During his first tour in Vietnam - 1967-68 - Dick Taylor was a well trained and highly motivated amateur assigned to advise a hard-bitten ARVN infantry battalion working in the mud and streams of IV Corps. He became savvy in a hurry and found that he was both brave and resourceful. He barely survived Tet 1968, then served on an advisory team staff.
For the next two years, Taylor earned a Ranger tab, served on a division staff, and schooled on. He met a woman, and married her days before he returned to Vietnam.
Taylor's second tour- 1970-71 - was altogether different. He immediately assumed command of Bravo Company, 1/7 Cav, and excelled as a commander and a leader. He was aggressive in the field, confident in his command, and assertive with his superiors. He fought a good war, a successful war, and when he was forced to take a staff job it was as his battalion's intelligence officer. But the war was winding down, its purpose lost. Taylor's spirit's flagged, but not his fidelity.
This well-written combat memoir is heartfelt, earnest, honest, and just a little melancholy. It is a very good book.
- ISBN10 193203319X
- ISBN13 9781932033199
- Publish Date 1 December 2003
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 5 May 2022
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Casemate Publishers
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 256
- Language English