This book tells the truth about Vietnam from the black soldiers' perspective. An oral history, it features twenty black men who tell the story of how members of their race were sent off in disproportionate numbers and the special test of patriotism they faced. This work puts the Vietnam experience in historical, cultural, and political perspective.

Private First Class Reginald "Malik" Edwards, Phoenix, Louisiana -- Specialist 5 Harold "Light Bulb" Bryant, East St. Louis, Illinois -- Specialist 4 Richard J. Ford III, Washington, D.C. -- Specialist 4 Charles Strong, Pompano Beach, Florida -- HM2 Luther C. Benton III, Portsmouth, Virginia -- Specialist 5 Emmanuel J. Holloman, Baltimore, Maryland -- Specialist 4 Haywood T. "The Kid" Kirkland (Ari Sesu Merretazon), Washington, D.C. -- First Lieutenant Archie "Joe" Biggers, Colorado City, Texas -- Specialist 4 Stephen A. Howard, Washington, D.C. -- Captain Norman Alexander McDaniel, Fayetteville, North Carolina -- Sergeant Major Edgar A. Huff, Gadsden, Alabama -- Staff Sergeant Don F. Browne, Washington, D.C. -- Specialist 4 Robert L. Mountain, Millen, Georgia -- Lieutenant Commander William S. Norman, Norfolk, Virginia -- Specialist 4 Robert E. Holcomb, New York City -- Captain Joseph B. Anderson, Jr., Topeka, Kansas -- Sergeant Robert L. Daniels, Chicago, Illinois -- Specialist 4 Arthur E. "Gene" Woodley, Jr. (aka Cyclops and Montagnard), Baltimore, Maryland -- Radarman Second Class Dwyte A. Brown, Washington, D.C. -- Colonel Fred V. Cherry, Suffolk, Virginia -- Chronology of major events in the Vietnam War.