Well worth the read if you like Viet Nam Airwar
359510
Well worth the read if you like Viet Nam Airwar. I laughed out loud several times . I liked the fact that he saved most complaints for one chapter on the rules of engagement stuff. Many pilots who write these books felt they were treated unfairly when in fact, they signed up for it and were lucky to get their wish of becoming a fighter pilot in my opinion. This book wasn't a constant bitch session. Very entertaining.
3066182
Being a non-cambat USAF weather observer attached to the Army 121st Aviation Bn at Soc Trang, Vietnam in 1963-64, I really did not have much of an idea what the grunts were going through in the field. This book gives a very vivid picture of that. I did know a few of the Dustoff crews and listened to their stories. They were very active even in the early years of the war. I would recomend this book to all who are interested in or who would like to know how things were there in the 60's and 70's.

Also recommend his book "When can I stop running".
4561301
I received this book as a Christmas present from a fellow Vietnam veteran a few years back, at the conclusion of Desert Storm.  It is interesting to see the difference between Norman Schwarzkopf's two tours in Vietnam.  During the first tour, he is avidly impressed with the Vietnamese Airborne troops he is advising, and has a comfortable time back at West Point recounting his experiences.  The second time is with the Americal Division, and there is all the contrast in the world between these two assignments.  Such works have been helpful to me as a Vietnam vet, and I relish my time as a helicopter pilot in the Mekong Delta in 1966-67 all the more, especially because I had neither of these experiences.  I was lucky.  This book is a keeper, and a wonderful portrayal of conducting the war in the desert of Iraq.
4227018
This was a fantastic story about a part of the military that I did not know existed, the "forward air controllers" (FAC). Individuals flying very small, very slow aircraft, at a very low altitude in order to coordinate the placement of the firepower of the high speed aircraft, protecting the good guys and eliminate the bad ones. It would take a very brave person with amazing skills to accomplish what the FAC's were able to do in the war effort. I especially enjoyed what the author called the "war story", personal situations in which he was directly involved. A good quick read about the Vietnam war that holds your interest and stays on target.
2355933
The author is great at  military action stories with  ahigh degree of historical and technical accuracy. This is the fourth one of his that I have read, and  I loved everyone of them. The Vietnam era was close to home, I enjoyed it a great deal
4291404
Very well written.  One of the better accounts of the Vietnam war.
3305801
I enjoyed this book very much and it helped me see the war from the Vietnamese point of view.
2774272
Toby writes fighter pilot stories in song in the manner that Tom T Hall and Johnnie Cash were story tellers.  He tells of his experiences flying with the 12th TFW assigned to Cam Rhan Bay, RVN during the 1967 - 68 era.  During that time the operating area for the F-4C Phantom ranged from the tip of the Mekong delta in the south to Laos and the southern part of North Viet Nam in the north.  The songs describe the many types of missions flown on a daily and nightly basis by the air crews.  Even if you don't know the "lingo" or the acronyms, you will understand and enjoy the storys and songs.  This is a "MUST HAVE" for any one who flew in Nam or as a gift for any friends who had the experience.  Hopefully this work will be included in any archived history of the Viet Nam war.  An excellent work.
1420060
Really enjoyed reading about another combat arm's commitment and successes in the Vietnam War.  Steppo
4355590
Really enjoyed this book. Learned a great deal  about Vietnam and the people living through the war. It also shows the sacrifices a father goes through for the love of his son. Starts off a bit slowly and then it is difficult to put down at the end.
3524240
A very good insight into the sixties and early seventies and a soldier's view of war in Vietnam.  The machinations in Washington are touched on with a delicate hand.  The characters are well drawn and real.  The author knows the subject and illustrates what a combat existence is - boredom alternating with single-minded survival mode.
531876
The book kept my interest and I was educated about the US involvement in Laos and Cambodia. My only wish about the book would be that the action episodes involving the fac would have been more descriptive. All in all it was a good book if you care about the air war during the Vietnam war.
3315906
Good book, well written. I think it was the first book I have read about Viet Nam.
733910
There are indeed some hard lessons of war. Professor Campbell has thoroughly analyzed the reasons for America's slow slide into the debacle of Vietnam and compared that situation to the current situation in Iraq. In both cases, there were solid reasons for the end result. In spite of all attempts to portray them as different, they are in essence, very similar.

In many respects, my experiences during the Vietnam War were similar to the author's. I was an F4 Phantom II fighter pilot at Ubon, Thailand at the same period of time. Although most of my missions were flown over North Vietnam and Laos, I flew strikes against Khe Sanh at the height of that battle. At the start of the war, I was a "true believer" in the cause and was most eager to participate. It's hard to give up ideas you've held onto so tenaciously for many years, but over time, I came to the belief that our involvement in Vietnam was a tragic strategic mistake. My recent book,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Phantom-Reflections-The-Education-of-an-American-Fighter-Pilot-in-Vietnam/dp/0275993272/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Phantom Reflections: The Education of an American Fighter Pilot in Vietnam</a>&nbsp;was my version of how those deeply held beliefs changed significantly over time.

At the start of the Iraq War, I had grave reservations about the wisdom of our proposed course of action for many of the same reasons I thought our Vietnam adventure was ill advised. This book does an excellent job of comparing the two situations and hopefully, will generate some significant discussions among those in a position to influence policy. Well done!
3333352
I also flew O-1s as a pilot in the 74th RAC in 65-66 III Corps.  I can attest to the accuracy of the story line.  Without sounding self aggrandizing, it is a very vivid and accurate depiction of combat in the Bird Dog.  I was afforded the privilege of previewing the transcript before it went to print, and I can assure you that Hooper has done his level best to tell a true story without embellishment because, it needs none.

I agree with previous reviews, that if you served in Viet Nam and had contact with these diminutive air craft and their intrepid pilots, you will be taken back in time and will relive the chaos, and the brotherhood of souls trying to survive a difficult time.

Read the reviews, they all can't be wrong.  It is a page turner, enjoy.
4264903
This is a worthwhile addition to the Vietnam War genre. I've read stacks of books about soldiers in combat in Vietnam, but this book shows us a different side of the Vietnam War - life in Saigon as a supply officer. The book is a realistic depiction of a young soldier dealing with one strange, new and dangerous situation after another. Some eye-opening events occur. He ends his tour of duty quite a different person than he started it. Definitely worth a read!
4496127
This is both a very worthy story, which is both little known and very engaging, and the super bonus is that it is well told.  A real bonus to get both.  I've seen the California Department of Forestry flying the OV-10 for years, but never knew it's history, so reading this compelling account of the role of the "forward Air Control" was pretty neat.  I've heard mention in jet fighter accounts of forward air control, but no surprise those stories really don't tell you much about what this meant in the air.  A great war read.