This chronicle of the Vietnam War is recounted by an individual who served as a combat platoon leader from the summer of 1969 to the summer of 1970. His narrative encompasses battles, living conditions, troop strategies and tactics, interactions with allies, enemies, non-combatants, indigenous peoples, and more. It's a book that submerges the reader in the roiling waters of war and tells a story of what it was like to be a young American in a violent environment far from home.

While he reminds readers of how America became involved in Vietnam, plus the often opposing viewpoints regarding whether the U.S. should have been there at all, the majority of the writer's account is broken into various combat operations that occurred over three years. In addition to his own personal experiences, he has employed extensive research gleaned from after-action reports, interviews, newspaper articles, books, and discussions that paint a dramatically realistic picture of life and death in the jungles and mountains.

DeWald frequently uses military conversations that faithfully recreate the intensity of communication under fire. He details tactical decisions and the results they led to, involving both American and enemy casualties, the wounded, plus those missing in action. Schematic drawings increase understanding of where and how battles unfolded, while photographs depict the reality of the places, times, and people involved. Intriguing information is shared, such as the practice of occasionally eating jungle rats, snakes, monkeys, and even the bark of some trees rather than the dreaded ham and lima beans in canned C-Rations. This is a book for those who want to know what the Vietnam War was really like, written by an individual who was right in the middle of it.

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