What it was Really Like to Fly Combat Helicopters in Vietnam

I recommend this book because it is a remarkable experience for anybody to go through, especially somebody who is in his early 20's. I can relate to it a little since I spent 20 years agricultural flying without having any accidents, thanks to lots of luck, but I did experience numerous incidents.

Enjoyed this book very much. I learned so much about flight school, flying in Nam and what it meant each time they were able to extract the troops out of harm's way. I didn't want the book to end, terrific read from start to finish. Garrison is a great writer!

Have studied the Vietnam via many first hand accounts of the conflict. However, I have never even turned into the world of the chopper pilot. This book is great! Instead of long drawn out chapters with too much non essential blah blah this book is broken down into small short stories getting right to the point. Real good read.

Reading this book put me right back in the pilots seat while flying with the 4th ID near Pleiku. Well told story in language very familiar with anyone who was there. The description of basic helicopter training was spot on. This book should be enjoyed by any aviator young or old. Mark got it right.

We overlapped on the map and the calendar in Pleiku before I moved with the 70th engineer Battalion to Ban Me Thuot. His descriptions and experiences mirror my own. I know there are many who owe their lives to his commitment to his fellow soldiers. Note I did not say commitment to duty or to the mission.

What a great story! Told by chopper pilot who experienced combat during the heyday of the Vietnam conflict. Not only does he describe the harrowing missions in detail but he describes them in such a manner that you feel you are watching it transpire. Best of all he brings his great sense of humor "on board." Told by a quality pilot and good human being. Loved it!

One of the more interesting parts of the book were the chapters on the training pipeline for Army Helo Pilots. As a Vietnam era youth I was very interested in enlisting in this program until the Navy made me an offer I couldn't refuse. After reading this book I think I owe then Navy a big vote of thanks.

I had a buddy who got killed flying supply missions over there. I just wanted to know maybe just what he might of been through. This book is excellent in telling you just what went on over there. I am almost done with it and will be sad when I an finished with it.
Thanks Mark for sharing your story!
Steve

Gritty true story about the helo pilot heroes in Vietnam. Having met a few of these remarkable men, this story matches their casually told tales of heroism beyond belief that leave the rest of us with our eyes agog and our mouths gaped open.

I chose five stars because I know his stories are factual. They are amusing to me since I have encountered some of them. Veterans and non veterans alike will find Garrisons book enlightening and entertaining.

This was a wonderful reading experience. I used to have a room mate for a year who had been a chopper pilot in VN. I was always intrigued by him. He didn't say much, and I didn't want to ask. It has helped me to understand him better in reflection. Thanks for contributing this experience and adding to the annals of US military history.

This is a great reflection of our Vietnam Veterans and their sacrifice for a country that they loved but was not allowed to fight to win. I hope we have learned our lesson. Thank you sir for a great book! Semper Fidelis! Corporal JKG USMC

Casual reading fare not meant for the historian or the book snob. It reads like a collection of memories written down as they came to mind, not always in strict chronology. It is more like a collection of short stories. I found it a pleasure to read.

... if a little disjointed, but that's a literary observation, not a put down of the content matter!! This is not anywhere near as visceral as Chickenhawk, but then few books are and I found this interesting and fast moving.
I thank Mr Garrison for both his service and taking the time to write this,

Definitely a five star presentation. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. This is a must read for anyone interested in the
very critical contributions helicopter gunships made the Viet Nam war. I will be watching to see if he writes another because this
one is a winner. Thank you.

I flew Bravo and Charlie models and finally Hotel models all over the country the Mark fought so bravely in and I can honestly say anyone who flew Huey's in that for a year and survived is one hell of a pilot! God bless him and his brought memoriesi, some good, some not so much!

Interesting topic but the story was fragmented. I was also stationed at Plieku from 11/70 to 12/71 so hearing about that area was what kept me interested. I was stationed on Tropo Hill but my houch was across from the dust off pad at the Hospital and saw what a wonderful job the dust off crews did.

This was a surprisingly good book. I has a difficult time putting it down. It gave me a perspective about Vietnam that I hadn't had before, with special focus on the relationships between warriors. I highly recommend it.

I served a combat tour in Vietnam as a mechanized scout. I was always in awe of the helicopter jocks and even considered going for warrant officer rotary wing. This detailed description of the nitty-gritty of combat flying makes me glad I had a cha he of mind.

A well written diary-like book relating the experiences of one of the many helicopter pilots in the Vietnam war. The writer is either highly proficient or had a great editor as the writing is flawless.

Mr. Garrison gives us a straight forward, unadorned account of his time in Vietnam. Never the less, it still reads as a Hollywood action movie. I enjoyed his tales and appreciate him, and all the others that served so admirably. Thank you, Sir!

A very readable account of one mans transition from civilian life to combat pilot. As a product of the same system I found many things I also experienced. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a look into the life of a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

This was a straight-forward first person narrative of a story that many Hollywood types would deem too extreme to be true. These guys (the Army gunship and slick crews) were some of the most gutsy aviators in Vietnam. This book captures their story well. I would recommend it to old Vietnam vets, and others, not to bring back bad memories, but to remember the bravery and just plain decentness of some unsung heroes.

Great story. Gave us who rode the ships sending in the planes to the north a better understanding of what the war was like to those who flew the helos. Those 19 year old men were all heroes who did a terrific and very dangerous job.

An inspirational story of survival, by a combination of outstanding skill, luck, respect and love for their fellow soldiers. May God bless and comfort all Vietnam veterans on the wall, and those who will forever live with their memory. Thanks to Mark Garrison for sharing his memories. Semper Fi!

Personal account of authors Vietnam experience, but disjointed and full of anti-government questions (not without reason or validity, but just overdone). Overall, not bad, but certainly not good. "CW2" was much better

A autobiography of one man/boy's story of driving hilicopters for the army in Vietnam in 68-69. Don't look for a highend book with this, however, it's a very injoyable read with a first person account of a gunship in that war.

Very good read. Having been a Gunship over a year ahead i laughed at some of the familiar antics of flight school and what we did with our crews in country. Glad you made it through your tour. Congrats. Stingray 29. Class 67-17

This is a real edge of your seat experience. Taking you from flight school, to flying combat missions in Vietnam. I recommend it for everyone wanting to know what these young men went through, from there day to day missions, and survival, in a very controversial war.

Gives the reader a good idea of helicopter training and flying in combat zones during Veitnam. Makes no comment on the war or tactics. Deals with the human aspect of flying in and out of hot zones and how ordinary people cope with extraordinary situations.

Great first person recount of some VERY, VERY trying times in combat. Great reading and great insight to what a year in country was all about. This great for even civilians. Life, truth, friendship and compassion makes the best read in my mind.

The story of a helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam, including his training and after the war. Very interesting, in fact addicting story written by someone who was there. Not highly polished, but very readable and enjoyable.

The author presents a great picture of Gun pilots. I had the honor to fly with these pilots who gravitated to the Iowa National Guard. They were competent fliers, wild partiers, close Brothers. I served in one of the last Cav troops that were still organized as they were in Vietnam. This book has the strong ring of truth.