Preface: Vietnam, May 1968–May 1969 1 Introduction 5 1. The Letter 9 2. Oakland, California: One of the Gateways to Vietnam 15 3. First Mission 19 4. The Outhouse Transaction 30 5. The Rats versus McMann 34 6. A Typical Day: There Was No Such Thing; Sometimes They Don't Miss Their Target 37 7. Dad, Can I Use the Family Car? 57 8. Tents versus Hooches 62 9. Midnight Requisitions Courtesy of the United States Marine Corps 64 10. He Said That He Would Not Be Going Home 67 11. The Marines and the Boomerang Does Come Back 69 12. The Royal Australian Air Force 71 13. Moonlight, B-52s and Battleship 73 14. LZ in the Morning and Jungle Clearings 80 15. All Three Landing Gear Wheels Are Supposed to Come Down, Aren't They? 84 16. The Thief at An Khe 87 17. The Big Move South 94 18. Haka 102 19. Guard Duty, Vung Tau Style 108 20. The Green Berets Asked Us to Find a Concealed .51-Caliber Machine Gun 112 21. Flat Tire and a Ride in a Loach with the 1/9th Cavalry Scout Platoon 115 22. Black Knight 22, You Have Two Bogeys Approaching from the Rear 118 23. Cats Supposedly Have Nine Lives, How Many Do People Have? I Used Six or More of Mine on One Mission 121 24. UFO and Something Else 129 25. Vertigo, 37 mm Anti-Aircraft Guns, GCA Foul-Up and Trucks in the Michelin Rubber Plantation 133 26. Incoming, and No, Lieutenant, You Cannot Fly Under That Bridge 140 27. Short-Timer and Finally Home 144 28. Military Awards and Service History 149 Index 151