Navy Cross — H. Jay Riker

THE ELUSIVE VICTORY

This is a war like no other: a fierce jungle contest pitting U.S. soldiers against a vicious, invisible enemy who is lost in the rocks, trees, in the earth itself, and among the civilian population. From half a world away, irresponsible politicians devise strict rules of engagement based on misunderstandings and deliberate deceits. For the Navy SEALs, Vietnam has been a proving ground--a world of carefully controlled ops and sudden mad moments of explosive horror. But now the war's nightmare is intensifying as ultimate victory falls farther out of reach. And it will take more than skill, courage, and toughness for these unparalleled commandos to win their unequal battles--and more than luck to bring them back alive.