Days of Valor is a historical log of the engagements of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from December 1967 to May of 1968. It is subtitled, "The Bloodiest Six Months of the Vietnam War".

The treatment of this period is superb. The author relies on scores of eyewitness accounts. Combat veterans shared their recollections, letters, diaries and photographs. These were melded with After Action Reports and Daily Staff Journals of the units comprising the 199th. The bibliography also contains an extensive listing of all the citations awarded during that period.

This book is a battle report. It does not attempt to politicize either the war or demonize the enemy. It is simply one man's attempt to put a magnifying glass to a war and the professional soldiers who fought it. In the preface to the book the author takes care to note that the conduct exemplified by the soldiers in the book are no less admirable or heroic that those we lionized in World War II. In fact, this book has no other purpose other than to disclose the valor and sacrifice of those who fought during this period. As a documentary of that period, the effect is profound.

The author is part of this log, but only in the third person. It is not a personal journal, nor it autobiographical. The narration echoes with pride, as it should. Dates, times, places and unit names will allow anyone who was there, or who knew someone who was there to trace their movements.

The Vietnam War is far behind us, but we are amidst a new and equally polarizing war. In this polarized world is easy to overlook the dynamics of battle, and the enormous personal impact on those who serve. If heretofore, for your own political reasons you neglected to honor those who fought this war, this is the book to read. It allows you to focus only on soldiers; what we require of them and what we take from them. The 199th Light Infantry Brigade was in Vietnam for a little over three years and the number taken in death was near 800 and 5000 were taken away wounded.

This book took me by surprise. I had begun the task to review a log of war, to gain new admiration of valor and courage. In the end, not only had I gained a renewed appreciation of courage and valor, but more importantly I had to come face to face with the enormity of loss and grief that is forever imposed on our soldiers. This book is a path to share that cost.