Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I can tell you without reservation, that this book affected me. And not all the memories were good, either. I did not want
to put it down when I started reading, but some of the scenes and action were hard to get through. I am a former Marine (1965-1969)
and a pilot, but I didn't serve in combat. I did see planes crash (one right in front of me) and people were killed. This background
did allow me to empathize with the characters of the book. I recommend this book if you want a hard look at what combat and military
aviation (helicopters in particular) can entail. You can feel what it might be like to follow orders and at the same time have a gut
feeling that maybe you should be doing something else.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Choppers Up
Choppers Up! is a story of war and its futility, the young lives wasted and the devastation of landscapes and families. Warrant Officer Timothy D. Dundee is a very young helicopter pilot in an assault company in the US Army during the Vietnam War. His encounters give a graphic account of day-to-day life in combat. In his Army unit there is action, love, sex and simple military humor typical of that found in the jungles of Vietnam with men trying to do a job against impossible odds.The parallel story of Vietnamese activist Dinh Chau and his sister Nguyen provides a fascinating contrast, showing life on the other side. It also highlights the conflict among the country's people and the uncertainity of their nation.The Saigon River Massacre changes Timothy's perception of the "honorable" war. The order is given to destroy a Sampan (steamship) loaded with civilian women and children. The haunting memory of children in his gun sight changes Timothy's whole outlook on life. Clandestine "Spook" missions, in Cambodia add to Timothy's discomfort and loathing of this "unwinable" war in Vietnam.
0 comments:
Post a Comment