As a former U.S. Marine and a Viet Nam veteran, I was apprehensive about Col. North's book, expecting him to only tell about his return trip. I was pleasantly surprised that he confides in the reader his thoughts and actions while he was involved in combat situations during the war.In doing so, he allows the reader to share in his experiences, and also explains why it was necessary for him to return. He puts it quite plainly why the United States lost the war in Viet Nam.