Lurps is the revised edition of the memoir of a juvenile delinquent who drops out of ninth grade to chase his dream of military service. After volunteering for Vietnam, he joins the elite U.S. Army LRRP/Rangers-small, heavily armed long-range reconnaissance teams that patrol deep in enemy-held territory. It is 1968, and the Lurps find themselves in some of the war's hairiest campaigns and battles, including Tet, Khe Sanh, and A Shau. Readers witness all the horrors, humor, adrenaline, and unexpected beauty through the eyes of a green young warrior. Gone are the heroic clichés and bravado as compelling narrative and realistic dialogue sweep the reader along with a powerful sense that this is actually happening. This poignant coming-of-age story explores the social background that shaped the protagonist's thinking, his uncertain quest for redemption through increased responsibility, the brotherhood of comrades in arms, women and sexual awakening, and the baffling randomness of who lives and who dies.

By Robert C. Ankony

Chapter 1 Childhood
Chapter 2 Basic Combat Training
Chapter 3 Advanced Individual Training
Chapter 4 Airborne School
Chapter 5 Rigger School
Chapter 6 A Decision
Chapter 7 Vietnam
Chapter 8 First Cavalry Division
Chapter 9 Transfer to LRRPs
Chapter 10 LZ English
Chapter 11 Move North
Chapter 12 Tet
Chapter 13 First Patrol
Chapter 14 Learning the Ropes
Chapter 15 Contact
Chapter 16 Luck
Chapter 17 Khe Sanh
Chapter 18 A Shau
Chapter 19 Recondo School
Chapter 20 Hong Kong
Chapter 21 Patrols as Team Leader
Chapter 22 Patrolling On
Chapter 23 Twenty-second and Last Patrol
Chapter 24 Going Home