ACAV crew during Operation Toan Thang I

ACAV crew of the 1st Infantry Division near Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam during Operation Toan Thang I, 12 April 1968. Getty/Bettmann
This magnificent photo shows a U.S. Army M113 armored personnel crew of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment operating near Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam in 1968.

Imitating the first sergeant—a cautionary tale

Soldiers can always find humor in Army life. There's no doubt that soldiering is a tough way to make a living. But it can still be funny, irreverent, and sometimes downright hilarious. It often doesn't seem that way in the moment, but my old battle buddies and I still laugh at some of the ridiculous …

They call themselves Blackhorse sandwiches

... traditions of things endured and things accomplished, such as regiments hand down forever... Col. John Thomason The Vietnam War ranks among the most impactful conflicts in American history. As one of the U.S. Army's premier armored formations, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment performed a crucial role in the war. Serving as a hard-hitting mobile …

Team Yankee–A novel of World War III

"All Bravo 3 Romeo elements, upon impact of friendly artillery, you will commence firing. Maintain fire distribution and good shooting. Romeo 25, out." Team Yankee, page 53 Harold Coyle is a retired armor officer who, among other assignments, served in Desert Storm. Team Yankee was his debut novel, first published in 1987. The story follows …

Range 301 – a summer night in 1988 and the Blackhorse

M1 tank night fire, May 1988
"On line" by Staff Sgt. Roger Price, pen and ink, 1990, U.S. Army Art Collection Range 301 – Combined arms range; largest in Western Europe In the above art piece, an M1 tank unit and a fire support team are shooting at Range 301 on the northwestern side of Grafenwoehr Training Area in southern Germany. …

Life on the front lines in war

As anyone who has served in war can tell you, life is tough at the sharp end of the spear. Also, you spend a good deal of time dealing with friction. Getting simple things done can be a real pain in the ass. Take the most simple tasks, multiply them by four, and you get an idea.