Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine

Former marine officer Boudreau documents his struggles with the demons of war in this uneven memoir. Initially “infatuated” with war, the author was deployed to Iraq in March 2004 as the assistant operations officer for an infantry battalion. His wartime experiences, however, left him increasingly disillusioned and ambivalent; unable to face another deployment, Boudreau resigned from the Marine Corps after 12 years of service. The author's rage stems from his frustration with the U.S. mission in Iraq, which he concludes is “un-accomplishable,” noting, “I see my fellow Marines getting blown away for nothing and with no chance whatsoever of success.” Boudreau dismisses the “surge” strategy and greets “stories of tactical success with skepticism.” The author's efforts to call attention to veterans' psychological wounds are commendable, but his brief against the U.S. mission in Iraq—a “labyrinth of... unattainable goals”—is supported by occasionally suspect statistics (i.e., his exaggerated figures for army suicides). Boudreau writes convincingly about his inner struggles and draws on a seabag of colorful anecdotes to support his observations and conclusions in this provocative if flawed memoir. (Nov.)