Chapter 6 Summary

On February 19, 1963, the Marines are patrolling in the rain at Soc Trang, in the Mekong Delta and preparing for a mission to an island where the Vietcong have supplies. During the fueling of the Mohawk, a Vietnamese drilled holes in the hydraulic lines before it began its mission to Island 237 in the Mekong Delta.

The Marines invaded Island 237 with the Mohawk in support, transmitting information to headquarters. The pilot of the Mohawk was not aware of the damage to its hydraulic system when the Hydraulic Failure lights began to blink and then stayed on. Major Parker was strafing the enemy, buying time for the Marines until their air support arrived. Parker and the co-pilot were forced to eject. Parker's chute deployed, but his co-pilot's did not.

Lowell's plane arrives at Fort Riley, Kansas carrying the family of Major Philip Parker. They ride to...