This illustrated book is a true and rare eye-witness account of what front-line combat was really like in the jungle of Vietnam. Some called it search and destroy. In reality, it was more like expose and retaliate. Written by a front- line Infantry Lieutenant who had a duty to keep as many of his men alive as possible. This book shows the 'boots-on-the-ground' perspective of real soldiers. Relive history with the best non-fiction Vietnam War book written this decade!

The author, Lieutenant George M. Papa, details the time he spent as the Platoon Leader of 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, of the 1/46 Battalion, of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division in the 'free-fire' zone of 'Eye Corps', during the Vietnam War. A 'free fire zone' means that no other non U.S. soldier or civilian is to be in that zone, period, which is away from the populated coast, and if they are, they can be fired on without waiting to be fired on first.

Lt. Papa's full 13-month tour fell between the North Vietnamese Army's destruction of his battalion headquarters in May 1969 (battle of Landing Zone Professional) and the NVA overrun of that same relocated HQ in March 1971 (battle of LZ Mary Ann). Both of these defeats are detailed.