Young Major William Stryker had just accompanied his wife, Marcy, to buy a whole cartload of baby diapers.
To save money, they had driven all the way to a large department store in New York State, a hundred kilometers away, and bought enough to last them two months.
The first-time parents had clearly never imagined that their newborn son, Jason, could hold so much liquid in his tiny belly.
"Don't worry. A real big shot personally requested my transfer to New York. This newly established department offers good pay and benefits. We'll settle down here, which will be better for Jason's education and upbringing."
In the back seat, Marcy played with little Jason in her arms. Like her, he had different-colored irises. His porcelain-doll complexion and blue-and-yellow eyes made him absolutely adorable.
"I'll be satisfied as long as you come back from there safely. It doesn't matter whether we're in New York or Phoenix, as long as our family can stay together."
Marcy had recovered quickly after giving birth. With her long, pale-blond hair, slender, well-defined features, and strikingly mismatched eyes, she was a true beauty. Major Stryker cherished and protected his beloved wife; he was a devoted family man.
He didn't mention his experiences on the battlefield in Vietnam, Southeast Asia. None of it was worth making his wife worry.
In late April 1961, Stryker had been a captain and one of the first combat commanders of the special forces that President Kennedy decided to send from America to fight in Vietnam. He led several special operations teams through more than two years of fighting across the country.
These units were generally small. Their organization and equipment varied depending on the region. They received specialized training, including counterguerrilla warfare, and primarily engaged in unconventional combat, though they could also