List of Maps and Illustrations
Preface
Dramatis Personae
Prologue: Vietnam Homecoming
Part One
Countering the Viet Cong: War against Guerrillas, 1965-1966
1. The Beginning: Camp Pendleton, California
2. To Okinawa
3. Protecting the Airfield: Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam
4. A Major Operation
5. The First Big One: Operation STARLITE
6. Operation Golden Fleece
7. The First Move North: Danang
8. Pacification
9. Relocation
10. A Troubled Alliance
11. A Chaplain Goes to War
Part Two
Fighting the North Vietnamese: War against Professionals, 1966-1968
12. The Rockpile
13. Winter Action
14. Two New Lieutenants
15. Ripley and His Raiders
16. A Turbulent Easter
17. The First Battle of Khe Sanh
18. Rough Riders on Route Nine
19. Ca Lu
20. Ambush on Route Nine
21. Deja Vu: Ambush on Route Nine, September 1967
22. War along the Barrier
23. Improving the Supply System
24. Christmas as Cam Lo
25. Working with the ARVN
26. Alpha Three
27. Mike Company at Gio Linh
28. Kilo Company Ambush
29. A Sweet Little Ambush
30. Into the DMZ
31. Mike Company Ambush
32. Green Just Like the Rest of Us
33. Payback
34. The Day Martin Luther King, Jr., Was Shot
35. Bloody May
36. Dai Do
37. Brotherhood
38. Beyond Alpha Three
39. Another Marine’s Chaplain
40. Unfamiliar Territory
Part Three
After the Bombing Halt: War with One Hand Tied, 1968-1969
41. The Bombing Halt
42. Operation Taylor Common
43. An Erosion of Discipline
44. School Solution
45. The Beginning of the End: Troop Withdrawals
46. Operation Virginia Ridge
47. The Last Operation
48. Parting Shots
Appendix A. Passing in Review
Appendix B. Medals of Honor
Appendix C. Organization of Marine Infantry Units in Vietnam
Glossary
Bibliography
Index