- 288 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
An American soldier vividly recounts leading a platoon through the most chaotic and significant year of the Vietnam War.
In 1968, 1st Lieutenant Robin Bartlett was reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). He suddenly found himself at the "repo-depo" in Bien Hoa. His unit had more helicopter support than any other in Vietnam. That meant immediate support was only minutes away. But It also meant that Bartlett's platoon could deploy at a moment's notice. And they did.
It was the worst of times to be a platoon leader in Vietnam, let alone a grunt serving in a combat unit. Beyond the brutality of combat, Bartlett faced a crisis of commitment as the war rapidly lost support both at home and among the soldiers he led. Fifty years later, Bartlett shares these harrowing experiences in a fast-moving, first-person narrative that shines a light on the horror, fear, anguish, and sometimes illogical humor of that war.
Finalist, 2023 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards
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Information
Table of contents
- Front Cover
- What Reviewers Are Saying
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- The Trail
- Preface: Dragging Chains
- Introduction
- 1 My First Worst Day in Vietnam
- 2 Training for War
- 3 Ranger School: Learning to Lead, Preparing to Kill
- 4 Back at the 82nd
- 5 First Days in Country
- 6 Ambushing Gazelles
- 7 The Jungle Penetrator
- 8 FNGs in the Field and Base Camp
- 9 Face-to-Face
- 10 Pay Officer
- 11 Blown Ambush
- 12 Saturation Ambushing
- 13 Recon by FireāEnemy Base Camp
- 14 Beyond Artillery Cover
- 15 LZ is Green
- 16 Autorotate
- 17 Stream Crossing
- 18 Letting It All Hang Out
- 19 Tracer Rounds
- 20 Surviving Leg Cramps
- 21 Ambush in the Rain
- 22 Escort to Laos
- 23 Tear Gas Attack
- 24 Night Firefight
- 25 Hard Luck Simons
- 26 Walking Point
- 27 You Fight It, We Write It
- 28 The Battle of the Parrotās Beak
- 29 Assistant Defense Counsel
- 30 Buying Art Supplies
- 31 Welcome Home
- 32 Butterfly Coincidences
- 33 Attributions
- 34 A Boots on the Ground Point of View
- Glossary and Abbreviations of Military Terms
- US and Enemy Weapons
- Authorās Military Awards, Decorations, Assignments and Timeline
- Bibliography
- Resources
- Photo Section