With take-no-prisoners wit, these poems range from parody to pathos to draw the reader into a world rich in irony—ambivalent volunteers, uncertain alliances, and self-absorbed citizens. Together, they create a string of wry observations on the American military that could only have come from a career infantry officer with an eye for the absurd. From the surprising first poem through the jolt of the collection's final line, these poems provide a much-needed perspective on soldiers, veterans—and the nation.