Leadership forged in seconds. Survival measured in steps.
Drafted in 1967, Arnold W. Krause arrived in Vietnam during Tet in March 1968—thrust into brutal, unpredictable combat. He began as a young PFC rifleman in Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Within months, his courage and instinct for leadership propelled him through the ranks to Staff Sergeant
As a battle tested vet, Krause became a steady force for the men around him, guiding new replacements through the psychological and emotional strain of fighting a war they barely understood. His story also stands as a vital historical account of his unit’s legacy in Vietnam War.
Unflinching and vividly told, this memoir plunges readers into intense encounters with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, while revealing the deep bonds required to survive and function in combat. Beyond the battlefield, Krause paints a vivid portrait of a soldier’s life away from combat—from moments of unexpected humor to meaningful connections with fellow soldiers.
Gripping and deeply personal, from the jungles and rice paddies of 1968 and 1969 to his reflections decades later, as he searches for—and reconnects with—his former comrades-in-arms.
This powerful story of survival, leadership, and remembrance stays with readers long after the final page.
