Command group, (l to r) platoon sergeant, RTOs and author, 1st platoon, A 1/5 Cav, I Corps, near DMZ, 7/68. (Doc Cleary collection)

C Rations – my favorite meal, circa 1968-69. (https: Wimimedia.org/Wikipedia/commons/1/18/Military_Rations%2C_Vietnam_War_-_Fort_Devens_Museum_-_DSCO7077.JPB

Day of first KIA, A 1/5 Cav, I Corps, near DMZ, 6/68 (author collection)

One of my machine gunners ready for helicopter combat assault, A1/5 Cav, I Corps, near Laos, 7/68 (Cleary collection)

1st Cav helicopter combat assault en route to Cambodia*, III Corps, circa 3/69.

Our Forward Observer, A 1/5 Cav, near DMZ, I Corps 7/68 (Author collection)

1st Cav soldier landing a helicopter, A 1/5 Cav, I Corps, near DMZ 7/68 (author collection)

1st Cav helicopter combat assault, door gunner view #2, I Corps, circa 1968*

Controlled crash of Huey after autorotation, I Corps, circa 1968 (Used with permission: Bill Hirtle, Thunderbird 10 next to Blue 6 following engine failure.

Jumping off helicopter for combat assault

Jungle firefight, 1st Cav PIO collection, I Corps, circa 1968 (public domain)

One of my machine gunners ready for helicopter combat assault, A1/5 Cav, I Corps, near Laos, 7/68 (Cleary collection)

Author returning dirty from field training exercise (FTX), Camp Evans, I Corps, 5/68 (author collection)

Set up for saturation ambushing, A 15 Cav, I Corps, near Laos, 8/68. (Author’s collection)

Short-timer calendar*, many versions available, this was my favorite, circa 1968-69.

1st Cav trooper keeping track of remaining time in country.

Burning shit* at fire support bases (FSB), daily throughout Vietnam, circa 1968-69.

1st Cav helicopter combat assault, door gunner view, I Corps, circa 1968, (Photographer unknown, Courtesy of Edward Vigil, 1st Cav.*)

1st Cav flying Cobra, I Corps, circa 1968. (©Ivan Cholakov/Dreamstime.com)

1st Cav helicopter combat assault, door gunner view #2, I Corps, circa 1968*