This is the quintessential first-person combat memoir of a special forces soldier at war. Edward Dvorak joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam in the summer of 1967. He then joined Company F, 51st Infantry, Long Range Patrol, Airborne. For Dvorak and his buddies of Company F, LRP, their real training started with the MACV (Military Assistant Command Vietnam) Recondo School at the 5th Special Forces Compound in Nha Trang, South Vietnam. That training culminated with an actual Combat LRP mission. If you lived through the patrol, you graduated. Dvorak would remain with Company F for 19 months going on dozens of combat patrols deep behind enemy lines. AUTHOR: Edward Dvorak voluntarily enlisted on May 1, 1967, for a 3-year tour of active duty in the US Army. After three months in Vietnam, he volunteered for Company F, 51st Infantry, Long Range Patrol, Airborne. Company F was formed from volunteers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Company E from volunteers of the 101st Airborne Division. The two LRP Companies eventually became the first two Long Range Patrol Companies of the 75th Ranger Regiment when it was activated on 1 February 1969. He remained with Company F LRPs for 19 months and was promoted from a Spec 4 to Staff Sergeant during that time period. He served in every position on a LRP Team, which culminated with his promotion to the team leader (TL) for LRP Team 1-3. Among his many decorations, Dvorak earned the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Silver Star, Bronze Star with 'V' Device, and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf cluster (2 Purple Hearts). Having served in combat in a 'High Speed/Low Drag' LRP Unit, he became bored with his construction job after leaving the military and joined the LA County Sheriff's Department on January 3, 1973. He served with LASD in multiple units for 31 years and honorably retired at the rank of Detective Lieutenant. 45 colour and b/w illustrations
