Deno Silvia enlisted in the Navy in 1965 to combine his love of sea and air. He attended Naval Aviation School in Tennessee, and, in 1966, shipped off to Vietnam for his first of three tours. Silvia recalls his immense responsibilities as an 18-year-old, quickly turning him from boy to man. Silvia remembers Commander John Mape for his heroism, leadership, and his last encounter with him: Silvia was the last person to speak to Commander Mape before he was shot down and killed. Silvia's conversation highlights his training before Vietnam, his experiences during the war, and his difficulty coming home to a hateful country that denied the reality of PTSD.