During the Vietnam War there were a great number of individual and small group efforts whose stories have never been told.  These efforts, individually and collectively, were courageous and of significance.  History always remembers the big events like the two major TET offensives, the courageous siege of Khe Son, the big high visibility offensives, like Lam Son 719 and so on.  It seldom recalls the exploits of the Long Range Patrols (LRPs), the helicopter pilots and crews that flew secretly in Laos to gather intelligence about our POWs.  The intelligence officers living in repulsive and primitive areas to gather tidbits of information that would save lives, win battles and critically assist the POW effort.  There were the POWs themselves that we almost, and in some cases, left behind.  The often-ignored story of the wives who raised families and waited in hope against hope for their return.  These patriots gave their all for their country in obscurity.  We had a divided country that didn't want the military in Vietnam.  A government that was morally corrupt and self-serving from the top down that gave little mind or consideration to the individuals serving in combat, their mortal lives or their personal hardships.  The "Ticket Punchers" who were assigned to important commands and positions with no regard to their ability.  The American serviceman fought many diverse enemies at one time.  He fought a dedicated and highly-trained army from North Vietnam which he respected.  He fought the "friendly army" from the South who seldom fought.  He fought his own government that was only concerned with good media coverage, personal re-election, and its place in history.  There were the constant personal fears about combat and concerns about his family back home.  The Big Question: Would he get back to the "world" on his feet or in a body bag?

It is the goal of this book to bring together in novel form a collection of stories of those who served.  It will tell the untold story of Long Range Patrols and pilots in the heat of battle out of the spotlight of glory and recognition, the wives and family at home, and the POWs who were living a life of hell as they served their country in confinement and uncertainty.  A work of fiction, yes, but based upon real people who got down to basics and did the nasty job that nobody east of the Pacific coastline wanted done.