Richard Fleming served as a scout with the elite U.S. Marine 1st Force Reconnaissance Company during the bloodiest years of the Vietnam War. Dropped deep into enemy territory, Recon relied on stealth and surprise to complete their mission--providing intelligence on enemy positions and conducting raids, prisoner snatches, and ambushes. Fleming's absorbing memoir recounts his transformation from idealistic recruit to cynical veteran as the war claimed the lives of his friends and the missions became ever more dangerous. “Some men can tell you things you have heard before and make them sound brand new. Richard Fleming is one of them. His 20/10 vision exposes small details in the big picture. He sees inside men and situations. He portrays heroes and screw-ups…I enjoyed reading Chasing Charlie.”― VVA Veteran Richard Fleming volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1967. Following basic training at Parris Island, Advanced Infantry training, and Recon Indoctrination he completed Army Airborne School to become a Marine paratrooper. When he first arrived in Vietnam he was assigned to 1st Battalion Recon and then transferred to 1st Force Recon where he spent the remainder of his 13-month tour as a Marine scout with an eight-man long range reconnaissance team. He lives in Freeport, Maine.