I joined the Marine Corps in May of 1966 after seeing television coverage of the war in Vietnam. I wanted to know what war was really like. I found out. My little portion of the war included being launched into the air by an enemy grenade, engaging in firefights, walking about nightly in "mine and booby trap land," living through a mortar attack, being hit by friendly fire, having to search for enemies in a leper colony, watching 122 mm rocket roar past my hut, and experiencing daily threats on the lives of myself and those I led.The book is my attempt to capture those moments on paper and to release the "horrors of war" from my brain. All veterans carry with them the burden of war; some are unable to cope and resort to suicide as a way out. My message is for veterans to talk to others or write their thoughts down in a story like I did. Maybe then they will find peace.