Scot - 5 Star Review: "It takes a lot of guts to put your life on the line serving our country, no matter the cause."
R. Murakami - 5 Star Review: "Well written, I couldn't put it down"
Brad - 5 Star Review: "Vivid details of the hell our vets endured"
R.W. Brown - 5 Star Review: "These guys were bad asses!"
jhl - 5 star review: "Mr. Allen has a very easy style of writing, making his book a pleasure to read."
Mark C. (Combat Vet) - 5 star review: "I give a lot of credit to the gunship crews for saving a tremendous number of American lives. I salute you!"
Steve G. - 5 star review: "If you want to read about battle action, this book offers truckloads of it."
glen martin - 5 star review: "This book will have you holding your breath . A terrific read."
Nick Chillin - 4 Star review: "A highly decorated Vietnam War veteran tells the gritty truth of war."
jane weber - 5 star review: "This is an important story about the journey of a young warrior involved in the most controversial war this nation ever fought."
Clarke S. - 5 star review: "this is a must read for vietnam war historians."
steve barlow - 5 star review: "For all of us in the 116th AHC, the Stingers were held in the highest regard."
McPherson - 5 star review: "A book like no other I have read. The things these men did and saw for patriotism is astounding."
Ben - 5 star review: "This is one of the best books ever written about the Vietnam conflict."
LTC Eastman retired US Army-5 Star Review: "An Extraordinary Vietnam War Book Through the Eyes of a Helicopter Gunship Crew Chief"
Scot - 5 Star Review: "It takes a lot of guts to put your life on the line serving our country, no matter the cause." R. Murakami - 5 Star Review: "Well written, I couldn't put it down" Brad - 5 Star Review: "Vivid details of the hell our vets endured" R.W. Brown - 5 Star Review: "These guys were bad asses!" jhl - 5 star review: "Mr. Allen has a very easy style of writing, making his book a pleasure to read." Mark C. (Combat Vet) - 5 star review: "I give a lot of credit to the gunship crews for saving a tremendous number of American lives. I salute you!" Steve G. - 5 star review: "If you want to read about battle action, this book offers truckloads of it." glen martin - 5 star review: "This book will have you holding your breath . A terrific read." Nick Chillin - 4 Star review: "A highly decorated Vietnam War veteran tells the gritty truth of war." jane weber - 5 star review: "This is an important story about the journey of a young warrior involved in the most controversial war this nation ever fought." Clarke S. - 5 star review: "this is a must read for vietnam war historians." steve barlow - 5 star review: "For all of us in the 116th AHC, the Stingers were held in the highest regard." McPherson - 5 star review: "A book like no other I have read. The things these men did and saw for patriotism is astounding." Ben - 5 star review: "This is one of the best books ever written about the Vietnam conflict." LTC Eastman retired US Army-5 Star Review: "An Extraordinary Vietnam War Book Through the Eyes of a Helicopter Gunship Crew Chief"
Over 2,300 Ratings
About the book Cover
September 24, 1970, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam. It was near dusk with light rain. We were somber, returning from an unsuccessful rescue mission.
Our Cobra wing ship had proceeded back to base ahead of us.
Old 523 was low on fuel.
As I surveyed the instrument panel, between the pilots, I noticed the torque meter registering forty pounds. That was the highest load level I had ever seen.
I keyed the intercom for the Aircraft Commander, “Hey Smitty, the old bird is pulling forty pounds.”
The pilots looked at each other and smiled.
The next moment, everything exploded. Heavy machine gun enemy tracers burst through the pilots’ radio console and tracked through the door gunner cabin, piercing the fuel cell.
Another enemy bullet hit the bottom of the ship and broke through the deck about six inches from my right foot. Shrapnel sliced into my leg and hand.
The Aircraft Commander started firing rockets. The door gunner and I returned fire.
As I leaned out of the ship, I was hit by flames………
