The year is 1965, and John R. Lee has been promoted to the rank of first sergeant and assigned to a basic training unit in Fort Gordon, Georgia. In a story that contains both humorous and tragic elements, Lee never tries to be the hero; he just reports what he saw.
The story moves to Hawaii, where the Army was in the process of activating the 11th Infantry Brigade for duty in Vietnam. Lee’s unit is shipped to Vietnam to become part of the Americal Division.
After his tour of duty, Sergeant Lee retires, but he is later recalled to active duty and returns to Vietnam to become part of the 1st Cavalry Division as he finds how the situation and attitudes have changed.
As the story draws to a close, Lee is reassigned to Fort Bennning, Georgia, where soon after he was promoted to sergeant major.
The story moves to Hawaii, where the Army was in the process of activating the 11th Infantry Brigade for duty in Vietnam. Lee’s unit is shipped to Vietnam to become part of the Americal Division.
After his tour of duty, Sergeant Lee retires, but he is later recalled to active duty and returns to Vietnam to become part of the 1st Cavalry Division as he finds how the situation and attitudes have changed.
As the story draws to a close, Lee is reassigned to Fort Bennning, Georgia, where soon after he was promoted to sergeant major.
