Check out a grunt's 'Nam novel.' "Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam" is a poignant fictionalized memoir from someone who was there. Dr. Douglas Pike, author of "PAVN: People's Army of Vietnam'' (Presidio, 1986), said of the work: "In my opinion, it can be called a classic type of war novel, reminiscent of 'Red Badge of Courage,' 'All's Quiet on the Western Front' and 'From Here to Eternity.'"

"Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam" was named a finalist at the 2001 Frankfurt eBook Awards, along with works by Amitav Ghosh, Joyce Carol Oates, Allan Furst and David McCullough. It was later published by St. Martin's Press in 2004. It is currently available in e-book and paperback from Amazon, and can be ordered from most bookstores.