While this book is subtitled "A LRP's Recollection" (Long Range Reconnaissance), and the Vietnam War makes up the heart of the book, it is only a small fraction of what Foley writes about, as he describes the complete arc of his military career, from an electronics tech in West Germany, to Officer Candidate School at Ft Benning, and then as the commander of Tiger Force under David Hackworth in Vietnam, and finally as a Ranger teacher. Combat and the physical demands of patrolling are not the main topics of the book, perhaps because those subjects are nearly impossible to write about, but Foley provides a vivid depiction of an army in transformation, and how soldiers are trained and lead. He humbly dedicates this book to his comrades in arms, but Foley is also an exceptional soldier and author.