Author Fields notably arrays frank recollections and poignant photos exploring US military service during the Vietnam conflict. In 1966, after high school graduation, he was drafted and quickly transported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He soon absorbed military disciplines: hand-to-hand combat practice, constant inspections of meager possessions, and even a trip to a gas chamber. The son of a WWII veteran, Fields enlisted for further training at signal school. In Vietnam, he was a radio relay carrier, sustaining communication between the “grunts” (foot soldiers) and their support teams.

The author’s pictorial offerings include the construction of the massive Dong Tam base, necessitating the transference of major water sources, and the introduction of small, much-utilized swift boats whose crews endured constant peril. Emotive scenes depict an orphanage where the author spent time playing with children and assisting the nuns, allowing him to “get away from the war, even for a day.” Photos of soldiers on base and in action are frequent. Consumed with a combination of dread, vigilance, and undeniable grit, Fields also experienced guilt as comrades were wounded or killed while he remained unharmed. He and his cohort were understandably gripped by bitterness when, returning home, they were insulted and rejected by many Americans. Nonetheless, Fields is a proud veteran offering well-deserved acclaim to fellow citizens who endured heinous struggles.

Accompanying Fields’ vivid memoir are about 600 photos showing the rigors of warfare and the people who shared its life-threatening toils. Over the ensuing years, Fields has contributed time to supporting veterans groups such as the Vietnam War Foundation, dedicated to educating later generations regarding the higher purpose of that complex conflict. This vibrantly illustrated chronicle will doubtless satisfy Fields’ intention: to share and stimulate the memories of those who served, and prompt current students to ponder in greater depth the happenings and heroes lauded here.