CHAPTER ONE
April 16, 1962.....deep in the jungle of Laos.
The camouflage faced soldier blended perfectly with the green fern and tall elephant grass on the west side of a steep and rugged jungle infested mountain. Only his eyes moved as he stared down into the valley, locating the small white plantation style house where a man and woman were having their breakfast on the porch. He slowly raised the large caliber sniper rifle, inserted a shell into the chamber, and took careful aim. He drew a deep breath, held it, and gently squeezed the trigger. The sound of the shot echoed in the early morning fog and down into the lush green valley, sending wild animals scampering in all directions. The bullet had found its mark as it struck the target below the left eye and exited through the back of the head, sending bone splinters and a crimson blood mist over the white palette of table, dishes and rice. A woman’s scream now echoed throughout the valley as she reacted to the sight of her husband’s body sliding from the chair onto the wooden floor of the porch.
Across the valley and half way up the mountain, the shooter placed the faded leather strap of the weapon over his shoulder and slowly disappeared into the morning shadows of the jungle. Little did he know that the orders he just carried out would send the United States of America into the worst disaster of the twentieth century. It had begun and there would be no turning back.
