Avoidable casualties -- Basic training -- Advanced individual training -- Arriving in country -- Tan An -- Liaison specialist and a failure -- Air power support -- Dinner with a wealthy Vietnamese farmer -- The helicopter war -- Rocket attack -- Losing the war -- Time on target attack -- Firebase animals -- Reconnaissance platoon tragedy -- Burning shit -- Fragging -- The food -- Weapons -- Atypical duty -- Unique nights -- Drugs -- Officers -- Vietnamese enemies vs. allies -- Saigon -- Tan An sniper -- Religion -- Weddings -- Firebase drinking clubs -- Viet Cong attacks -- Media biases -- Coming home -- Reflections -- Vietnam glossary -- United States military service history of Walter F. McDermott
Summary
"Walter McDermott enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to the Mekong Delta in 1969--the height of the Vietnam War. A specialist with the Ninth Infantry Division, he provided artillery support to infantry patrols. His frank memoir relates the harrowing surreality of combat and traces his own metamorphosis from thoughtful undergrad to jaded veteran."-- Provided by publisher
