Thomas Stoddert enlisted in the Army at age 18 in 1969. After basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he met a drill sergeant whose leadership qualities made a lasting impression, then six months at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, studying meteorological observation but not meeting the requirements, he then spent 10 weeks of infantry training in South Carolina and was sent to Vietnam. He was assigned to Delta Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division based at Camp Eagle in I Corps. Stoddert’s D Troop missions often involved security and retrieving American KIAs from particularly dangerous places such as Laos and the A Shau Valley. Stoddert tells riveting tales of not eating for several days and drinking from mud puddles (because of a clueless major), carrying most of a dead Marine out of the jungle, and defending a fire base with three buddies and a 106 millimeter recoilless rifle. He remembers North Vietnamese POWs who became Chieu Hois, lots of beef and fried rice, thunder runs, ambushes, and combat assaults, a swinging Conex box, raisins, beer cans, and diet Fresca. He also recalls long stretches of boredom and burning the contents of base latrines.