This book is about the journey a young man took to find his identity. He had a strong sense of patriotism and believed that his path was toward the military and service in Vietnam. He subsequently enlisted in the army and volunteered to fight in Vietnam. After serving his one-year tour as a grunt, he volunteered to extend his tour and flew as a door gunner on a helicopter gunship. When he returned to the states, he became a drill sergeant, training solders to serve in combat in Vietnam. The book chronicles the young man's journey from boyhood to a man. His experiences in Vietnam helped to shape the man he became.