The Road: Over There

At the Cubby-Hole Enlisted Men's club in Long Binh, 20 miles north of Saigon, about 300 G.I.s were having their spill of beer and good cheer. Suddenly a spotlight pinned an opening door, and out wafted a striking blonde. For a second, the soldiers were dead silent. Then stomping, cheering and pounding on tables, they scrambled over each other to get a better look.

Busty, freckle-faced Jan Brinker, 30, slowly struggled to the makeshift stage and began singing I've Got the Sun in the Morning. After that came some chatter ("Golly, you guys...