History of the Cover Photograph

​I have received many positive comments about the cover of my book "When I Turned Nineteen A Vietnam War Memoir". 

Don Ayres took the photograph November 1969. Don came to the platoon as a replacement the end of August 1969. The day he took the photograph we were working in the mountains west of Hill 411. I was approaching the squad to get ready to move out when Don while sitting on the ground called out “Sergeant Haynie” and then took the picture as I stopped and looked at him. I have always thought this one picture captured my mental and physical state at the time by my expression and body language. 

Don lives in California and is retired. We got to see each other the first time after 46 years at our First Platoon Reunion July 2016.

Thank you Don Ayres.

This is the original photograph.