This study of the US Army infantryman in Vietnam takes the reader through the stages of the soldier's training and acceptance, including his experiences at the Armed Forces Induction Center and his initial introduction to Vietnam's varied conditions of service, whilst detailing developments in weaponry, clothing and equipment. Using first-hand accounts, it examines the harsh and brutal service in Vietnam, from day-to-day routine in the field such as search and destroy missions, night ambush, rocket attacks and airbome engagements through to the gruelling work of building bunkers, along with delving into the culture of service in Vietnam and the struggles faced by the average infantryman on his return to a somewhat hostile homeland.