Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Their next patrol was to be bridge duty at the Tu Cau Bridge, an hour's march from Camp 413. But to the relief of the troops, the company gunny arranged truck transport, and the entire platoon looks forward to relatively light duty and a day at the river shore before rotating to one of the more dangerous patrols again. Lt. Puller and Sergeant Leslie find the command bunker at the bridge already occupied by a young engineer corporal who had been fortunate to pull bridge duty as a long-term assignment. Puller and Leslie grab the driest part of the bunker, but grudgingly allow the young man to stay. The bridge is on a major road so the platoon has frequent contact with civilians, especially the vendors who ply their wares amongst the men. Puller allows the commerce, but restricts it to an...