A Major Objective — Providing Lessons Learned in Combat! . . .

• A PRIMER ON COMBAT LESSONS LEARNED. As I began to write, another of my major objectives was to ensure the book is full of combat lessons learned for young soldiers and their leaders — especially for those who have never been in combat. However, the book is appropriate for the recommended reading list of a wide audience. This includes those in military schools, ROTC programs, and entry-level training for young enlisted and officers at various service schools and those who are active, reserve, and national guard soldiers. For more experienced NCOs and officers, the book has a number of combat situations which useful for tabletop discussions. The book is also of special interest to Vietnam veterans. They will find themselves right in the thick of the action as they read the compelling accounts of combat action. [Please see the reviews which indicate this aim was achieved.]

• A FINAL CATEGORY OF READERS. One last group of potential readers is truly special. I wrote the book to be age appropriate for young grandsons, granddaughters, nephews, nieces, and other family members of Vietnam veterans. There is no profanity in the book or grisly depictions of combat wounds. The latter is especially important because the book is intended for those family members who had loved ones killed or wounded in battle. Those who died or were wounded are identified by name, how they became casualties, and where the combat action occurred. I specifically intended these soldiers not be listed merely as nameless statistics. In every case, those killed or wounded were someone’s son, brother, father, husband, or friend. Such consideration has personally brought the sacrifice and tragedy of what was an increasingly unpopular war home to many.ÿ