea7. Shredded Wheat8. A Live Dog … A Dead Lion9. A World of Shit10. Chicken Plates11. Magnificent Bastards12. A Mexican AngelPoem: Fixation13. You Will Probably Get Killed Anyway14. Good Morning, Vietnam!15. I Will Be in the Area All Day16. A Sexist Pig17. Short-Arm Inspection18. A Magic Show19. Ann-Margret’s Panties20. Two-Legged Rats21. Smoking Is Hazardous to Your HealthPoem: Chief22. Bob’s Wife23. More Like an Earthworm24. Friendly Fire25. Regrets26. Bad News27. In Country R&R28. LZ Sitting Duck29. Playboy Foldout30. A Gook Killing Machine31. Grand Theft Auto32. Fix BayonetsPoem: Near Laos33. Show Him the Scalp34. Chief35. REMF’s36. Miss Congeniality37. DogpatchPoem: Heathen Killer38. A Frogman in Miami39. A Lot of Fat Sailors40. Things Are Different Out There41. Search and Avoid42. Go Along to Get Along43. Fire Ants on a Dead Bird44. Full Circle45. Tiger PissPoem: Five Days Home46. A Little Too Cute47. Blood Money48. Police OnlyEpilogueIndex