“Hah,” Schroeder said. “People hear ‘air cav’ and they get to thinking about Duvall in Apocalypse Now. Ride of the Valkyries. Attacking a beach just to do a little military surfing.”

“It’s not?”

“It’s ‘air assault’ now, for one,” said Schroeder. “Not air cav. No more foofy blue hats or buglers for us. Not to mention that half the stuff they showed in the movie you couldn’t have gotten away with even in ‘Nam, and stuff you could get away with in ‘Nam will have you up against a wall these days.”

“So what is the same, then?”

“Speed. We get in quick, get out quick, and leave a lot of oily smoke on the way. That part’s never changed.”