Anthony Swofford discussed his Gulf War memoir Jarhead: A Marine’s Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles, published by Scribner. In 1990, Mr. Swofford, a young Marine or “jarhead,” was sent to Saudi Arabia. Awestruck with the mythos of the marines, his dreams of combat became frustrated when he realized the war was mainly being waged with bombs. Stationed in the desert for six months and consumed with boredom and fear, Mr. Swofford considered suicide, pulled a gun on one of his fellow marines, and was shot at by both Iraqis and Americans. In the book, he uses flashbacks to chronicle his journey from boot camp to seasoned combatant filled with doubts about his choices. Mr. Swofford read excerpts from his book and answered questions from members of the audience.