Brown Mule 7: Life of a 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Wireman in Vietnam 1966-1967 - Paperback

by Leon Toyne (Contribution by), Mike Toyne (Author)

Brown Mule 7 is based on a true story of Army soldiers serving in the 1st Air Division (Air Mobile), 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry in Vietnam from 1966-1967. It is told through the Vietnam letters of SP4 Leon Toyne a Combat Field Wireman, written over 50 years ago and not discovered until his passing in 2018. Additional testimonies and stories are from a Combat Medic, Radio Operator, Dental Clinic Medic, and Field Wireman, who served with SP4 Toyne. These individuals were like brothers and developed a bond, relying on each other for their daily survival. They were sent into the deadly Central Highlands of Vietnam on a "search and destroy" mission to rid the Central Highlands and Eastern Coastal Plains of communist forces. They would be sent into the jungles of Vietnam to include remove valleys, outposts, and landing zones, under the most austere conditions. The stories they shared recalled humor, and friendship along with sadness and tragedy. Also mentioned in the letters and testimonies are researched stories about Vietnam Scout dogs, courageous Dustoff pilots and crews, and an Army nurse who played a critical role in saving lives. Finally, there are interviews with Vietnam veterans and their families discussing their difficult adjustment to civilian life having witnessed the horror of the war in Vietnam and exhibiting PTSD symptoms.