On November 21, 2023, I recall a daring escapade during the Vietnam War in 1968, famously known as “The Dangerous Beer Heist.”

Situated on a hill designated by a number, the landscape featured two tiers—with artillery stationed on the top tier. Despite the infantry on guard duty being denied alcohol, a pallet of beer tantalizingly sat on the artillery tier.

Motivated by the desire for a taste of normalcy, two soldiers, myself included, devised a plan to crawl underneath the wire through a minefield and liberate a case of beer. The audacious endeavor unfolded at dusk, and despite my partner abandoning the mission, I pressed on alone to carry out the heist.

Successfully acquiring a case of beer without arousing suspicion, I stealthily returned to our side in the darkness. My fellow soldiers greeted me as a hero, and news of the stolen beer quickly spread through the company, with the liberated brew vanishing in seconds.

Encouraged to retrieve another case, I embarked on a second, less cautious attempt. However, this time, I lost my way in the dark and found myself perilously close to a mine. Lying low through the night, I was saved the following day, realizing the inherent vulnerability even an 18-year-old combatant feels in the midst of such audacious exploits.