Fire on the Mountain

"TERRY KOMINSKI NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HIM AND HIS PLATOON.

One second, he was running up hill into the darkening forest toward his objective; the next, the entire ridge line seemed to explode in front of him.

He had the impression of a myriad of frenzied fireflies lining the entire wall of jungle before him.

He was flung backward by multiple concussions exploding into his body.

He was thrown into his RTO saving the man's life for a few brief moments.

When he came back to his senses, he felt that he was lying in some hollow, a dark, protected bowl on the forest floor.

He felt no pain.

He was just tired, dreadfully tired.

He was vaguely aware of a frenzied fire fight occurring somewhere near him. He could see occasional flashes of light flickering in the dark ... the ripping explosions of small-arms fire ... the screams ..."

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, the second book of the Violent Season Trilogy, tells the story of a climactic battle between the US Army and the People's Army of North Vietnam on the mountainous terrain of the Chu Pa in the central highlands of Vietnam. Young American soldiers find themselves in a deadly struggle with the North Vietnamese army in a battle that neither side wants. The novel, written by an infantry and ranger veteran of the Vietnam War brings its readers not only onto the battlefield, but also into the minds of the young men, both American and Vietnamese, who fought there, and the effect the battle has on their loved ones at home.

RAY GLEASON is a retired army infantry officer, medieval scholar, teacher, and author of both fiction and non-fiction works.

Ray served as an infantryman for nineteen months in Vietnam with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, "Cacti Blue," and as a LRRP team leader with K Company, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger). During his army career, Ray served in a number of command and staff assignments, collecting the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star for Valor, Air Medal, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Gold Palm, and a helmet-full of Army Commendations, and federal and state awards.

Upon retirement from the army, Ray enrolled at Northwestern University and earned a Master's Degree and a PhD, specializing in medieval literature and semiotics. Ray teaches on the Chicago campus of Northwestern as an Adjunct Lecturer. Go Wildcats!

Ray has authored several fiction and non-fiction works, including the Gaius Marius Chronicle series, the Gaius Marius Mystery series, and the non-fiction A Grunt Speaks: A Devil's Dictionary of Vietnam Infantry Terms.

Ray and his wife, Jan Peyser, an award-winning silver smith / jeweler, share their time between Indiana and Chicago.