karl marlantes and his book will help immeasurably.arl marlantes, welcome. >> it's nice to be here, thank you. >> i haven't been sure about how to start this interview. i've never been to war. i've never looked a man in the eye, who was trying to kill me, and kill him before he could. i'm not even sure that i can ask a question that doesn't strike you as banal, against your experience. i guess what i'm saying is that there's this divide between the warrior and the rest of us. and that divide can't really be crossed, can it? >> no. but i think that what has to change is this inhibition that we all feel about asking. you know, you come back and there is this code of silence, you know? and both, i call it the civilian and the veteran have it. and it gets in the way. and it's all done out of trying to be kind. but you know, it's like, "well, i don't want to say something that upsets him. or i don't want to --" and the fact of the matter is if someone would genuinely ask, "well, you know, can you talk about it?" i think most guys would be d

we through two back and, karl marlantes figured that we only have two grenade back.i told the two guys who were with me next time you throw grenades are am going to be around the side and in a position to shoot you guys when they have to stand up to throw their grenades at us. i worked my way around the side of the hill. i could see one of the soldiers was already dead. the other one just like us was a kid, late teens. he rose to throw the grenade and our eyes locked. this is a very unusual thing in combat. generally don't ever lock eyes with people you are about to kill and he was no further away than the third or fourth row. i was waiting for him and i remember whispering, wishing i could speak i won't throw the trigger. if you don't throw it i won't pull the trigger. i pulled the trigger. i remember being slightly chagrined because i anticipated the recoil on the rifle. drill sergeant kick you in the rear end for doing what they call blocking your shot and it hit the dirt slightly in front of the guy. and the battle still going on. about ten years later i was in o