5 comments about In the Company of Heroes.

1. 
   Wow! This book is a terrific! I could hardly put the book down after I started reading it. Durant and Steven Hartov recount all the vivid and unforgettable details of the Black Hawk's crash into the heart of the most unfriendly territory - Aidid-controlled Mogadishu.
   The two truly heroic and fearless Delta operators, Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart, attempt to rescue Durant from a massive mob of hate-filled Somalis. Unfortunately, the operators run out of ammo and are overwhelmed by the Somalis' huge numbers. Any minute Durant expects to be literally torn or cut apart limb by limb. With a broken back and leg, Durant can do little to protect himself or get away. And then, like a miracle, he is literally pulled out of the hands of the mob and into custody by a rival warlord's clan.
   
   The story then goes on to cover Durant's initial captivity in dismal and dangerous conditions. His bone-jarring and pain-racking transfers across the pothole-filled streets of Mogadishu, being used as a seat cushion to make it past guarded checkpoints. Despite the obviously searing pain he must have felt, he managed to keep a diary and hold onto his sanity.
   
   The story goes on to describe TF Ranger's search and rescue efforts to locate him (provides a good argument for electronic tracking devices placed in military pilots) and also some behind-the-scenes American diplomatic maneuvers to secure his release (which did work). The Red Cross also visited Durant and helped get essential medicine & emotional support to him. Durant also describes the Somalis he was guarded by and his unusual Somali doctor who carried his limited medical supplies in a fishing tackle box.
   
   Besides the captivity narrative, the book is interspersed with progressive snapshots of Durant's military piloting career as an army helicopter pilot. Durant talks about his training and experiences in the blizzards of South Korea, the jungles of Panama, and gruellingly intense survival-evasion-resistance-escape school in the US. The book winds up with his repatriation, recovery, and eventual return to marathon-running and off-duty flying.
   
   The entire book is packed with action and fascinating military experiences. This book rocks! You'll be dogging bullets right next there to Durant while you're reading it!



2. Durant's story takes us from Black Hawk Down and gives us a persalized look into his ordeal in Somalia. But he also gives an itimate look into the lives and beliefs of his captors. This is must read book for anyone interested in the survival of the human spirit.



3. Excellent,excellent book. I'd recommend reading Black Hawk Down first for an overview of the battle, but even if you don't, either way, this is a great book. Mr Durant just tries to tell it like it is, how it happened, and tell the stories of his fallen comrades, who are the "heroes" from the title.
   
   I was in the 101st, in fact I was at Campbell when Durant was flying non SOG missions, and I went to Panama, so his career flashbacks were cool to read as I could relate. But even for someone who may not have been there, the flashbacks provide a backdrop for who he is, who the Night Stalkers were, and the mentality of these SOG operators.
   
   Fantastic read, highly recommend.



4. A riveting true story, well written. If you didn't already respect the skill and bravery of the US armed forces, you will after reading this book.



5. The book, In the Company of Heroes by Michael J. Durant, describes the life of a prisoner of war in Somalia. The fact that the officer actually was the prisoner, makes the book an autobiography. Durant wrote this book in hopes of bringing his life and death situations as a prisoner of war, to the real world. He wanted to explain how difficult life truly was and the experiences he went through on a day-to-day basis. He wanted everyone to see eye-to-eye on ideas such as war. By writing this book, those hopes can be expressed. This shows that there are many hardships but you have to persevere no matter how painful it may be.
   Michael J. Durant was born on July 23, 1961 in Berlin, New Hampshire. He then went on to enter the U.S army in August 1979. Michael was Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. In the war, he was captured and held prisoner on October 3, 1993. He was very high up on the list of positions in the army. The importance of his job also came with many responsibilities. For example, he had to learn and teach how to fly helicopters. Up until the war in Somalia, he led a pretty normal life. He has a wife named Lisa, and a son named Joey. Devastated to leave his family, he got prepared to fight for his country, which is something he was meant to do. His adventurous character has led him to do great things.
   Michael J. Durant did a fantastic job writing this book. He tells the story with great detail. This true story implants extreme images in your head. Coming from a first hand source, the story is even more meaningful. It makes you feel like you were actually there.
   Many positives were found throughout the story. One example would be how it shows Durant's life before and after he encounters his captivity. It was interesting to learn about the daily struggles he had to go through in order to survive and how different his survival instincts were before the war. The book is very suspenseful and keeps its interest throughout every chapter. The only negative would be that the book is long and at certain points, difficult to read for younger people.
   I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense, intensity, and life or death situations.

5 comments about Outlaws in Vietnam.

1. HEY REVIEWER #12.... You were not in even in Vietnam, much less in the prestigious "175th." The mighty wives of the Outlaws sniffed you out, and declared you illegitmate, a deciever. You are a bozo, non-existent, bogus member of the Vinh Long crowd and your horrific dismissal of the OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM books signifies your nothing-ness. Too bad you were not there--I assure you that you would have been able to "recall" the Silver Star Kid: OL 23,-24 himeself, and screw you, "buddy!" Don't show up anytime, anywhere, OK??! I do have claws and fangs for the right target.... Drop dead. Yuck... I was just beginning to think there were no sharks in these waters!



2. I don't know how I ended up in this under 13 review, but here it is. The thought came to me as I read OUTLAWS in Vietnam , that I didn't know what the pilots were doing and feeling when landing and taking-off from areas that most people will never experiance. As a door gunner I remember thinking how we would work together giving instruction from our gunner wells on the position of the helicopter in relation to the surounding trees, brush, and mountain cliffs that we used as a landing zone (LZ), I often thought "that was scarry" when we did this type of landing. Dave wrote this book from a pilots view and I did enjoy the memories. He also gave some credit to the crew that flew with him. Fine book Dave, I'm glad I bought it. Tony Villarruel Outlaw (Door Gunner) 26, 1971-72



3. Want to know what it was like to be a Huey chopper pilot, deep in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War? Read this book. Dave Eastman flew both "slicks" (transport choppers that carried mostly Vietnamese soldiers into battle) and gunships during a year of heavy fighting in a particularly deadly part of Vietnam.
   
   Dave describes the life of a helicopter pilot superbly-not only the flying and fighting, but also the sociology of chopper pilots and crews.
   
   This book fascinated me, partly because I was a "client" of the chopper crews, including the 175th Outlaws, and I know the terrain well. I was an adviser on Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MAC-V) Team 73, based in Vi Thanh. Dave writes a lot about "the first battle of Vi Thanh," "the second battle of VT," etc. (there were plenty).
   
   But I was fascinated mainly because "Outlaws" is a good book. Dave Eastman writes well, and has contributed significantly to a vital, but seldom documented, aspect of the Vietnam War.
   
   Tom Hargrove, Author, A Dragon Lives Forever: War and Rice in Vietnam's Mekong Delta



4. Author David Eastman treats the reader to an insider view of one of the best aviation units in the Delta during the Vietnam War. This was a totally different kind of war and his historic look back at the 175th Aviation Company from 1966 through 1967 is a real snap shot of that special kind of helicopter warfare. His book, "Outlaws in Vietnam," is a masterpiece of writing. It loses nothing in the details and the historic reconstruction of memories. The author takes us along on the missions and we get to meet some of the men in the unit.
   
   The action is a real accounting of what it was like. This book will take you on a flight of adventure safely from your sofa but emotionally you will be with this group of men all the way from the beginning to the end. You will get your money's worth of this unit's story along with some black and white photos.
   
   David does a great job writing this historic memoir. The MWSA gives it highest rating to this book.



5. I ended up with this book because it was matched up with another book, "Kill Me If You Can", a book that many battlefield hardened grunts had said was a really good book, and it was. This one leaves a lot to be desired if one is non-military and trying to learn what the war was like. I suspect that most of the really good reviews here came from the author's friends.

1 comments about A Mild Form of Insanity: Recollections of a Helicopter Pilot.

1. An excellent read, a real insight into a largly unthought of world. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam.

1. I'm not normally a reader of non-fiction war stories, especially in first person, but "Pucker Factor 10" caught my attention from the beginning all the way to the very end. Joyce brings the reader into the realm of realism, from family history, personal apprehensions, his somewhat inadvertant role as a helicopter pilot during the heat of battle, his impressions of soldiers and his humanity toward the enemy which brings chills to the reader. Meanwhile, just when I least expected, I found myself belly laughing his wit. This book is a must for anyone who enjoys true-to-lie accounts of how it was in the air trenches.



2. James Joyce has written a truly excellent book. Mr. Joyce has successfully included every human emotion possible. His real life experiences are a combination of both desperate hours and uplifting moments, with a side of unmistakable humor. I would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Vietnam era. Definately a MUST READ.



3. I had to choose a war memoir for a term paper this semester in my english class...and I was very happy that I chose to read Pucker Factor 10. The book is very enlightening, and an interesting read. I found myself always WANTING to read more. James Joyce is a wonderful writer and he reveals emotions and specifics of war that you dont even realize. I highly suggest this book to everyone. I normally dont read memoirs like this but after reading his I want to read more!



4. Should you consider reading only one book about the U.S. helicopter pilots in South-Vietnam that bravely fought almost 40 years ago, then, "Pucker Factor 10" is the best choice.
   Mr. James Joyce there flew the two most used types: "slicks" and "gunships" thus covering two major aspects of the tactical helicopter warfare successfully used in SEA. This is what this book tells you.



5. As a woman reader I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned so much in this book, about flying, Vietnam, rats (UGH) I knew it was hard over there but didn't really realize some of the hardships till I read this book. The author's writing is very easy to understand, you don't need a dictionary beside you, and the humour was great. You got some really good laughs and some sadness also. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

3 comments about Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (Power).

1. This book was awesome! It detailed what the Night Stalkers do. It is very personal to me because a good friend's son was a Night Stalker. He was killed recently in Iraq while on a special mission hunting for Zarqawi. He personally recomended this book and so do I.



2. I purchased this book in order to gain some knowledge about the 160th, since my son was recently accepted to SOAR. It provided quite a bit of information to me. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested about this elite group. I especially enjoyed the many pictures and the history of the 160th. I'm totally in awe!



3. This is a great reference book and well organized with chapters on history, mission, equipment, and, of course, the different aircraft. The author, Fred Pushies, does a great job of provide details (unclassified) about the unit and their missions that hadn't been published before. Typical of Special Ops, it looks like they spoofed him a little bit. For example, on page 43, the crewmember with the NVGs and oxygen mask is wearing an Air Force helmet, and the goggles look like they were put in backwards. A similar strange picture appears on page 14 with an AN/PVS-5C full faceplate and early ANVIS Objective lenses, which looks like they took NVG parts and tried to make it look like a Litton 909 that was used in the early 80s. A great tribute to the best warriors in the world.
   
   NVG support and advisor to 160th since 1981,

5 comments about Snake Pilot: Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam.

1. Evidently, the publisher's printing press has a maximum number of pages that it can print in a book of this size. Regrettably, Randy was forced to cut major portions from the original manuscript that detailed more than the actions of a cobra pilot.

   In spite of this, Randy has completed the impossible task: He has documented the details correctly, and has also caught the tone, captured the frustration, and has put into writing what it was like to be a very young cobra pilot in Charlie Troop, 1/9 Cav.

   This is personal. This is a personal account; with all of the personal feelings and interactions that one is expected to have in combat. He has not blown his personal, the troop's, nor the 9th Cav's exploits out-of-proportion (like another author has), and has tried his best to describe the unit as it was.... a great Troop in the highly recognized 9th Cavalry, "doing it all like it was supposed to be done" in Nam. As such, the good and the not so good are both reported as fairly as any human being in combat can. When you are done reading his excellent book, you will no doubt have assimilated his personal feelings for what it was like to be a "Snake Pilot."

   Grover Wright
   Charlie Troop, 1/9 Cav
   1969-1970
   Snake Pilot




2. Randy sent a copy with a very personal message and signature to my mom back in the states, upon finally recieving it here in Iraq I read it cover to cover closing it only to go on mission. It brought back a lot of memories of stories my father, Charles Frazier, used to tell me about the days in Tay Nihn, Phouc Vihn and all the insanity of losing friends. Being at war myself, I really connected with a lot of the stories. It was a great book deeply personal, full of the heartache of Vietnam.

   PFC Frazier, Jason J
   21 M.P. (ABN)




3. This book would make a great movie.... The way it is written makes you feel like you are out there with him... I believe I've read about every book written about the war and this is one of my favorites. The Author has a very good way of telling a story of a small group of young men doing a job that not many people could accomplish in a war zone.



4. Sure, everyone's going to hate me when they read this, but maybe I'll save someone like me from reading this. After reading Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills (couldn't put it down!), I thought I had to read Snake Pilot. Now I know that I could've skipped it. I am sure that war is hell to go through, that people miss their families, that the Army doesn't always take care of their own, etc, etc. Having said that, this account is really a lot more about having a lame time in Vietnam than "Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam". I was really looking for more operational info, mission sorties, weapon load outs, hair raising tales, things like that. The author seemed to overlook most of that though. Maybe he was trying to spare the casual reader the technical mumbo-jumbo, and make it more about his personal demons. Just not what I wanted to read about though.



5. Talk about "Take me back!" Randy Zahn did just that. What a memory! The heat, the killing of friends and the enemy, incoming and the showers, it's all there! I was there three years earlier than Randy, but I met his persona every day, 19 years of age, but much more mature. The soldiers aged ten years in one month in the "Nam." Great read, thanks for baring your sole Randy.
   
   Richard L. Snider, M.D., author of Delta Six, Soldier Surgeon

5 comments about Rattler One-Seven: A Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's War Story (North Texas Military Biography and Memoir).

1. As a former Vietnam helicopter pilot, I lived a similar life in "Nam" so I know the story was factual and well written. The author was single minded in getting home alive and keeping those flying with him as safe as he could make it for them. I enjoyed his professionalism in flying and striving to be the best in a bad situation. The combat assualts were great and I was "in the cockpit with him" as he described the action. Good reading for vet and non-vet alike as to what it was like to be in a true airmobile war.



2. Of all the books I have read about Vietnam this has to be rated at the bottom of the list. Obviously written by an amateur, the story was drab and uninteresting. He should have had some professional help in writing this book.



3. I have just finished reading Rattler One-Seven for the second time. Mr. Gross does such a great job of capturing the true essence of what it must have been like to fly choppers in Vietnam. Instead of glorifing combat like so many Vietnam books do, he gives you his honest opinions of what he experienced through the eyes of a nineteen year old. His narrative writing style makes you feel as if your sitting there in person listening to him. This is one of my favorite books.



4. You have seen it in the movies, now read actual accounts of flying UH-1 Huey helicopters in and out of hot landing zones.
   
   Author Chuck Gross details his 1200 hours of combat as a young aviator during the Vietnam war. He details the way it really was from the propective of being on the front lines during tense operations. Rattler One-Seven is a collection of his notes and memories written in an exciting format, which captured my emotion to read more.
   
   He shares with his readers his thoughts and emotions as he carried out risky operations, putting his talents ahead of his emotion to complete the mission at hand. It is clear to me that Chuck was a fine aviator with high moral standards. This book tells the real life experiences in the eyes of a 19 year old Vietnam combat helicopter pilot. The challenges this pilot experienced which formed his skills and moral values into who he is today.
   
   You will read chronological events as they were experienced; being a Newbie, busting your cherry, Special Operations including Lam Son 719, what it is like to be shot down, coming home and more..... Read it. As I read it I felt the combat as if I was there in the action.
   
   A must read for all to experience a time in history.



5. I recently purchased a book entitled Rattler One-Seven written by Chuck Gross. Once I started to read this unbelievable account of this helicopter pilots involvment in the VietNam war I could not put it down. What these young pilots went through to insert and extract and suport rescue missions to bring back our ground troops during this confrontation is almost more than a mind can absorb. Chuck Gross was a young warrant officer (19 yrs old) from Minnesota. His in depth writing will take you to a time in history that many of us have forgotten. The daily fear of lossing ones own life, being caputured and the stories of friends and comrades who did not make it home is riveting to say the least. His writing is so in depth I gurantee you will ride that Huey with him and his crew, and you will share the tears, heartache and jubilation just as he did during his year of service. If you remember anything about Nam and the protests regarding this war you owe it to yourself to read this pilots account of what hell must really be like, and applaud these brave young men for doing the job that they were told to do. Whether you agreed with the war or not is not the issue, but what these soldiers did at our governments request of them. I hope you can reflect as I did when you read Chuck Gross's account. You will hold a special place in your memory for all of these brave men. Bill Turck, St Cloud MN

5 comments about Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide Fifth Edition (Jane's Recognition Guides).

1. Covering the gamut of aircraft from civilian to military, rotary to fixed wing, the "baby" Jane's is a great book for the aviation enthusiast as a quick reference guide or as a way to learn more without spending the hundreds for a full size Jane's. It's size allows it to be easily carried in a bag and it's perfect for airplane spotting or airshows.
   
   The book is designed to include the most material possible in the smallest size, and does that well. That detracts from the amount of information that can be provided for each aircraft in terms of data and pictures, but they are any number of full size books that can provide that information. The sheer quantity of aircraft included though make up for the brevity of the entries.
   
   All in all though, a good book that could use regular updates. A fourth edition covering the latest military and civilian programs would be a bonus, but for now, you can't get better for the price and size.
   
   NOTE: Updated 4th Edition is now available, includes F/A 22, F/35 JSF, JF-17 China Pak Fighter, and A380 airliners. Still no Chinese F-10, or Boeing 787 though. Not worth the added expense for so few changes in my opinion



2. This is a great book and the title explains it well. My only complaint is the Boing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was omitted even with a picture of it on the back cover.



3. It's my fault I bought this book. I all too briefly flipped through it at the bookstore, quickly noting the lack of some details in the specifications. I thought I could tolerate these omissions. I regret that decision now.
   
   This is my first "Jane's" guide and I'm not impressed at all. Forget about the lack of some specifications for a moment, since the book is labeled a "recognition" guide. What specifications are in the book are riddled with typos and or just plain errors. It's like no one proofed the book. At times I find myself with the impression that it was rushed out the door. Combine this with complete omissions for major aircraft - Mitsubishi's MU2 line of turboprops for example, and the lack for fuel capacities and aircraft weights. Sometimes the main difference between to different models of the same make are so slight visually that these left out specifications aid in the identification. If you're going to provide some specifications, why not provide all the basics.
   
   Maybe they should have broken this book into separate fixed wing and helicopter versions. As it is, I don't recommend this book for any but the most casual reader.



4. I found this book a must have for every one interested in aircraft recognition. Virtually all aircraft we can spot has info about it. The photographs are small, however don't forget this is a pocket guide, very handy to take with you everywhere you go...



5. Top level performance. I didn't like the scenes and costumes. The former, more traditional Vienna staging of Lohengrin was better.

5 comments about The Night Stalkers.

1. AWESOME READ ... TRUE HEROES AND THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG FOR WHAT THESE MEN DO ... NSDQ



2. This is the kind of book that get you reading for hours.
   Already among my favourites.
   I think this is one of the most descriptive accounts about what the Night Stalkers do and a very detailled description of the few missions that can be talked about.
   An excellent book.



3. This book is a great read! What these soldiers can do is amazing. I had to read this because my son is a new Night Stalker. I can't help but well up with pride and fear because I now have an idea of what the Night Stalkers can do.



4. Night Stalkers is a book written by heroes, about heroes and a must read for America's future heroes. The book is a must for anyone interested in our military's special operations units. Mike Durant, Steven Hartov and Lt Col (Ret) Robert Johnson go to great lenghts to acurately present the unbelievable talent, skill and heroics of the members of the 160th SOAR. The book is a well-written, factually correct, and easy to read. Once started, you will find it hard to the book put down.
   
   After reading about the members and missions of the 160th SOAR, it is obvious that the Night Stalkers are some of the unsung heroes of the special operations community. In the words of a man who I admire greatly, the book was "Totally AWESOME".



5. This is a excellent account of the early history of those visionaries who brought the 160th into being. The short bio of each individual serves to underscore the tenacity of the founding Night Stalkers, and those who man the Regiment today. "Night Stalkers Don't Quit!" is not just another catchy slogan, it's a way of life within the Regiment at all levels.
   It's really a shame that the American taxpayer cannot see all they are getting for their tax dollars from the members of the 160th, and the units they support. SPEC OPS is perhaps the biggest bang for the buck in the military today. I'm glad some of the declassified missions were able to come to the light of day. NSDQ! Night Stalker 1986 - 1998

5 comments about Chickenhawk.

1. Chickenhawk? Yes, these men in their 20s both feared their missions and fought for them to the limits of what their harware allowed them to do, displaying incredible bravery. This story takes you in South-Vietnam and into the world of the Air Cavalry that distinguished brilliantly itself in this theater of operations. Reading this book tells even tricks to better fly the very much famed "Huey Chopper" under extreme conditions. This book is one of the very finest choice for the UH-1D engagement in SEA. Thank you so much Mr. R. Mason!



2. The author has a easy to read come-a-long with me style of writing that works exceptionally well given that he by-in-large avoids the politics except as they intersect in the daily life of an army pilot making these rare scenes very compelling such as Bob in is Saigon hotel on R&R contemplating the question, "Why don't the Vietnamese fight the VC like the VC fight the Vietnamese?" We share these thought with Bob as if for the first time in spite of the many years that have passed. The understanding that the war was not "winable" the way it was being fought dawns on both the author and the reader and we share the author's dispair.
   
   The air action scenes are the best ever put to pen and the best ever likely to emerge from the SE Asian conflict. The author exhibits a rare and powerful ability to paint vivid scenes with a great economy of words that makes the text both crisp and very fast paced.
   
   Honesty and rye humor coexist with raw human emotions of grief, injustice, fear and anger providing an authentic feel as the author spares no one especially himself a good hard look in the mirror and in spite of his defects the author becomes an unlikely hero who you can't help but like and this makes the closing lines so very painful.
   
   Chickhawk is the best book produced for laymen on airmoble warfare and is certainly in the running for the best book ever about the Vietnam war.



3. I was in the 1/9th Blues at the time of which this was written. I was in the "Horseshoe LZ", wounded and medivaced. This book is real, like I wish I didn't remember it. We didn't know each other but we were in the same place at the same time. Belive me this guy was there and does a very good job of describing the situation. I sometimes give lectures to classrooms about Vietnam and I always recommend this book, so I recommend it to you readers as well.



4. Bob Mason wrote a very eloquent, very eye-opening account of his Vietnam tour as a helicopter pilot.
   
   Having just lost my older brother, who was also a helicopter (slick) pilot in 67-68 with the D Troop 1/10 Cav (Shamrocks) and A Co., 4th Avn Bn (Black Jack), I found just how much he sugar-coated the "war stories" he told myself and our siblings when we were pre-teens/teens. After reading Chickenhawk, it's a miracle that Bob Mason (and my brother) ever made it home at all. It seems that if this war didn't get you physically, it sure got you mentally and emotionally - making you pay one way or another.
   
   From a woman's point of view, I recommend this book to every woman who ever had a son, brother, uncle or husband in Vietnam. This is what our Vietnam heroes went through for US ... somehow, a mere "thank you" will never be enough.
   
   Welcome home, Bob. Thanks for all you gave up for us.



5. I have read many military books. This is the best one I have ever read. I suggest the sequel "back in the life" as well as "Weapon" and "Solo". Anything written by Mason is good.