In this heartfelt memoir, Dennis Blessing, Sr., shares his experiences as a grunt in the First Cavalry Division in 1966 and 1967. Blessing’s story is drawn from his own remembrance and from the 212 letters that he wrote to his wife while deployed. Among his many combat experiences was the battle of Bong Son in May 1966, in which his platoon was nearly wiped out, going from 36 to only 6 troopers in just a few hours. Told with honesty and vulnerability, the book combines gripping combat with personal reflection, and the author hopes that his story will help other veterans escape the shadow of the war.

Dennis D. Blessing, Sr. retired from the public sector as a California Veterans Service Officer. He lives in Mariposa, California.

Dennis D. Blessing, Sr.
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 222
Bibliographic Info: 34 photos, glossary, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7776-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4281-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
1. Fort Gordon, Georgia—Then Off to War 3
2. My First Air Assault—Back to LZ ­X-Ray 18
3. Back to Base Camp 34
4. Bong Son Battle—All Hell Breaks Loose 46
5. Not So Happy, Happy Valley 71
6. Bailing Out the 101st Airborne 87
7. Malaria or Not Malaria 99
8. Saving “A” Company in the Ia Drang Valley 111
9. Fiftieth Air Assault 130
10. Seventh Cavalry’s 100th Birthday 143
11. Off to Rest and Relaxation in Hong Kong 154
12. Hurrah! I’m Out of the Field 171
Operations I Was On 195
Glossary 197
Index 213

• “Several passages in the book, including Blessing’s final words, have caused me to think more deeply about some of the causes of PTSD. …well written and a pleasure to read. I recommend it.”—VVA Veteran