A Platoon Leader S Tour

A Platoon Leaders Tour (The PL Book): This book is an on-the-ground view of U.S. Army combat in Iraq sourced from in-country interviews of this generation's Platoon Leaders from 2003-2008. The combat vignettes of former Platoon Leaders flow along the arc of a typical 12-month tour in Iraq. The authors selected stories that reflect the common challenges of young combat leaders, including: -Taking Charge -Making First Contact with the Enemy -Engaging the Local Populace -Interacting with Indigenous Forces -Use of Force -Operating in a Complex/Chaotic Environment -Facing Personnel Challenges -Making Moral/Ethical Decisions -Leading in Battle -Dealing with Death -Sustaining the Will to Fight -Leading Emotionally-Charged Soldiers -Adapting to Unfamiliar/Non-Standard Missions The book was developed by the U.S. Armys Center for Company-level Leaders at West Point in conjunction with the U.S. Army Studies Program and U.S. Army Research Institute. Interviews, writing, and editing of the stories was conducted by Pete Kilner, Nate Allen, Nate Self, and Anthony Lupo.

A remarkable memoir of small-unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in Vietnam.' "Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, McDonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a U.S. platoon taking part in the 'strategic hamlet' program. . . . Rather than present a potpourri of combat yarns. . . McDonough has focused a seasoned storyteller’s eye on the details, people, and incidents that best communicate a visceral feel of command under fire. . . . For the author’s honesty and literary craftsmanship, Platoon Leader seems destined to be read for a long time by second lieutenants trying to prepare for the future, veterans trying to remember the past, and civilians trying to understand what the profession of arms is all about.”–Army Times

Dennis Scheer was commissioned in the summer of 1969 as a second lieutenant in the US Army through the University of Wyoming ROTC program. He moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, following in the footsteps of his older brother down a path that almost got him killed. When he arrived in Vietnam, he was assigned to an infantry unit near Chu Lai. Midway through his tour, he was reassigned to a cavalry troop. Having fought with two combat arms, his experiences in the war were unique. Lt. Scheer was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor and a Silver Star, the third highest military decoration for valor, for his service in the infantry. He was awarded another Bronze Star with Valor while serving in the cavalry. After returning home from the war, like most veterans, he experienced a series of emotional ups and downs. Now, in his memoir, he recalls the events of that period of his life honestly, from combat to adjusting to life as a veteran.

This book is a revision, with greatly expanded inclusion criteria, of the 1993 African American Generals and Flag Officers: Biographies of Over 120 Blacks in the United States Military. It offers detailed, career-oriented summaries for men and women who often overcame societal obstacles to become ranking members of the armed forces. Persons from all branches are now included (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps), as well as the National Guard and Reserves.

Tom 'Bud' Abraham was one of the very few Englishmen to serve in Vietnam. As an officer in the 1st Cavalry Division during 1967/8, he saw combat in some of the fiercest encounters of the war. His gallantry earned him a chestful of medals, including the Silver Star, one of the highest decorations awarded by the American Army. During the Tet Offensive, Tom was captured by the Vietcong. The suffering he endured during his interrogation and torture tested him to the limits, and yet his daring escape into the surrounding jungle was the beginning of a new ordeal. His struggle to survive, naked and alone, would drag him down to the level of a primitive beast. After he returned to England from Vietnam, Tom made a new life. He married, became a father, and started a successful career in business. It seemed that he had forgotten the nightmare of the past. But more than thirty years later, a trivial encounter with the police began a catastrophic chain of events. He lost everything - his family, his home, his self-respect. It became all too obvious that the psychological and emotional wounds he received in Vietnam were still festering. In trying to rebuild his life, Tom had once more to confront those traumatic memories that he had buried so deep. If he were to have any chance of a future, he would have to relive the past. His terrifying yet inspiring journey is the story of this book.