Book 6, "A Second Time Around" Summary

Vann returned to Vietnam and reacquainted himself with old friends, including Cao. Cao had been promoted after yet another coup put Air Vice-Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky and the Young Turk factions in charge. Vann was assigned to an insecure new province called Hau Nghia, nearly escaping death for what must have been the hundredth time when the Viet Cong bombed the embassy seconds after Vann left. Vann returned to the scene to help evacuate the wounded. Twenty people died, and one hundred twenty-six Vietnamese were wounded. Fifty-one Americans were also wounded inside the building.

Vann went to the capitol of Hau Nghia, Bau Trai, the next day. Vann was not pleased with what he found. The office was a small warehouse that was terribly unorganized. The only place to eat was an outdoor...