Product Description
They were the first air assault division in the history of the U.S. Army. Their job was to test the innovative air-mobile concept and break the Army's dependence on surface transport. This is their story, told by a man who was there, at America's first victory against the Vietnamese. HC: St. Martin's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

PLEIKU
Not a bad book - I guess I was just expecting something different.I bought this after reading "We Were Soldiers" and hoped it would read the same.If you're looking for a Vietnam book, or a book about the beginning of the air cav, I recomend getting "We Were Soldiers" instead.

An excellent sory of two of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War
This is a good story, though a little bit too, too much like an after action report. Still, the fact that it was written by one who was there during the battles at LZ XRay and LZ Albany make it an especially good book to read. Also included are the accounts of how the helicopter air arm of the army came into being and why and why it proved so effective.
Simply said: get the book. It is a good read again and again and again. The movie, "We were soldiers" came from the actions described in his book.

Quite Accurate
I came across this book back in 1989 when a friend asked me if my father was Sgt. Eugene Pennington who served in Vietnam.It turned out that he was reading this book and came across my father's name mentioned in it.I had been hearing my father talk of his experiences in Vietnam over the years and was amazed to find a book that so accurately informed the reader of the Vietnam experience.By reading this book, I became quite familiar with the tactics that my father had been trying to relate to me.I bought a copy of the book and gave it to him for Father's Day.To this day I still believe that it was the best gift I ever gave him.I would greatly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about helicopter warfare in the Vietnam era.

Where to begin a study of modern U.S. Air Assault tactics
If you want to know where America's Air Assault tactics came from, howthey developed in Vietnam and by implication how Army Aviation is introuble today--begin with this book! Have your highlight pen ready when youexamine the decisions and actions of the brave pioneers who created 3-D AirAssault capabilities in our Army at the behest of Secretary of DefenseRobert MacNamara (he could do good things once in a while!). If you readcarefully you will see that to get the drastic Army structural changesneeded, the capabilities of helicopters were oversold--to get large numbersof helicopters, the ground vehicle was dismissed as a tool with thehelicopter doing EVERYTHING. General Kinnard and his wizards of the 11thAirborne Division [later reflagged the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)]went about having helicopters do everything---place troops around thebattlefield, act as CAS gunships, fly-in artillery for fire bases--exceptstay in the "death ground" of enemy fire (re: Colonel Bolger'sbook: "Death Ground: America's Infantry in battle") as an armoredshield and protected transportation means carrying superior levels offirepower. So while Air Assault operations could "run circles"around the enemy on the map board, once Sky Troopers left their mounts,they were vulnerable to enemy fire fighting the enemy "even" atbest---as the more numerous enemy could absorb untold casualties withoutill effect at home. Its interesting that thehelicopter-replacing-everything hubris negated the understanding of theneed to field a helicopter-transportable light Armored Fighting Vehicle(AFV) that could "Air-Mech" with Sky Troopers into battle andgive them dominance from that point on in the operation. The M551 Sheridanlight tank was available though 7 tons too heavy for the CH-47 Chinook; (Ihave seen photos of it lifted by the CH-54 Sky Crane heavy lift helicopter)why it wasn't airdropped from fixed-wing C-130 Hercules aircraft and usedfor 3-D maneuver fire support by the one parachute-qualified Brigade of the1st Cavalry Division is a mystery--the French Airborne parachuted all overthe countryside in the first Indo-China war. Perhaps it was the urgency ofgetting a force that could maneuver deep into the Central Highlands ofVietnam before the enemy cut the South into two over-rode deeper analysisand force-on-force war games to reveal structural flaws and correct them.America was at war.

As you read this superb book which should be acompanion to LTG Hal Moore/Joe Galloway's "We were Soldiers once andyoung" account of the Ia Drang battle fought by the 1st Cav, you get asense that we miscalculated and were thinking "big bluearrows"--operationally impressed by helicopter distance/speed 3-Dmaneuver capability and overly reliant on distant artilleryhowitzer/aircraft supporting arms and overlooked the up close "beltbuckle" fight that the enemy chose to fight whenever possible becauseit would curtail our long-range fires since he had the advantage in RPGexplosives weapons effects (ready-to-fire, doesn't need to be unfolded likea M72 LAW) while we fought him "even"; our M16s versus his AKMs,our grenades versus his grenades, our bayonets versus his bayonets, ourcasualties versus his numbers.

Today, the "pendulum" has swungthe other way with the helicopter Air Assault delivering foot-mobile troopsimplies casualty risks and some Commanders are willing to surrender3-Dimensional maneuver to the enemy and fight "heavy" only alongthe 2-D axis, once again over-relying on distant supporting arms fires todefeat the enemy (but its digitized and "precision" this time!)though this means you will be channelized and ambushed in ground vehiclerestricted terrain. That aircraft (Aviation branch) could work TOGETHERwith tracked AFVs (Armor branch) to position the latter into "go"terrain to overcome the enemy was possible then and certainly do-able todaywith lighter AFVs like the 3-4 ton German Airborne Wiesel which can belifted even by the Huey's replacement, the UH-60L Blackhawk.

Thesolution is to read this book and put yourself in the shoes of the decisionmakers like a good war simulation, draw on your history and combineAirborne and Air Assault capabilities using that magnificent air-droppableM113 that was rumbling all over the countryside (Coleman mentions go/no-gofor tracked vehicle terrain considerations in his book), the new M551Sheridan light tank, and combine the best attrributes of 3-D and 2-Dmaneuver into one. The lesson today is to field the M8 Armored Gun Systemsuccessor to the M551 and modernize the latest M113A3, buy some Wiesels forrecon and create an Air-Mech 3-D capability in the U.S. Army today beforewe fight in another place like Vietnam again. We cannot hope to chosewhere/when we can fight ("We don't do mountains and we don't dojungles"), living for a replay of the open desert to stampede ourheavy armored caccoons ala' Desert Storm---we must be ready to go whereAmerica sends us. When South Vietnam was in danger of being severed by theNVA in 1965-66 we sent the best we had: the 1st Air Cavalry Division andthey saved the day, though at a cost so high we could not sustain thesupport at home for the noble endeavor. At least Kinnard's men had sometime to run tests and conduct experiments, we may not be so lucky. NOW isthe time to get ready, this book would be a good place to start.

Concise history of First Cav's Ia Drang Valley campaign.
Coleman chronicles the history of the Ia Drang campaign from the viewpoints of many levels of the combatants - from brigade, battalion and companycommanders to platoon and squad NCO's and skytroopers. Alsoinsights from captured NVA documents and maps on their battle plans. Ifound his chapters covering the LZ XRay and LZ Albany actions grippingtext. ... Read more

Product Description
Parenting Styles and the Messages They Sendwritten and told by Jim FayParenting expert and humorous storyteller, Jim Fay, helps you identify your parenting style, then shares practical, stress-free techniques for becoming a consultant parent. Enjoy being a parent again! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Quick read
This book is quite a bit shorter than I expected.I read the whole thing in 30 minutes.It has good tips and advice in it.This would be a great coffee table book or one to keep in the bathroom.

Terrific!
This book is such a quick read and can really jump-start your Love & Logic parenting life.If you are someone who is in need of a big-time parenting fix, hopefully this book can help you identify whether you're a helicopter parent, a drill sergeant, or a combination of the two.Several friends have already borrowed this, which has piqued their interests in the rest of the Love & Logic series.It's no substitute for Parenting with Love & Logic, but it's a great start!Also, if you're a teacher dealing with struggling families, this could be a great tool to pass on (just remember to get it back)!!!

Do you need a gift for a baby?
I am a hugh fan of Love and Logic products.The only regret I have is that this advice was not available to me when I was raising my children.Now, I give this as a gift to new parents.It is a big hit at baby showers and raises many questions and lively conversations.

This "primer" should be read by all new parents
This is a quick, easy read that introduces you to the Love & Logic system to raising kids. It will give you some basic insights andhelp you decide if you want to jump in and read some of the more comprehensive titles in this series. I only wish someone had told me about these when my kids were young.

Fun Fast Informational
Recommended by my pediatrician, this was a very fast read and really made it simple to look at the diferent parenting styles and help me determine just what I wanted to be for my son.And it's inexpensive.Order it. ... Read more

Product Description
Flying a model helicopter is a challenge almost as difficult as flying a real one, and the wise modeller should find all the advice he needs here in this volume, now revised and updated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Need to know info...
This is must have info if you plan on flying r/c helicopters.The book is "dated" so it is not up to date with the latest in the r/c industry.But what it does contain is much needed info and I highly recommend it.I am glad I added it to my r/c library and it was fun and easy to read.Thumbs up!

Gift
I purchased this book for my Grandson so he could learn about RC helicopters. I browsed through it and thought it was a pretty good book.

would not buy it again
Very outdated in much of the book and a very hard book to understand it's a black and white publication.
it's a great history of times goen by.

Not a book for beginners
There is a lack of a good foundational chapter for beginners at the start of the book.I was already reading chapter 3 and I still got mixed up with the difference in terminologies and definitions in the realm ofpitch, aileron and elevator.The author assumed that you know these and has not bothered to do a patient and steady explanation/definition of the basics and important terminologies.This book assumes that you have a rough foundation in model helicopters.Pictures are dark, and yes, as one review said, it is outdated.

Reading through the book, a lack of a smooth flow of information and understanding is lacking.It's a "pause, go back, pause and go back to that again" kind of book.Browsing the web and joining forums proved to be a more beneficial source of learning than this book.

beginner heli pilot
i found this book to be outdated.a lot of the information was from old technology.it was helpful with the mechanics of a rc helicopter, and very indept into the workings.i was disappointed however with the help i was hoping for with what i would call basic quick startup. ... Read more

Product Description
Helicopter Aerodynamics by Ray ProutyRay Prouty's Original Articles Republished Ray W. Prouty is a Grand Elder of the helicopter industry. For many years, Ray brought the black art of helicopter aerodynamics into a refreshing new light for the readers of Rotor & Wing International magazine, and many of his articles were, over time, compiled into three thin books: Helicopter Aerodynamics, More Helicopter Aerodynamics, and Even More Helicopter Aerodynamics. When these three books went out of print, the industry lost a valuable resource.The original three books were published before the computer age revolutionized the book publishing industry, and none of the original text, drawings or photos were available electronically. In some cases, the original photos were no longer available, even from Ray's private collection, so other comparable photos were obtained from Ray.Ray wrote these articles over a large time span, so in some cases, certain subjects were hit more than once. Rather than to try and cut anything out, everything is include in the three books, even when it was said more than once. Likewise, a few of the figures and photos repeat, but we think that you'll agree that the need to preserve the totality of what Ray has written should come first. Ray's career began in 1952, when, according to David Jenson of Rotor& Wing, "he put his Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Washington to application at Hughes Tool Co.'s Aircraft Division. He worked as a helicopter aerodynamicist at Hughes until 1954, when he moved his talents to Sikorsky Aircraft until 1956. Between 1958 and 1960, Ray was a stability and control specialist at Bell Helicopter, and then group engineer for helicopter aerodynamics at Lockheed Aircraft from 1960 to 1973. From 1973 until his retirement in 1987, Ray was back at Hughes Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.)." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic!
Ray Prouty does for Helicopter Aerodynamics what Richard Feynman did for Physics.Few individuals have the ability to explain difficult concepts simply and elegantly without the use of complex mathematics, but Prouty is one of them.

This book is a collection of 105 short articles that Prouty wrote for Rotor & Wing Magazine from the 1970s up until the early 1990s.In these articles Prouty explains difficult helicopter aerodynamics concepts ina way that opens the doors of the 'black art' of helicopter aerodynamics to those of us who are not mathematically gifted. This collection explains helicopter theory from a physical perspective rather than a mathematical one.As a result it is a fantastic book for those with a more than casual interest in helicopters or for those in the helicopter industry looking to understand helicopters in a physical, and intuitive way.

Prouty covers a variety of helicopter topics while sprinkling a sense of humor and a historical perspective throughout.Some of the most interesting topics discussed in this collection are listed below (taken from the table of contents):

Main rotor and tail rotor design
Autorotation
Blade Strikes
Which way should the rotor turn?
stopping a rotor in flight
helicopter vibration
accidents waiting to happen
windmills
ground effect in hover


Make no mistake about it, some of the topics in this book are complex and require some mental exercise to work through.However, the alternate route to an understanding this deep of helicopters is to get a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering.Ray Prouty is one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the helicopter industry, and this book provides a unique opportunity to take your helicopter understanding to a new level.

Still The Best
Ray Prouty's three classic three books on helicopter aerodynamics (helicopter Aerodynamics(HA), More HA and Even more HA)are brought together in a single, affordable tome. Written with the engineer and pilot in mind these were originally collated from a collection of magazine articles and provide one of the most useful and approachable sources of rotorcraft wisdom. A perfect mentoring aid. There are more in depth books, including several by the same author, but none more accessable. Every helicopter pilot, crewman and engineer should have a well thumbed copy in their desk.

Prouty Teaches Aerodynamics!
This is one of the 5 basic books that I use to teach Army Aviators about aerodynamics. "Helicopter Aerodynamics", "More Helicopter Aerodynamics and "Even More Helicopter Aerodynamics", all byProuty, are unbeatable. Prouty is a engineer by trade but teaches with atalent that makes it easy for all to understand. I can't think of anybetter advice for someone wishing to learn about helicopter and how theyfly than to read all three.

Best book I know of on helicopter design, aero & performance
Well written, complete book on helicopter design, aerodynamics, and performance.Includes the overall concepts as well as the detailed equations ... Read more

Product Description
This is a story as seen through the eyes of one 1st Lieutenant Army aviator, during the early US military commitment to support the Republic of South Vietnam in its counter-insugency operations against North Vietnam's campaign to reunite Vietnam under communist rule. It depicts the daily life of these soldiers and aviation crew members as they went about proving the importance of the helicopter in modern warfare. Describes in detail how the helicopter was employed, puts you in the pilot's seat, death and humor, frustrations encountered, and a tribute to those soldiers and airmen who paid the ultimate price. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Thunderbird Lounge
It is quite evident that Gen Brandt did considerable research into the events that took place during that time period.Some people might question the facts as presented about some of the operations or events, however, I think the book speaks for itself.The author did an outstanding job depicting how the Company functioned in that environment and how the officers and enlisted men endured the stress and strain of life away from home and family.The humorous side depicted in the book is probly as accurate as can be remembered and certainly contributed to the over all high moral of the organization.The book is well written and a pleasure to read.

Highly Readable, Accurate, Thorough Picture
Bob Brandt did a masterful job of saving, sorting and presenting data as well as remembering so many facts that most of us have long since forgotten.

The book is a keeper, and supports the efforts and brave acts of the many unsung participants at the outset of this strange venture of our country into a truly foreign land.

DAVE EASTMAN, OUTLAW 23,-24
I swapped my book, OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM, for Bob's book at the VHPA reunion in Las Vegas, 2002.This is a great book by Gen. Brandt typifying the events and life-style experienced at this early moment in Vietnam. The H-21's are graphically described in all their quirks and needs, as well as the skillful men who had to fly them. I find the earliest years of VN helicopter warfare fascinating to read, as these men not only laid down the tracks for we later aviators to utilize in mid-sixties on, but they quickly found out the political reality of Vietnam--which never changed.As Halberstam has stated, "the war was lost in 1964, not at the end of its duration." Our aviator job was tremendously enjoyed by all of us, but the Washington administrations never totally got it what a fluky scenario Vietnam was.We helicopter pilots surely got it, though.

True Pioneers of Army Aviation
Pi'-o-neer' a noun meaning: "One who goes before, preparing the way, for others to follow."There is no other way to define the original members of the 33rd Transportation Company (Light Helicopter)(CH21), except as pioneers in U.S. Army Aviation history!All original members of the 33rd left their families in the U.S. and quietly departed Ft. Ord, CA with their destination as-"unknown"!The move was classified as Top Secret and no one was able to tell anyone, including families, where they were going under penalty of court-martial.Vietnam was not classified as a combat zone in 1962, but as an advisory zone...but no one told the VC.Thunderbird Lounge is a very good historical book written by a man who experienced it all. 1LT Robert J. Brandt, a National Guard officer newly assigned, became the Commander of the 573rd Maintenance Detachment and, would be the only Commander of the 573rd Maintenance Detachment for the entire year.

The 33rd was originally to deploy to "unknown" locations in March of 1962.The orders were delayed and many of their helicopters were transferred to two other Transportation Companies (8th and 57th), which did deploy.Then the U.S. was scoured for low time CH-21's to replace the ones given up by the 33rd.The unit was again alerted to move in August of 1962.All aircraft and all other equipment finally departed for Hawaii by ship scheduled to stop in Hawaii to pick up the aircraft and equipment of a sister unit, the 81st, before continuing on. Then, the day before the main body of personnel was to depart Travis AFB, 1LT Brandt was diagnosed with pneumonia!After spending a night in the Ft. Ord hospital and receiving a massive dose of penicillin that led to a rapid improvement, Brandt convinced the Army doctor that he HAD to go with his unit the next day.Convinced by his improvement, the doctor loaded Brandt up with more penicillin and off he went.He recovered enroute with no ill effects.

The arrival at Tan So Nhut and Saigon was exactly as anyone who has been there remembers...a sensory shock and memorable!The year was 1962 and, Saigon was "unspoiled" by western influences; full of interesting foreign sights, sounds and smells.The USNS Croatan, carrying 40 cocooned helicopters and equipment, arrived within 48 hours, on schedule.Following unpacking, unwrapping and assembly, the 33rd's20 CH-21s were flown to Tan So Nhut and ultimately to their new home on Bien Hoa airbase about 30 miles north of Saigon.The time was the monsoon season and no member of the unit had experienced the tropics or the problems the heat and moisture would ultimately bring to their aging CH-21 helicopters.The 33rd had arrived and "Wow", were the conditions primitive!

Throughout the remaining pages of Thunderbird Lounge, MG Brandt tells a complete story of the first year of the 33rd in Vietnam.People, places and incidents are described in very vivid detail.Almost every pilot is mentioned as well as many of the key enlisted men and NCO's.Using letters sent home to his wife along with the help of several comrades he is still in contact with,MG Brandt reconstructs many events that tell the story of their first year.Combat assaults, re-supply and medical evacuations are carried out in two aircraft flights because of engine and maintenance concerns.The red soil and extreme moisture conditions made maintenance of the CH-21 radial engines and wooden rotor blades very, very difficult.Brandt estimates that his engine shop rebuilt a CH-21 radial engine every 8 days!Thunderbird Lounge is a story of missions, maintenance and mayhem.

Never has a book been written after 40 years that is more complete with dates, names and locations.Every page is brimming with tales relating the many humorous incidents and events that made life in combat and the poor living conditions of Bien Hoa airbase bearable. Great photos are placed at the end of each chapter that compliment and highlight the people and incidents within the chapter. MG Brandt carefully remembers some of the sad events of the year, concluding with the loss of the first two 33rd pilots just after his returning home.

Thunderbird Lounge is truly a wonderful book.It tells a positive story about men as pioneers overcoming adversity, boredom and the enemy.Some of the participants may have seen things differently than MG Brandt, as he looks back after 40 years.However, no one can say he didn't tell it candidly, and fairly, as he saw it.After all, 40 years is a long time.1962 was truly a time when real men pioneered the use of helicopters in combat and developed the textbooks for US Army Aviation airmobile operations.Those textbooks, as well as the lessons learned, were effectively used by thousands of pilots over the next 9 years in that "unknown" location so very far away.

Tom Payne
Sec/Treas
VHPA ... Read more

Product Description
Clearly written and well illustrated, this book providesthe reader with a physical understanding of helicopter behavior, and acapability to quantitatively predict such behavior Written primarilyfor engineers and researchers, the book has also found wide readershipamongst people, such as pilots and middle-level managers in industryand government, whose work requires them to have more than a general,qualitative understanding of the whys and wherefores of helicopterflight. Much of its success is credited to its approach whichcarefully guides the reader midway between a verbal, non-quantitativetreatment on one hand, and a complex and highly mathematicalexposition on the other.The emphasis on fundamentals makes the bookan ideal, indeed necessary, first step towards the study or use ofmore sophisticated and comprehensive treatments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book is a classic!
This book is a classic work of engineering! The formulas are simple and somewhat outdated, but they can still be applied today in Basic Skills Classes and introductory classes for nonmajors.
... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Brings back memories.
Having been a Navy Doc with an infantry company in Vietnam, Luminous Base: Stories about Corpsmen and Helicopters, Courage and Sacrifice (Volume 1) brought back vivid memories of the war. It also opened my eyes to events I never knew took place with Devil Doc's who served with the air arm. They are truly Angels of Mercy.

Mr.Williams-Burden highlights a part of the war that a rarely written, or spoken about. I would highly recommend Luminous Base to any Navy Doc, Army Medic or anyone who is interested in this unique aspect of the Vietnam war and and the people who risk their lives so others might live. Well done!

Semper Fi!

dedication
REMARKABLEAMOUNT OF RESEARCHWENTINTOTHISBOOK. AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF STORIES ABOUT A TRUELLY DEDICATED GROUP OF MEN ANDWOMENTHAT RISK ITALLTO PERFORMTHEIRDUTIES TOTHEIRFELLOWBROTHERS INARMS.THISBOOK OFTRUESTORIESTUGSATYOURHEARTWHENYOUTRUELLY UNDERSTAND THE SACRFICESMADE BYTHESEYOUNGMENANDWOMEN.THANKSBRUCEBURDEN

Was there,
I was a Medevac Corpsman in VietNam.We did lose a couple of very good men.I am no hero but I had over 200 combat mission, many routine and some with a major pucker factor.

Bruce gets it right.Being a Navy Corpsman with a Marine unit s a rare privilege.You have to take your Navy off and be a Marine to be accepted to that great fraternity. Many don't do well, those that do excel.Bruce has included in this book two of my very good friends that lost their lives.Two of the good guys.I was Golden, retired on 20 in the Navy 9 of those with the greatest, the UNITED STATES MARINES.
Our current President insulted my friends by referring to us as "CORPSE MEN". I was very offended. Mike

Rathbone
As a published author I found Luminous Base to be one of the best books I have ever read. It is expertly written from the author's heart and to tell you the truth, when an old retired Viet Nam Veteran like me reads such books, our hearts are awakened. I will read it again.

It is also a heartfelt history book.I believe that each and every Hospital Corpsman should be required to read it as part of their first school.One of my best friends, Phil Norris, was gravely wounded in Korea and served with CAP Units in Nam. We are now both retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeants who cherish corpsmen and are eternally grateful for the treatment we received ashore, afloat and in the bush.

I believe that a corpsman walks taller when he or she serves with Marines.I've been sewed up by HM3's thru Chief Petty Officers and found them all to be very caring individuals. In Luminous Base, Bruce chronicles the lives of such corpsmen, many who made the ultimate sacrifice.I am just an old retired Marine who wishes he knew an adjective that surpasses terrific!

A Glimpse Inside the World of CASEVAC
Bruce Burden does an excellent job of telling the stories of American Heroes.This is a much more difficult task than you could imagine, because most Corpsmen's courage is only exceeded by their humility.They perform magnificent feats of bravery on a daily basis, but you won't find any braggarts in this community.They don't brag because they don't need to.They have the utmost respect of the Marines they serve with and that is not something easily won.

These are men and women who willingly go where Marines go...in other words, to the places most sane people would run from.Marines are known for their tradition of moving toward the sound of gunfire; they are looking for a fight.What most people outside the military do not realize is that Corpsmen accompany those Marines into unspeakable situations, without hesitation and do so not to fight or take lives...but to save them.

Corpsmen are an amazing breed.They bring nobility and decency to the battlefield; often paying a very high price for their actions.Having served two tours in Iraq as a helicopter pilot alongside Corpsmen in two Marine Squadrons assigned with the CASEVAC mission, I have witnessed their courage and heroism first hand.Although Bruce has done a marvelous job of introducing the reader to the world of CASEVAC, the descriptions of harrowing situations fall short of capturing the intensity of this mission simple because the words do not exist that can properly convey all that transpires on each one of these missions.If you want to visit a world that few know exists,read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
There were no dry runs for Seawolves in Vietnam.
They put their lives on the line—every time.

In the Viet Cong-infested Mekong Delta, where small SEAL teams were always outgunned and outnumbered, discovery brought swift, deadly consequences— and a radio call for backup from the United States Navy’s very best: the Seawolves. The whir of approaching rotor blades signaled their arrival as they tore through the jungle at treetop level, gunners hanging off the skids, shooting M-60s, raining down their lethal mix of high explosives and incendiary death.

Seawolf Dan Kelly describes the origins of this extraordinary outfit. Put through a training program unlike any other, these men emerged to perform unparalleled feats of courage. The stories of these elite warriors capture America’s real heroes in all their guts and glory, and demonstrate why the Seawolves are known as the most successful and most decorated unit in the Vietnam War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

seawolves history
I had a boss who was a seawolf but would never, ever speak of his VN service.This is a recounting of how the seawolves were started, what they did, and how it was disbanded after the VN conflict (war).These men went above and beyond and everyone should be given a special medal for bravery......I don't read military history books but I am glad I discovered this online. I purchased two of them.I work for the Disabled American Vets and keep them on my desk all of the time and as the vets come in they borrow it, read it and have always returned it.

HAL-3 reader
Someone commented on Mr. Kelly's other Seawolves book, "First Choice", that it sounded like Navy propaganda.That's what I thought about this one.He really dumps on Army pilots in this book.And there's too much about the SEALs and not enough about the aircrew.It reads like fiction - I kept looking at the spine of the book to make sure that it was indeed a non-fiction book.I won't be buying "First Choice".

Great Book On little known special group.
I usually don't write reviews on books as I read so many but this one was so good I needed to. I was not aware of this unit of the US. Navy until I read this book. It's outstanding. The author writes with a dash of humor along with great detail what it's like to be in combat under great stress to help out others in grave danger. The comradeship and love of his fellow companions. I have a collection of approx. 350 non-fiction war books and have read many more that I did not keep. I rate this one at the top for enjoyment and knowledge of a little known group. Dan,Thanks for a great book.I'm going to get the other as soon as possible. edwards190@sbcglobal.net

Setting the record straight...
First I wish to congratulate the author for a pleasant and fast read.

Joe, you sir should have remained silent and kept us wondering about your obvious lack of historical knowledge. Instead you choose to make ridiculous statements and remove all doubt ........
First, US Navy Seawolves is written not about Mr. Kelly or his missions, it's about how and why the Seawolves were created and how they did there jobs. If you had read the Dan's first book you would know this.
You state the stories are not first hand accounts. From what area of your all knowing Seawolf and SEAL history is this statement based? Yes they are first hand accounts from the people that WERE THERE! Did you bother to read the preface?
You again state your expertise on Vietnam era weaponry. Which nomenclature is incorrect and what are you so sure about? Joe you obviously don't know anything about the SEALs or Seawolves.
"Myopic glamorization of death.....were you there? What part about WAR and reality don't you like? I think Mr. Kelly did a great job in conveying the circumstances and situations without excessive gory details. As to your concern of historical presentation of facts, I can assure you the accounts describes are true and confirmed by SEAL Team One personnel, Capt. Spencer, and the other people mentioned in the forward. If you had read it you would know this.
Regarding the rocket window account. It is stated as an accident in the book. Did you really READ the entire book?
Lt. John Luscher provides the first hand accounts of the actions in question during the Tet offensive. If you have issue with his history, call him and ask!
You state "As is the fact that the helicopters could fly 120 MPH three feet off the ground through the streets of Saigon and take corners at full speed. Sorry, but that all seems like quite a stretch." Well Joe, I WAS THERE and would be willing to offer you ride to see just what a UH1-B can't do.

As I stated above, I was there and give the author high marks for being as accurate and clear as possible. This book provides a third person view of what really happened to a group of brave soles that few have heard of and history for the most part chooses to forget.
If and when I get the opportunity to meet the author, I plan to shake his hand for those of us that never came home protecting people like you "Joe."

Reads like fiction
I bought the book because I wanted to know more about the Navy's helicopter gunship role. There is some good information in the book about the birth and day-to-day operations of the HAL-3 warriors. Oddly, however, half of the book consists of stories of SEALs fighting in the jungle. These stories are obviously not first-hand accounts. The stories of the Seawolves' exploits seem to be word-of-mouth as well. Some of the nomenclature of the weapons is consistently incorrect. There's a picture of the author with one of the Seawolf choppers and a crew member in the book but the only place where it's even alluded to that he was a Seawolf is on the back cover. Odd that there's no first-person information on the group and that the book has such an outsider's feel to it.

I guess the thing that bugs me is that the book seems more like a collection of war stories that were told to the author by a few individuals. There doesn't seem to have been much research involved in preparing the book. I don't mean to take anything away from these great men and what they accomplished but this book seems to be a myopic glamorization of death. There are many good books out there but this is written like more like an action novel than a historical presentation of facts. A previous reviewer said it very well when he said it's like Rambo using a typewriter.

To provide some examples, the Seawolves in the book never miss anything. They can fire rockets in specific windows every single time, land them on top of walls that NVA soldiers are climbing over and the door gunners can pick off running troops in streets; all while the pilot is jinking the chopper around the sky. Every combat action mentions bodies being blown to pieces and, during the coverage of the inital Tet offensive into Saigon, Kelly says that the gunners shot NVA troops to pieces while they were in hand-to-hand combat with our Special Forces troops. Kind of hard to believe. As is the fact that the helicopters could fly 120 MPH three feet off the ground through the streets of Saigon and take corners at rull speed. Sorry, but that all seems like quite a stretch.

If you've served in the military or even studied military history at all, you may find it hard to tell what may even be factual. I just looked at the forward again and he thanks a couple of people for telling him stories at a reunion and in similar settings. That's a good reference source but in and of itself doesn't make for a well researched book.

The bottom line is that it lacks authenticity and doesn't do the Seawolves justice. Reading like fiction, it's hard to know what to and what not to believe. In my mind, believing something false is worse than not knowing at all. ... Read more

Product Description
Helicopter Rescue: Welcome to Tough Stuff! This fast-paced Tough Stuff adventure includes a fun lift-the-flap control panel so that young adventurers can join in the Tough Team mission. During a terrifying storm, the lighthouse light breaks down, leaving ships at sea in imminent danger of crashing onto the treacherous rocks! But when the lighthouse keeper tries to fix the light, the strong winds leave him clinging helplessly to the side of the lighthouse! But the Tough Tower controller is on the case and Charlie comes to the rescue in his Tough Helicopter. Another Tough Team mission accomplished! ... Read more

Product Description
Powered by one or more rotors, the helicoper is able to take off and land vertically, move in any direction, or remain stationary in the air. This book contains 12 accurately rendered sticker illustrations of this versatile aircraft, including the Blackhawk, Bell Cobra, Mariner, Bell 206 Jet Ranger, Boeing CH-47D Chinook, and 7 other models--all ideal for illustrating school reports or adding aeronautical pizzazz to any flat surface. Dover Original. 12 full-color stickers on 4 plates.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

stickers
to cheap stickers. I hate to pay for the shipping, much much more than the price of the stickers. wont buy it again.

Way Cool
This was purchased for my four yr old niece,it will be part of her Christmas Gift,she just loves helicopters so I am sure she will love these stickers.

Nice
My 2 and a half year old son loved playing with these stickers. He loves helipcopters so this was a good gift for him. ... Read more

Product Description
Children's ages 4 to 8 book about military helicopters with pictures. ... Read more

Product Description
With a whir of rotating blades, helicopters hover effortlessly in the air. Learn how todays most advanced whirlybirds are used for everything from transportation to search and rescue missions. Discover how pilots fly helicopters all over the world. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most enduring and vivid images of Vietnam is the helicopter. There is little doubt that the helicopter revolutionized warfare and how the war in Vietnam was fought. Helicopters lifted troops, supplies, material, equipment, and vehicles. They conducted visual reconnaissance, command and control, medical evacuation, artillery spotting, fire support, and countless administrative tasks. They were aerial weapons platforms and aerial trucks. The 40,000 pilots were the men behind this revolution.

Many helicopter pilots were thrill seekers to some degree. They liked fast cars and a fast life. To "party hardy" was a common term used to describe their lifestyle. They loved to fly and the war gave them the opportunity to do that. They were little concerned with the politics of the war, the conflicts back at home, and could care less about the drug culture, sexual revolution, the environment, and other social issues that defined their generation. A common aviator's phrase was, "Who needs drugs, I'm already high."

Helicopter pilots experienced a broad range of combat, from air-lift, med-evac and fire-support to landing in 'Hot LZs', in which choppers would find themselves caught in deadly high-volume crossfires.Crew protection, other than armored seats for the pilots, was minimal.There was little armor to protect vital engines, transmissions, and fuel tanks.Crashes were survivable, but aircrews suffered relatively high casualties.Enemy action was not the only cause for concern.Of the 4,642 US helicopters lost in Vietnam, over half were due to non-hostile
causes-accidents, mechanical failure, weather, and other non-combat causes. Aviators had to deal with long flying hours in a less than pleasant climate, heat, humidity, dust, rapidly changing weather conditions, spare parts shortages, and spotty maintenance.All of these accumulated to make the lives of natural risk-takers more dangerous. This book will reveal their experiences from their first deployment to the deadly thrill of combat in a warzone. Accompanied by poignant photographs and written by a Vietnam veteran, this is a crucial addition to our coverage of the conflict that defined the post-war generation in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Primer on US Army Helo Ops in Vietnam!
The importance of the helicopter in the Vietnam War is immeasurable. Performing a myriad of duties, helicopter pilots and their crews basically revolutionized warfare. Vietnam vet Gordon Rottman examines that special breed of airmen in this informative 2008 volume from Osprey Publishing.

Though helicopters were used in Korea, that usage never approached the scale of helo ops in Nam. To pilot the thousands of helicopters the Army needed, a new breed of aviator was created - the Warrant Officer. Rottman's book charts the creation of the WO billet, how perspective candidates were recruited, the training they received, the flight gear they wore, helicopter operational procedures in Nam, typical battle experiences, etc.
The text is illustrated with 60 black & white and color photos and color artworks.

If you're looking for exciting tales of Army helicopter pilots in face-to-face shoot-outs with VC or NVA, this isn't your book. Rather it is a comprehensive and informative if dry summary of the world of an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Recommended.

Mr. Rottman has done another Fine Job !
The Author has done a really good job of story telling about another group of Soldiers of the Viet Nam War. The Helicopter Pilots were up to now an overlooked group of some real Studs that got the job done. Mr. Rottman has taken a big step in correcting this oversight. His book is well written (the section on WOC Training was 1st Rate!) , organized and has the added plus of some great illustrations about this men.
Altogether this is a worthy addition to the Osprey Stable, especially for those of us interested in the Vietnam War. His other books like the Viet Nam Airborne are also worth a looking at. ... Read more

Product Description
Get the dirt on the mightiest machines in town! Simple text and large, dynamic photographs put young readers in the drivers seat of these enormous, powerful machines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing
You would think that a book about military helicopters for kids over 9 would provide more information than "military helicopters are mighty machines" or "military helicopters carry troops into battle". Or "this is a rotor". There is very lttle text or information beyond what I just quoted. In terms of information provided, this book is for 2 and 3 year olds. In terms of reading, this book is for 5 or 6 year olds. But both groups are going to be very disappointed. The book fails to mention the model of helicopters in the photos. How hard would that have been to do? Isn't the book supposed to be about military helicopters?

Even at this cheap price, this is way overpriced. If your child likes helicopters, do NOT get this for them. They already know far more about helicopters than what is in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The original book on the black helicopter phenomenon!What is the meaning of Black Choppers! Movement of Troops! Creation ofDetention Centers! National Police Force! The Surrender ofU.S. Military Authority to the U.N.! Why are foreign troops secretlymoving war equipment across America? The first book to explore thetruth behind the war within our borders! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

3 items I can verifiy are true
I read this book after purchasing it at a local gunshow in Kansas City Missouri back in 2003.Since I was living in the area for 18+ years and serving in the Army I was familiar with some of the information that was in the book.

On one occasion I did see one of these black helicopters flying east from Kansas City MO along I-70 and I followed it to Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster MO.

There are a couple of other entries in the book that talk about detention centers in the area and a storage depot in Atchison KS located along the Missouri River.These two are true.

If you can't get the basic facts right...
... how are we supposed to believe your theories that are harder to substantiate?

The litany of errors is hilarious.
Davis-Monthan AFB in Tuscon, AZ is alternately named "David Monthan," "Davis Munson," and "David Munson."Any road map could've provided the correct information.
Ft. Indiantown Gap in PA is similarly renamed about 3 different times.

Among the most amusing contention are the 30,000 "UN troops" stationed in Barstow, CA.First, Barstow doesn't have the water supply to support the 22,000 people that do live there.Second, the "UN troops" were probably soldiers from nearby Ft. Irwin, who wear different uniforms because their job is to portray the bad guys for units who come there to train (and there are fewer than 2500 of them).Third, why Barstow?What are they going to do, take down Las Vegas?And would anyone miss it if they did?

The best of all, though, is the cargo train of New World Order UN vehicles travelling through the western states.Keith claims they are "BMP-40s."They are quitely clearly Canadian Grizzly armored cars and M113 personnel carriers.Had anyone bothered to compare the timing of this train and the training schedule at the National Training Center, they would've known that the Canadians had a regiment of troops training with the Americans and these were the Canadian vehicles going home.When "Soldier of Fortune" debunks your cornerstone theory and dismisses it as the ravings of a right-wing lunatic, you know you're in trouble.

The Russian tanks seen on flatbeds near Gowen Field, ID and El Paso, TX?Probably going to the local weapons ranges to be shot at, since we've been using Russian tanks for target practice for decades, to test the effectiveness of our own weapons.

All in all, this is worth reading for the humor in it.But not worth spending money on.Unfortunately, there's no lower rating you can give than one star, but this one deserves to be in the negative.

The future under a New World Order.
I approach this book as an outsider to this genre.I'm not big conspiracy theory buff.I'm not a survivalist.Nor am I a die-hard political fanatic.Like most Americans, I go about my life vaguely aware of what's happening in our government.Given that, I went into this book with an open mind.

Jim Keith, who I find after some research, was one of the leading writers in government activities.With Black Helicopters Over America he raises some interesting questions.What is our military doing?What exactly does the government have in mind for our future?What part does our government play in the political machinations of the United Nations?

Keith lays out the plans for a New World Order.He describes an international police force under U.N. direction.He shows the groundwork for the disarmament of the people and the rights that we could lose in the new world state.Keith also describes a future of concentration camps for those that would speak out against the New World Order.

Black Helicopters is a straightforward book laden with factual events and policies.However, though the events and policies may be factual, the context and details of those entries can sometimes seem questionable.As with most any issue, facts can be arranged to display the picture the writer wants to be seen.

The material in the book is a bit dated.Even though it was published in 1994, events in the book date back as far as the 1950s.Most of the events presented are from the 1970s.This in itself softens the credibility of the text.While writing this review, I did find out that Keith published a follow up book in 1998 titled Black Helicopters II : The End Game Strategy.I would imagine that the follow up takes the reader current, up to 1998.It may be worth the time for interested parties to read this book to see if Keith presents more recent events that would add credibility to his arguments.

If anything, Keith does present enough information to make the reader think.In fact, Keith urges the reader to step back and take at look at the information that is available.In my opinion, the underlying point of Black Helicopters is: To make educated decisions based on researched facts and to understand your government and what it is doing.It is something to think about.

Propaganda for idiots, filled with factual errors
It is such a shame amazon.com doesn't allow for a "bomb" or "zero star" rating, because if ever a book merited one, this would be it.

A friend of mine gave it to me as a joke gift, and I immediately found all the timelines about cattle mutilations, black helicopters, and other urban (rural?) legends to be slightly less interesting than reading the phonebook.

Factual errors include descriptions of the AH-64 Apache helicopter as a "troop transport" (it's an attack helicopter and it cannot hold any troops at all), a reference to the military base at "St John, Canada, near Montreal" (the town is called St-Jean-sur-Richeleu and there hasn't been a base there for years, now it's just an army language school), and descriptions of helicopter crews wearing cowboy hats (what, no helmets or intercom headsets?)...

Opening chapter of book deals with cattle mutilations!
For those who want to know more about the relevance of cattle mutilations related to "secret government" machinations, you should appreciate that Jim Keith sought to reveal that by opening this book with discussions of journalist ED SANDERS, who has very importantly coveredcattle mutilations in the context of secret government ops likely involvingdevelopment of biologicals, and that many cattle mutilations were diagnosedby veterinarians as having LOCALIZEED CONCENTRATIONS of CLOSTRIDIA.

Keithopens this important work by having the reader seek to know more! You willdiscover Keith's incredible ability to ferret out the dark side of theGlobalists....and how some of Keith's books reveal much more about secret"underground" biologicals developments for the "NEWORDER".This book has the opening chapter dealing with cattlemutilations, so that should tell you something about what Keith hasuncovered! CLOSTRIDIA, per DOD-docs presented by RN Joyce Riley reveal thatKeith is on the right track! Jim Keith was quite nervous in revealing onthe ART BELL show that CLOSTRIDIA was related to strange cattlemutilations, despite all the rest of the "entertainment"regarding that topic....and this book will provoke you to research moreabout WACO, et al! ... Read more

Product Description
This profile of all combat helicopters currently in use worldwide contains hundreds of color photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
In the early 1950s a need arose in the Soviet Union for a heavy transport and assault helicopter capable of airlifting cargo weighing up to 6 tons (13,230 lbs) - primarily artillery systems. THe chief Soviet "helicopter maker" - OKB-329 headed by Mikhail L. Mil - took on this important task. The prototype of the V-6 (eventually redesignated Mi-6), which first flew in June 1957, was a much larger machine. For the first time not only in the Mil OKB's practice but also in the world helicopter design practice, the powerplant consisted of two gas turbine engines; another peculiarity was the use of auxiliary wing offloading the main rotor in cruise flight. The Mi-6 provided a major boost to the Soviet Air Force's capability. In 1959 it served as the basis for the unconventional Mi-10 capable of straddling bulky loads. In 1967, however, Mil truly amazed the world by bringing out the mighty V-12 capable of lifting a 25-ton (55,110-lb) payload. This machine was destined to remain in prototype form; yet in 1977 the OKB achieved a major success with the smaller but more advanced Mi-26, which remains the world's largest production helicopter and, like the Mi-6, has rendered invaluable service in both civil and military applications. This book covers the development history and design of all the various types in detail and is well illustrated with numerous photos and line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The best about the biggest helicopters ever made
I read this very good book, here in Brazil. This book is divided into four chapters:
a)Chapter one is about Mi-6. This big helicopter isn't flying today, but during two decades, the Mi-6 was the biggest opperational helicopter flying, in the world.
b)Chapter two is about Mi-10. This big helicopter had big legs. This chapter isn't just about the normal Mi-10, but also about the "short" legged Mi-10 K. Mi-10 remains the heighest helicopter ever made.
c)Chapter three is about the V-12. This massive helicopter had four engines and just two were ever produced. None was used with practical uses.
d)Chapter four is about the Mi-26. This massive helicopter is the only of the four helicopters covered in this book that remains flying and also in production today. About three hundreds Mi-26 were produced(see page 93).
The other reviewer wrote these sentences:"The photos are mostly black and white and in an age of digital perfection I sometime forget that this is a subject that was classified not so long ago. Nevertheless, I wish there were more close ups and more color photos and that the 3-d drawings include front and top views as well. I understand however that the space is limited and there are four helicopters covered."
I agree with these sentences, but I have to give fives stars for this book, because:
1-The authors of this book know, what are they talking about.
2-The quality of the paper is excellent.
3-This book is concise.
4-The text is for the general public, not for aerospace engineers.
5-This book never talks about politics. Science can't be mixed with politics or religion. Please, I'm not a Communist or "Liberal" in American ways.

Mil's Heavylift Helicopters (Red Star Vol. 22) (Paperback)
Long awaited subject, very informative and well researched book.I have several of Yeffim Gordon's books and they are all wonderful. This book covers the design stages and includes pictures of models that did not make it to the finals but that are interesting and one can see the progression of a concept, the things that worked and the things that didn't. The main thread of this and the other books is that they not only are factual but also present some details that are unique from native's point of view.

The photos are mostly black and white and in an age of digital perfection I sometime forget that this is a subject that was classified not so long ago.Nevertheless, I wish there were more close ups and more color photos and that the 3-d drawings include front and top views as well.I understand however that the space is limited and there are four helicopters covered.

It is a great refference material for historians and hobbyists alike and it is a great addition to my library of Soviet Aircrafts!

Borislav ... Read more