Medic! The Story of a Conscientious Objector in the Vietnam War by Ben Sherman

"This is a strange place, Bubba. I don't understand their religion or their culture or a damn thing about these people. One time, I patted a baby-san on the head. It was natural, like 'nice kid,' y'know? And this mamma-san came flyin' at me, cussin' with that whiny voice." He lit another cigarette and handed me his lighter. "I couldn't figure out why she was screamin' at me." He paused and filled his lungs with smoke. "But y'know what, Bubba? Every baby-san has an angel sittin' right on his head." He traced a ring with the fingers holding his cigarette, the smoke trailing a thin halo around his head. "A little angel, y'know? Protectin' 'em from dangers 'n curses." He stared at the ground. "And goddammit Bubba, when I patted this little baby-san, I knocked off his angel."
"Bad move."
"Nobody tells us shit like that." (180-181)

(New York: Ballantine Books, 2002)