Gordon L. Rottman   entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed   training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group   in Vietnam in 1969–70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range   patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a   Special Operations Forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training   Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.