Easy target

by Tom Smith

Tom Smith seemed an unlikely candidate to join the distinguished ranks of the Army's scouts. Although often unconventional in appearance, they have always been selected from the best and are highly prized for their mastery of the soldier's craft. Kicked out of college, drifting along on the high times of the late sixties, Tom was tripping down the California coast in a VW bus with his flower-child girlfriend when a letter from his Uncle Sam caught up with him. "Greetings." And, so it was, next stop truly was Vietnam. Although he discovered a ferocious warrior lurking inside his anti-establishment soul, Tom's superiors found his countercultural and rebellious ways annoying - one time nearly leading to a court martial. Still, his aerial heroics were appreciated; flying combat missions almost every day, our intrepid pilot was shot down three times and suffered numerous wounds. Along the way, he picked up a chestful of medals. Includes the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts.