Front Cover

Authorial Intent

Portrayal of a true picture of Vietnam: scenes, characters, action

Development of believable characters, events, settings

Establishment of authentic references to military protocol, vessels, armaments, sounds, dialogue

Creation of a believable conclusion

The Defining Moment:

“Nothing worse can happen.”

Boot Camp Group Photo

Al’s Journey

Manning the M-60 machine gun while at GQGun barrels point up when passing villages

Swifts beached at a village near Seafloat

A young South Vietnamese sailor learns to shoot the aft 50-caliber machine gun

South Vietnamese junk under sail

The Stars and Stripes fly alongside hand-washed laundry

Making morning coffeein 98o heat

Houses off the Song Ong Doc river, built over a canal, make it easy for fishing families to get to work

Low flat swampy delta areaLight areas defoliated by agent orange

“Firefight gives a genuine feel for the temperaments of young men going to war.”

David Wallace, OinC, PCFs 32 & 65

“Those young and courageous Swift sailors added immensely to my leadership perspective in meeting my future career responsibilities.”

Tom L. Hovland, Captain, USN-retired

“Firefight puts the reader aboard a Swift…”

Raul Herrara, President, Swift Boat Sailors Association

Back cover with reviews