ABSTRACT
Peter has an unquestioned identity as a War Hero.† Now in his 60s, he stands naked before his mirror. He gazes at his battle scars. Wrinkles, gray hair, withered muscles disappear. Each morning, in the mirror, a golden warrior awakens to look upon himself. And then, a good o§cer moves out among men. A year a…er arriving in Vietnam, he ordered the Œrebombing of a village. His orders set mothers and children and infants on Œre. While he watched. While he, himself, shot the elderly and the unarmed. ere is some sadness about the burning of children. But his soldiering is always told with a quiet, prideful gravitas. To a civilian who knows nothing. Who was protesting that war when he was Œghting it. Conditions were chaos. e enemy was everywhere. ere was nothing for it but a scorched earth.
