Book 1, "Going to War" Summary

Vann almost did not go to Vietnam. When he arrived at the airport for his flight, he found that, in his excitement, he had forgotten to make sure his passport was up to date. Vann was pulled from his scheduled flight and placed on a later flight. The flight he was supposed to be on disappeared over the Pacific.

John Paul Vann was a cocky man, one it was impossible to keep down. At least, that was what his commanding officer thought the moment he met him. Colonel Daniel Boone Porter was looking for a new senior advisor to the 7th Infantry Division in the northern Mekong River Delta. Vann was low on his list, but the soldier made a strong impression on Porter. Porter liked that Vann was organized, well educated and a fighter...