Set in 1970's Cambodia, against the backdrop of America's vain and futile attempt to prop up the newly pro-Western government, this is the story of one Army officer's experiences, his life and family impacting nightmares.
Max Donatello's fate and that of millions of Cambodians are forever entwined. In spite of remarkable tenacity and incredible gallantry, Max and his Cambodian friends are helpless in the face of American policy blunders, coupled with the inevitable Khmer Rouge onslaught. Laced with incessant irony, coincidence, and unimaginable tragedy, this is a novel of self-discovery, painful personal and family dynamics, for one officer stuck in unavoidable orbit of the Army's 'warrior ethos'.
Max's lifelong folly, obfuscation of obvious personal issues, valor and sacrifice, and his final discovery of the truths of Cambodia's destruction make him an ideal candidate for redemption.