Vietnam wasn’t just a warzone. It was a jungle. A predator’s territory. Tigers were out there, real jungle stalkers. Not many. But enough to leave a mark on both sides. Indochinese tigers roamed the highlands, especially in areas like the A Shau Valley. Marines and NVA both reported sightings. Some patrols said tigers tracked them for days. There are even claims that the NVA set punji traps not just for American troops, but to defend themselves against the jungle’s four-legged killers. And sometimes, those killers struck. May 5, 1970 – Razorback Ridge Force Recon had set up for the night. No room for a full 360, so Sgt. Robert Phleger, the team leader, took the outermost position, furthest out on the slope. Sgt. Robert Phleger had just flown to Hawaii for some hard-earned R&R. While there, he married his high school sweetheart. When he got back to Force Recon, his team was gearing up for a short mission in the A Shau Valley. Phleger was told to sit this one out. He’d just returned. His time in country was nearly up. But he refused. He insisted on going, said the new team leader needed a proper handoff in the field. That kind of devotion was standard for the Marines of that era. Eventually, his lieutenant gave in, promising Phleger this would be his last trip to the bush. A safer job in the rear would be waiting on his return. It never came. (Continued in comments.)