Seawolf28: Branded a Maverick as a Junior Officer this is a true account of naval aviation as seen through the eyes of one of the most decorated Navy pilots of the Vietnam era Review

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(More customer reviews)A Navy Maverick With True Grit!
Seldom do I ever read a military aviation book where I come away thinking that I would have really loved to have flown with the author of that memoir. Author Al Billings is a veteran's veteran! He is a man among men. It was men like Al that made flying in Hueys the heroic aviation adventure it was. His book "Seawolf 28" explodes with energy and action and much more. His personality certainly comes shinning through and shows him for whom he was.
Billings was awarded over 40 medals and citations including the Silver Star and The Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a member of the Navy's most decorated helicopter attack squadron in the Vietnam War. I have met several members of the Seawolfs when filming the documentary film "In the Shadow of the Blade." You could not find any better group of honorable men for sure. It is not surprising to read how well they did in combat. This book not only honors the role of the author but also adds to the almost myth like tales of those fine young men.
The book is well written and is a great read. I admit that the last chapters in the book were not the way I would have liked to see it end for the author, but Billings is true to himself all the way to the end and shows a lot of class. When you finish reading his book you will be left with many emotions about the war, the men, leadership in the military and what it means to stand up and be counted when someone has to be accountable and honest. Al Billings is a true leader in the real sense. I think most veterans will agree that he would be the guy that you would like to have had in the pilot's seat on your flight!
This is a must read book and receives the MWSA's HIGHEST RATING - FIVE STARS!


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Seawolf 28 SummaryAn exciting action filled novel of one of the top decorated naval aviators of the Vietnam era brings the reader a dramatic story of a twenty-two year career of a Navy helicopter pilot.By the end of the Vietnam War he was a four tour veteran with well over 600 missions and the recipient of more than thirty-nine citations, including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.Throughout his career he qualified in over 20 different types of aircraft and rose from the enlisted ranks to squadron Commanding Officer.This is not just another Vietnam combat action story.Seawolf 28 is a timeless, powerful, honest and uncompromising first hand account of a man that knew no limits when it came to standing up for his men and what he believed in.What makes this novel stand out is the unparalleled successes they enjoyed while others stood by and watched to see if they would fail. They took on every challenge including the military bureaucracy and could not be defeated.Driven as a young man to find the person he truly was, he risked everything to complete that journey. Even though it took years, he learned to honor himself for what he accomplished in an environment where he was overmatched and out of his league when it came to politics and manipulation.Through it all he was able to maintain his integrity, and loyalty to his men.These actual accounts are a testament of the determination of one individual to meet life head-on and challenge those intrusions and aggression of others.He was labeled a Maverick by the Navy because he would not compromise his beliefs or the men he served with.Even with his directness and at times boldness they were unable to stop him as long as he had the support of his men.The story spans the gamut from a young cadet full of exuberance and high ideals to nine engine failures and dozens of life threatening incidents and hair raising combat stories, to his biggest battles challenging senior officers to do the right thing, at the risk of his own career. As his distinguished career comes to the end he finds himself battling the crippling results of medical mismanagement from the doctors at Balboa Naval Hospital.Even then he refuses to accept the inevitable and fights back to restore his dignity and physical well-being.The story ends with the Naval Hospital doing everything they can to cover up their incompetence and total disregard for the men who served.Through his internal strength and undefeatable character he never loses faith in the Navy and the men who served so gallantly.Out of shear determination and on his own he was able to overcome the debilitating affects at the hands of the Navy doctors.It is a compelling story that will cause young people to think about what lies ahead and let them see the sacrifices that are needed to serve their country and bring back the memories both good and bad for those who were there.

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Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq (Nonprofit Handbook: Everything) Review

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(More customer reviews)"If you fail to try, you have already failed". Wow, powerful stuff. Yet, this attitude infused the individuals portrayed in this "book about women at war". A number of them chose military positions fraught with the need to prove oneself to male counterparts. The women remained women throughout. It was not necessary to mentally change gender. Each accepted that she had to overcome stereotyping by the "boys' locker room mentality." Rewardingly, each prove up to the task given her. Each earned the honor bestowed upon her as a military individual dedicated to her country. They deserve our praise and gratitude.

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Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (Prima Official Game Guide) Review

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(More customer reviews)This Strategy Guide is great. It has extremely well detailed and defined color maps for every level, and depicts where each Field Task is on larger, Region maps. Just as an attempt to clarify something that, when I purchased this product, wasn't clarified by Amazon: this guide is not really for the Xbox360 version of the game (I know many of you may already have known that, but for those who didn't, just trying to help). Now, the basic gameplay and levels are the same, but there are indeed a few minor differences that could occur when trying to use this guide with the XB360 version of the game. Also, there are many more medals for the PS2/Xbox versions, and the guide only tells those, and doesn't separate XB360 medals from them, leading me to believe that it is not specifically designed for XB360. Just wanted to help out those who may make the same mistake I did.

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Your Field Manual for Moving Up the Ranks·Hunt down all the Field Tasks with detailed maps·Details on ranks and soldier enhancements help you master the military hierarchy·Tips and stats for all five classes·Battle-proven tactics for all land, sea, and air vehicles·Detailed strategies for the propaganda-fueled single-player campaign·Tips on maximizing your score in the single-player challenges·Comprehensive guide to all state-of-the-art weapons, including upgrades and attachments·Comprehensive strategy and control point breakdowns for all multiplayer maps

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Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG Review

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(More customer reviews)Major John Plaster ranks as one of the top historians of the Vietnam War and stands alone among writers about special operations in Indochina. In Secret Commandos, Plaster continues the story he first brought to readers in SOG: The Secret Wars of Americas Commandos in Vietnam. Unlike all of the phoney wannabes that inhabit the fringe world of post-Vietnam America John Plaster is one who has been there, done that and has the T-shirt! You will sweat with him running recon along the Ho Chi Minh trail, shiver in the chill Central Highland nights while the enemy searches for him in the darkness, bleed with his comrades as they fight and die in places that are as remote for most Americans as the far side of the moon. But in Secret Commandos you will be on top of the action in a manner that can be written only by one with the experience who combines that background with an extraordinary writing talent.
Secret Commandos is a must-read for anyone who is interested in America's secret operations in Vietnam, in what the US Special Forces soldier is really made of, and in learning the hard-core truth. The soldiers who volunteered for SOG were a special breed no doubt. For most of a generation they have been overlooked, ignored, hidden behind mounds of top secret classification stamps, or lied about by detractors, impersonators and pretenders. No more. John Plaster rips back the curtain to show war at its most difficult - and in so doing displays the remarkable abilities, dedication and professionalism of our very special American fighting men.
Buy this book and treasure it. Recommend it to your friends. Get the word out: learn the truth of Vietnam and meet the men this fine country produces who will sacrifice and die to defend our freedom. This is a story that has waited a long time to be told and has the perfect man to tell it.

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The leading historian of SOG, the elite commando unit in Vietnam, tells the astonishing story of the SOG warriors who penetrated enemy lines in operations directed at the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The warriors of SOG -- code-named the Studies and Observations Group -- were a secret operations force in Vietnam, the forerunner of today's Delta Force and SEALs. Highly skilled Green Berets, they were the bravest of the brave, the most highly decorated unit in the war. Chief among their activities was observing the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the main North Vietnamese supply route into South Vietnam, and disrupting its operations. SOG warriors secretly penetrated deep into Laos and Cambodia to identify bombing targets, destroy troops, ambush trucks, mine roads, and, in their most difficult assignment, capture North Vietnamese soldiers for intelligence purposes. Operating in the most dangerous conditions imaginable -- always outnumbered, often by as much as 100 to 1 -- SOG commandos matched wits with an un-relenting foe that hunted them with trackers and dogs. They suffered an extraordinarily high casualty rate. Ten entire teams disappeared and another fourteen were overrun and annihilated. Many of the missions run by SOG fighters were rescues and attempted rescuesof fellow soldiers and downed helicopter pilots who supported SOG missions. In Secret Commandos, a riveting account of his years in SOG from 1969 to 1971, John Plaster describes his own remarkable covert missions as well as those of dozens of his comrades. He takes readers from his grueling training for SOG to his heart-stopping first assignments to his experiences as a SOG veteran and team leader. Even as SOG's field of operations became more limited late in the war, these accomplished warriors continued to give their all, fighting for each other.

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Murphy's Laws of Combat Review

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(More customer reviews)This book contains lots historical trivia I found to be very interesting. Not everything in the the book is specifically directed at the soldier. A persons could apply the often humorous advice to "combating" life's problems. A good book for the bathroom or out on the coffee table.

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Want to stay alive in battle? If so, read and heed Murphy's Laws of Combat. Hundreds upon hundreds of tongue-in-cheek rules, axioms, and principles for American warriors. Separate chapters for Infantry and Aviation laws. Off duty, study Murphy's time-tested beer-drinking guide. Learn the rules of sex and seduction for warriors. Identify pitiful civilians who have contracted Politically Correct Disease. Learn how to avoid all pathetic socialists, communists, and liberals. Then, in the final 100 pages, take a serious look at the heritage of the American Warrior; military anthems of the U.S. Armed Forces, the history of blood chits, patriot dreams, and the legacy of Air America. Also, General Orders, codes of keep, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, rules for life, somber reflections upon combat, eulogy for warriors, and much more. The book includes 52 photos, 96 unique illustrations, and scores of display boxes.

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Cleared Hot: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary (Special Warfare Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was a Marine "guy in the Back" of RF4 aircraft for 13 years. One of the most important jobs of a Gib is to be the communicator. We learned that phraseology used over the radio had to be precise and very very clear. Make no mistake radio procedures are written in blood, widows and smoking holes.There is absolutely no room for BS and colorful language. Col. Stoffe got it exactly right. He mentions one instance where a couple of Air Force F4s got [messed] up and nearly killed themselves becouse their radio procedure was slack. Col. Stoffe does a great job of telling his story. He was a warrior. He faced down the enemy time after time and survived. His book makes facinating reading for thoes like to read about men who could have a gunfight every day.

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Daring missions. Dangerous rescues. Deadly accuracy.Many pilots never made it out of 'Nam. This one did. Highly decorated Col. Bob Stoffey-- a Marine Corps pilot for over twenty-five years, who served multiple tours in Vietnam-- has seen and done it all. Cleared Hot! is his story-- a fast-paced, high-casualty flight into heart-stopping danger.Full of vivid detail, this combat diary uncovers the real heroes of the Vietnam War, the behind-the-scenes Marine Corps pilots who helped our boys return home...then went back for more.Includes eight pages of heroic photographs!

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In the Sanctity of the Snake Pit Review

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(More customer reviews)very pleased with purchase. Book is in very good shape and received it quickly as promised.


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In the Sanctity of the Snake Pit discloses the tribulations of the Vietnam helicopter war, and provides deeply moving insight into the lives of those crewmen who routinely flew combat assault missions. Written in narrative non-fiction, the book reveals the rarely told account of air to ground combat, and the surreal events of adolescent soldiers, many exposed for the first time to their mortality. In 1969 sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll dominated most of these young lives, but they stood and fought hard believing they were doing the right thing irrespective of politics, and public opinion! Setting the backdrop is the 135th Assault Helicopter Unit, a fighting contingency made up of Royal Australian Navy personnel and members of the United States Army. As the only multi-national experimental military unit in Vietnam, they maintained the highest order of discipline and wrought devastation on the Viet Cong in South Vietnam's delta region. With a year long adventure before him, the protagonist, MITCHELL COLLINS reflects on his desire to fly in the machines he was trained to repair. Almost immediately he is transformed into an aerial combatant of the unit's elite Taipan platoon flying helicopter gunships. Their mission is to protect the troop transport choppers carrying ground forces into the fight. Once the troops are in the landing zone, the Taipan's provided gun support and reconnaissance. His experiences were unlike other combatants who fought on the ground, the intensity and frequency of actions were multiplied by their mobility. Mitchell soon contemplates on his heartfelt emotion of the carnage and of losing comrades. In his last three months he fly's the night missions of the hunter/killers", and his chances for survival dwindle.

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The First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Review

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(More customer reviews)Otto Lehrack has described, analyzed and ultimately explained in fewer than 200 tightly yet lucidly written pages the reality and significance of Operation Starlite--a battle that took place in August 1965 and was, as the title notes, the "First Battle" of the Vietnam War between U.S. troops and Viet Cong Regulars . The description of the battle itself is set in a carefully and clearly established historical framework and geographical setting while throughout the text the reader is given insightful "color commentary", including relevant and invariably interesting facts about the personal history of the key unit commanders on both sides as well as the operational doctrine, training and tradition, unit history and behavior in combat of both the Marines and Viet Cong who fought this critical engagement.
A significant part of the appeal of this excellent book lies its methodical "zoom in" approach, commencing with the reader's high-level historical and geographical orientation in Chapters 1 and 2 entitled, respectively, "Inching Toward the Abyss" and "America Touches the Tar Baby." These chapters together total only 18 pages yet set out the best capsule account of America's long slide into the Vietnam War I have read anywhere. The opening sentence of Chapter 1 is chilling both in retrospect and, whether or not so intended, in its implicit parallels with current events: "The United States came to this pass in baby steps, characterized more by Cold War fears, hubris and inattention than by level-headed policy examination."
Having given us a high level zoom view, First Battle narrows the focus somewhat and moves to an informative and substantive discussion of the Marine's entry into the geographical area in Southern I Corps where the battle was fought, including an excellent discussion of the establishment of and operations at the Marine's Chu Lai base, and, tightening the focus again, moves to the engagement itself, addressing in logical sequence the intelligence that led the Marines to conclude the 1st VC Regiment was on the Van Tuong peninsula south of Chu Lai base, the command process leading to the Marine's decision to undertake the operation, including a helicopter reconnaissance flight over the peninusula whose "brevity and apparent casualness" did not fool the VC, the Marines'decision to undertake and the planning for a surprise assault combining amphibious and helicopter elements and the conduct of the assault itself. These chapters also provide specific description of and insight into the planning of the VC who, though warned by the reconnaissance and able able to determine the Marines' objective, nevertheless "seriously underestimated the speed with which the American Marines could mount the attack." Lehrack develops this point nicely and it reappears as a theme throughout the book both in connection with the fast-moving operations of the Marines in Starlite and the later flexibility and ingenuity shown by the VC and North Vienamese forces in adapting to American tactics and capabilities as the war continued.
Lehrack has documented the text in a highly professional manner and the text itself artfully interweaves facts from a variety of primary and secondary sources to tell the story of Starlite. In this regard, Lehrack conducted extensive interviews not only with Marines participating in the engagement at all levels of command but, very significantly, with numerous members of the VC 1st Regiment. (It was apparently during these interviews that he came to understand the Vietnamese concept of "blood debt" that appears in the title of the book and, as he explains it, sheds light on the conduct of the VC and North Vietnamese both during and after the war.) The descriptions of the key small unit engagements that took place in the context of the battle now called Operation Starlite are vivid and filled with detail that illuminate both the nature of the action and the character of the combatants themselves, which one can only conclude was remarkable on both sides. There is insufficient space to do justice to the excellent discussions of these engagements in First Battle. Suffice it to say they make for a "good read" and are clearly informed by the author's research, including review and assessment of command logs, after-action and interrogation reports, his walks of the battlefield and interviews and conversations with the participants on both sides and, finally, his own combat experience as a Marine infantry company commander in the Vietnam War.
This is an excellent book and I recommend it highly. One cautionary note...if you're not familiar with the lexicon of Marine and VC operations in Vietnam, make sure you identify the glossary set out in Appendix 2 (page 188) of the book before you start reading so that, as you read, you can refer quickly to its brief but clear definitions of terms.

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"The First Battle" is a graphic account of the first major clash of the Vietnam War. On August 18, 1965, regiment fought regiment on the Van Tuong Peninsula near the new Marine base at Chu Lai. On the American side were three battalions of Marines under the command of Colonel Oscar Peatross, a hero of two previous wars. His opponent was the 1st Viet Cong Regiment commanded by Nguyen Dinh Trong, a veteran of many fights against the French and the South Vietnamese. Codenamed Operation Starlite, this action was a resounding success for the Marines and its result was cause for great optimism about America's future in Vietnam. Those expecting a book about Americans in battle will not be disappointed by the detailed descriptions of how the fight unfolded. Marine participants from private to colonel were interviewed during the book's research phase. The battle is seen from the mud level, by those who were at the point of the spear. But this is not just another war story told exclusively from the American side. In researching the book, the author talked with and walked the battlefield with men who fought with the 1st Viet Cong Regiment.All were accomplished combat veterans years before the U.S. entry into the war. The reader is planted squarely in America in 1965, the year that truly began the long American involvement. Operation Starlite sent the Vietnam War into the headlines across the nation and into the minds of Americans, where it took up residence for more than a decade. Starlite was the first step in Vietnam's becoming America's tar baby. The subtitle of the book is: "Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam". Blood debt, han tu in Vietnamese, can mean revenge, debt of honor, or blood owed for blood spilled. The Blood Debt came into Vietnamese usage early in the war with the United States. With this battle, the Johnson Administration began compiling its own Blood Debt, this one to the American people. The book also looks at the ongoing conflict between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines about the methodology of the Vietnam War. With decades of experience with insurrection and rebellion, the Marines were institutionally oriented to base the struggle on pacification of the population.The Army, on the other hand, having largely trained to meet the Soviet Army on the plains of Germany, opted for search-and-destroy missions against Communist main force units. The history of the Vietnam War is littered with many "what ifs."

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Luminous Base: Stories about Corpsmen and Helicopters, Courage and Sacrifice Review

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(More customer reviews)Bruce has done an outstanding job telling the stories of U.S. Navy Corpsmen and their involvement with helicopters. Bruce writes in the first person and justifiably so: "He's been there and done that." Bruce knew many of the corpsmen whose lives tragically ended in the course of saving lives via helicopter evacuation. He tells the stories of other corpsmen who became victims of accidents in training or operational incidents, while passengers in aircraft downed by enemy action or attempting peacetime rescue. He begins at the beginning with the earliest days of helicopters at the end of WWII and takes the reader to the more recent conflicts in the Middle East.
Bruce writes with a sensitiveness that reflects his lifetime of caring for the sick and injured. This is a book that will appeal to anyone interested in military history, combat medicine, aviation, or just interested in reading of true heroes serving their country by aiding others.
This is a good read.
Captain William S. Dial, Medical Service Corps, USN (Ret.)

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Since the last century, in war an in peace, in good weather and bad, the helicopter has proven itself overand over again when it has been used for military medical evacuations, for search and rescue missions, aswell as for simple transportation.Among the thousands who have flownon one of these aircraft have been U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen who didso as aircrew members, as patients, oras passengers. And between 1962 and2007 there were fifty-seven of these menwho lost their lives.All of these corpsmen were killed far from their homes in places that include Vietnam, Cambodia, Iraq, Afghanistan,in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans,and in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest.The contents of Luminous Base tells the individual story of each man, with some ofthese accompanied by comments from family or friends. In addition to these stories there are sixteen other corpsmen that did not perish who provided their personal experiences. One of these is a female senior enlisted corpsman who flew medical evacuations in Iraq and went on to serve in Afghanistan as well. To provide a better appreciation for the corpsman and his work environs, this book provides an in-depth look at the evolution of the Navy'smedical evacuation system, the levels of care from the battlefield to back home and the type of care provided at each level; the various helicopters used over the years, fromthe UH-34D to the Osprey; and a look atthe training opportunities that are offered to today's Navy Corpsmen.This is the first book to be written that offers such a unique collection of tales about Navy Corpsmen associated with helicopters who have all demonstrated such courage, and selflessness, and in some cases the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

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Green Ghosts Review

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(More customer reviews)LtCol Bill Floyd, USMC (ret), the first XO and then CO of this volunteer company formed in Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, NC in 1965, chronicles the Vietnam combat experiences of his highly trained Marines and navy corpsmen, commissioned for special duty in support of the 3D Marine Division along the DMZ. Writing from the heart, desiring to leave a written legacy of the men he deeply respected, Bill Floyd describes first person accounts of his men in combat against NVA regulars, men in covertly inserted 4-8 man recon teams, patrolling for several days often beyond the reach of supporting fire. Readers will taste the tension, the fear, the pride, and the professionalism of the men so respected by the writer. The personal accounts are stunning in scope. Recon Marines saved hundreds of their fellow grunts who would have faced overwhelming odds if the recon Marines had not executed their role so superbly often surrounded by NVA forces. Recon casualties were many but none of the wounded, the dead, or the survivors, would regret their great sacrifices, because of their pride and dedication to each other in their performance in accomplishing some of the most dangerous duty in Vietnam.
Bill (Doc) Bentley, 3d Force Recon, 1966-67.

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If I had it to do overHad to face it once againI wouldn't change a momentI would do it with these men.
In this company of heroesI'd face another warPrint another page in historyFor our Country and our Corps.

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Illustrated Directory of Special Forces Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoy reading this book. They certainly packed in enough material and it is very portable. The reason that I did not give five stars was because the picture quality and the placement of the pictures was not that good. Overall, though, it's a great little overview of the special forces of the world and some of their history.

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Go inside the elite and often-covert world of today's Special Forces. Superbly trained, these special operations commandos are the world's ultimate military (and para-military) tacticians. Learn about their stealthy organization, their training, uniforms and equipment, and their specially developed weapons. Fabulously illustrated with dramatic action photos, this timely reference highlights both the need for and the rapid deployment of today's Special Forces. See them in action!

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Fighting to Leave: The Final Years of America's War in Vietnam, 1972-1973 Review

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(More customer reviews)Colonel Stoffey played a number of roles during 3 tours in Vietnam; helicopter pilot, Forward Air Controller in OV-10s and finally as Air Officer and Assistant Amphibious Warfare Officer on the staff of Commander, 7th Fleet. His experience makes him uniquely qualified to cover the final years the US involvement in the war, and he does not disappoint. As "the" Marine in the 7th Fleet Command element, he was able to see, participate in and evaluate the outcomes of every important action, whether by air, ground or sea, involving the South Vietnamese, US Navy, Air Force, Marine or Army in the desperate days as American forces were withdrawing almost totally from ground combat, leaving only the air and naval forces to prosecute the war with our Vietnamese allies. He gives a grunt's eye view of the furious battles fought as the North Vietnamese invaded through the DMZ and down the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the final months before the Cease Fire was signed in January 1973. His close relationship with the 7th Fleet commanders and the many staff officers from all services gives significant insight into the decision making by senior service leaders, DoD officials and Military Command Authority as these decisions drove military action, or sometimes inaction. The author is honest in his assessments of these key players, warts and all. Much of what is related here is going to be new to the readers of the Vietnam experience, carefully revealing strategies and tactics heretofore known only to those who where there. This is a book that has a good balance between the personal and sometimes painful narrative of a true warrior and the broader view of an unfolding tragedy as the seeds of ultimate failure by the government of South Vietnam to remain independent are sown. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Vietnam War.

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Perhaps more vexing than any part of the Vietnam War--Americas longest--was getting out. This book offers a chronicle of those last difficult years, 1972 and 1973, that is at once a detailed and thorough overview and at the same time a vividly personal account. The year 1972 found Marine Corps pilot Robert E. Stoffey beginning his third combat tour in Vietnam. After flying 440 combat missions out of Da Nang and Marble Mountain Airfields in South Vietnam (and being shot down twice) between 1965 and 1970, Stoffey was in a unique position to judge the United States changed strategy. From the vantage point of the USS Oklahoma City, he fought--and observed--the critical and complex last two years of the war as Marine Air Officer and Assistant Amphibious Warfare Officer on the staff of the Commander, Seventh Fleet. As the South Vietnamese battled for survival against the onslaught from the Communist North Vietnamese Army, the U.S. Seventh Fleet, afloat in the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea, was a significant supporting force. With the U.S. Navys mining of North Vietnams waterways, concentrated shore bombardments, and air attacks, this sea power was instrumental in leading to the negotiated end of the war and return of our POWs. This is the story that Robert Stoffey tells in his firsthand account of how the Vietnam War finally ended and what it took to get our POWs home.

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Recondo: LRRPs in the 101st Airborne Review

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(More customer reviews)Having been in the army, served in a war myself, and now turned helicopter pilot, I can truly recommend his book to everybody. Especially readers who are thinking of joining, people who have served and wifes who are trying to understand. Larry Chambers tells it how it is. It's the "real experience" without the politics and the [] Hollywood drama. I personally enjoyed most how the book showes that in the real world, all that was learned in basic and from the handbook, needs to be "slightly modified" to survive a real battle and keep working. You guys are true heroes to me and I thank you, Larry, for a wonderful book I couldn't put down until I was done at around 3am next morning.

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Author Larry Chambers vividly describes the guts and courage it took to pass the though volunteer-only training program in Nha Tarng to bepart of the 5th Special Forces Recondo School, the hair-raising graduation mission to scout out, locate, and out-guerilla the NVA.Here is an unforgettable account that follows Chambers and the Rangers every step of the way--from joining, going through Recondo, and finally leading his own team on white-knuckle missions through the jungle hell of Vietnam.

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Sister In The Band Of Brothers: Embedded With The 101st Airborne In Iraq (Modern War Studies) Review

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(More customer reviews)Kathy Skiba must be one of the bravest, toughest women out there, penning countless news stories and shooting and transmitting her own photos under unrelentingly tough wartime conditions.
Her book is a gripping, fast read as she takes you through what it was like in more than seven weeks at the front. I marvel at the wealth of information she collected on the fighting men and women she met, in order to tell their very human stories.
She keeps a stiff upper lip throughout the experience, never complaining about the challenges she faced, including wearing a 22-pound Kevlar vest, a helmet and chemical suit in the desert heat. Having to use 55-gallon drums (out in the open) as a latrine had to be the worst.
Skiba is the epitome of grace under pressure, and this personal account of the war shows it all.

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When U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, our soldiers weren't the only ones who put their lives on the line: so did 600 "embedded" journalists, including Katherine M. Skiba. Her riveting memoir provides a vivid you-are-there account of her experiences with the Army's legendary 101st Airborne, the division celebrated for its heroism in World War II as the "Band of Brothers."Skiba, a reporter and photographer, was the sole female civilian among the 2,300 soldiers of the 159th Aviation Brigade, whose pilots flew Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters into the thick of battle. Her dispatches were a vital lifeline between the troops and their families and earned her a grateful national audience. Reporting on the men and women in uniform with journalistic dedication, natural compassion, and an eye for the absurd, she chronicles her experiences from "media boot camp" to the kick-off of Operation Iraqi Freedom to the fall of Baghdad, including a missile attack on the brigade's desert camp.Taking readers across the wind-blown deserts of Iraq and into cramped seventy-man tents, where personal space barely exists and tempers can flare, she deftly and sympathetically portrays her brothers and sisters-in-arms-rigid commanders, gung-ho warriors, and daring aviators, as well as intelligence officers, mechanics, medics, and cooks, among many others. She details her dealings with the soldiers, her clashes with a battalion commander, and her friendship with a lieutenant colonel who helped keep her sane. Meantime she tells of the journalist-husband she left behind-and the encouragement he gave her when the going got rough.Whether pounding out a story on her laptop, strapping on a gas mask at a moment's notice, or flying toward the frontlines, Skiba stuck it out despite her own doubts and earned the respect of one grizzled sergeant major, who quipped: "You've got balls." The risks were very real for her and anyone else who covered or fought in the war, even in its early days, long before triumph trailed off into something less than permanent victory. Her story testifies to the courage it took to endure such risks, while acknowledging the inevitable costs of war.This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

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