Charles Apple joined the Navy in 1960. After his enlistment was up, he reenlisted into the Marines in 1963. In 1967, he asked to be sent to Vietnam so he could reenlist tax free, and he was accommodated. He was assigned to the 1/5 Marines based in Chu Lai. He remembers the first time he saw a 175mm howitzer (“it looked like a big telephone pole”), and the first time he saw a CH-53 Sea Stallion. He remembers Operation UNION and flying out in CH-46s to stage for it. He describes the ambush of D Company, the rescue operation, and getting wounded in the fight. He was medevacked, convalesced in the hospital for three weeks, and was then sent to a Combined Action Program unit—CAP India—in Tam Ky to work with the Popular Forces, who he did not trust. He talks of his love for Marines and respect for the Army; his enjoyment of the Australians and their cold beer; presents from his wife: chicken in a can and carrot cake. He describes his return to Parris Island, McNamara's 100,000 program, quotas, and a recruit with polio. Apple retired from the Marines after 23 years and went to work for the post office—where in 20 years, there was not one minute that he liked.