Earthy Language Punctuates Vietnam War Book

How can I describe the language of the dialogue in Kill Me If You Can, You SOB, the new Bob Miller offering? “Earthy” would probably be the kindest adjective available, but that’s life on the front line. Except when it’s death on the line, of course.

To someone who has been in a war, “earthy” language is nothing new. It’s standard operating procedure. What gets interesting is when it’s combined with a little personal justice. Take the following dialogue from the book, for example. The “earthy” dialogue is actually pretty tame, yet it plays an essential part in telling a rather ugly little story.

Arann and I walked outside to give the CS gas time to clear the tent and stow his gear for the up-coming week flying C & C. “Miller, what, if anything, do you feel like you’ve accomplished over here?”

“It’s really stupid of me to confide this in anyone, but the one thing I’m pleased with happened just before you got here. I don’t know if this prick was with the API, UPI, or UPS, but one thing was sure, he was determined to get a Pulitzer Prize. Because of him, two guys with the 173rd were killed trying to save his ass after he broke all the rules to get his damn prize-winning story. It was a few days after that when I received a call from Operations asking my position. They asked if I had enough fuel to go pick up a WIA (wounded in action). I asked if the WIA was an American or ARVAN (Army of Vietnam). I was really short on fuel, but if it was an American, I’d go after him. If it was an ARVAN, I’d stop to get a little more fuel to be on the safe side. The Operations guy said it was this American newspaper guy. To make a long story short, I didn’t make it and neither did he.”

Of course, the entire Vietnam War was an ugly little story. This is merely one, small vignette from that story.

To learn more about Miller’s latest book, visit his website.