CHAPTER SEVENTEENBy mid-February, major changes within First Squad had taken place. Most prominently, Frenchie, Wild Bill, and Scout finished their tours and went home in one piece.
Their last night in the bush together turned out to be a pleasant experience. Wild Bill managed to get his hands on some LRRP meals – lightweight, dehydrated meals primarily used by the long-range recon patrols. The dry and powdery food mixture came in vacuum-packed aluminum foil pouches. After tearing off the perforated top, simply adding hot water and stirring the mixture created a unique and tasty meal. He had enough packs for the whole First Squad, thus providing them with an entirely new eating experience in the bush. Every meal included beef with rice, noodles, or cubed potatoes, in a rich, creamy sauce.
