Mark Twain once said that history never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme. Ron Tucker was the proof as he put his foot on the same Vietnamese soil as his older brother and uncle had years before him. They fought their own battles, and now it was Tucker's time to fight his.No longer the lovelorn young man, fresh from the Florida beaches, Ron Tucker has touched down in Vietnam and must face adulthood overnight.Shortly after they arrive, Tucker and his buddies and their NCOs train a group of South Vietnamese soldiers, or ARVNs, on automatic weapons they hoped would never be turned against them. Pursuing their place in this new world, several of the guys find themselves airborne and take to the skies as door gunners as replacements for those that had returned to the land of the Big PX. Due to their proficiency in their new positions, they are often requested for regular duties.Under the watchful eye and urging of their Command Sergeant Major, Tucker and his buddies are taught the meticulous skills necessary to survive in the hostile jungles of Vietnam by members of the 5th Special Forces. With these new abilities and the overseeing of the experienced team training members, these guys find the grit and internal fortitude to work side-by-side with the best. Ultimately, their skill and aptitude find them welcomed on different recon teams.This Alive and Wired Series installment explores the dangerous and often harrowing reality of war and being able to survive and thrive by learning from the best.
