The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty

January 20, 1968

We're going to move out while it's still dark, try to get a jump on them. Everybody's packing as much ammo as they can carry. Most of us even have LAWs — light anti-tank assault weapons. The terrain's too rough for tanks, but we can use the LAWs to take out bunkers. If we need them. Grenades, bandoliers filled with magazines for our M-16s..., extra belts of M-60 ammo for the machine guns, bayonets, Kabar knives.... But, it doesn't even feel like Boys with Toys this time — it feels like Men with Weapons. Nervous men, but men. If they want to take us on, we'll be ready. I hope.

Last night I wrote letters to everyone in my family, just in case.