On Point: A Memoir from Vietnam: in Bloomington, MN

The pointman is the lead man in the patrol. He has to be very alert to everything that is going on around him. He has to be aware of all that he sees, hears and smells. He has to be aware of every movement around him. He can't let anything escape his senses because it could cost his life, or the life of someone else, maybe the whole patrol.