Chickenhawk: Back in the World: Life After Vietnam

by Robert Mason

Follow-up to _Chickenhawk_ covers his post-Vietnam struggles with PTSD and civilian life.

Genres: Biography, War, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Autobiography, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of a memoir following the tour of duty that Mr. Mason served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. After having read "Chickenhawk" I was rather compelled to follow the life of Mr. Mason; I am glad that I did.

Mr. Mason makes no apologies with the exception of effects that some of his choices he made which impacted that of his wife Patience and son Jack during the period of October 1966 to August 1992 in this memoir. Within his personal disclosure of PTSD and physical effects we see simple statements like "...I thought these problems would all go away..." and "...fighting internalizations, talking to self, nodding off, seeking people I've never known..." are all to familiar to myself personally. It is here that I attribute my personal link to his experiences and I have yet to discover whether these within hold a key for my own related issues. However, the story of the human condition continues as one who has read "Chickenhawk" the story that follows is rather tortuous at times. Mr. Mason's self worth depreciates to a value to which I acknowledge within myself; he was and is worthy of much more of course - but if you wear the shoes and have lived his existence then one comes to understand these "internalizations" that continuously haunt him. There were frustrating points in this book that I had to overcome but I read every page and every word out of respect for what he went through and was able to effectively visit my own view of "self worth" within the descriptive pages within.

Patience (Mr. Mason's wife) is a stoic woman; the sort of character and courage that existed in her (then) and I speculate that still exists within her today was a source of inspiration for me as I continued to read. Mr. Mason acknowledges and gives full credit to his wife, best friend, and lover who gave to him her all and never stopped doing what needed to be done - even as she worked a paper route to keep the family together. Part of this brought water to my eyes at points as I considered all of her efforts. Mr. Mason also acknowledges his short comings and concern for his son, the life he wanted to give and yet the life he was predisposed (to some extent) to provide for - he (Mr. Mason) never lost sight in the bigger picture though of his personal responsibilities to those around him. Even his worst decision (among other unfortunate ones that he made) were chosen with the intent to "better" the overall existence. Mr. Mason acknowledged fully his short comings but he makes amends, and tackles these issues with an appropriateness of time availability and somehow changes the existence of his life.

As a teenager I recall quite vividly the Vietnam Veterans that were still in there 20 something years during the 1970's. The 1970's were a confusing time for many and as a teen then I realized there was an intentional arrogance in society to ignore the period of 1964-1975 for the U.S. involvement of Vietnam. Many good boat people would be camped at Camp Pendleton California in this period of time having escaped barely with only the shoes on their feet and clothes on their backs. The Vietnamese refugees that ended up on American soil in my view have become as important a community of people of this overall society that any of any group of people throughout the course of American History and I for one am thankful they exist and are thriving in some places within the nation as Americans that have "Value and a Purpose" (to put it into a phrase of yet another Vietnam Veteran I know who is doing and has done tremendous work to this day for others affected by this war.) The Vietnam Veterans I knew in the 1970's would show me scars on their body, tell me stories of the events of battles - all I could do was listen, I did; and, later I served in the USMC myself.

I give this book 4 stars only because there were some parts I believed sort of dragged on; but, I acknowledge it was important for Mr. Mason's existence to retrieve from memory those events and provide a description to paper for those interested in his story and for himself most importantly to attempt to expel the demons. If you read "Chickenhawk" then I would encourage you to follow up with this great book on the life that followed.

[Bernie Weisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title of my Review: "From Seasoned War Vet to a Prison Cell!" Written By Bernie Weisz Vietnam War Historian contact: Bernwei1@aol.com

"Chickenhawk:Back in the World's" picks up exactly where Mason's first book left off. Briefly, Mason starts off relating that upon his return from his 1 year tour of Vietnam as a chopper pilot (Sept. 1965 to Aug. 1966) he became a helicopter instructor pilot. This ends quickly after Mason is tormented by severe P.T.S.D symptoms, hallucinations, panic attacks, depression and insomnia. As a result of this, he quit his position and left the military. In the backdrop of authoring his best selling book, Mason slipped into drug and alcohol addiction as well as adultery. His wife, aptly named "Patience" stayed with him and eventually authored her own book about surviving the demons of P.T.S.D., from the viewpoint of a spouse. Mason takes on one failing job venture after another, ending with a financial fiasco creating a company manufacturing mirrors. Doubting that his book will ever sell and on the verge of financial ruin, Mason meets two misfits that con him into coming with them on a small ocean vessel called the "Nemaste", bound for the Colombian Coast to pick up 3,500 lbs. of marijuana to smuggle back to the U.S. Graphically recounting the Caribbean voyage, Mason and his crew picked up the dope and upon reentering U.S. waters were busted by the waiting U.S. Coast Guard. Mason received 2 years at Eglin, a minimum security prison in Florida. It is in Eglin that Mason learned that "Chickenhawk" was a best seller. "Back in the World" ends with some major revelations of Mason's feelings about the Vietnam War, his thoughts of what the causes of P.T.S.D. are and the announcement of a fictional book he penned, entitled "Weapon." Mason has some very unusual stories and anecdotes in "Back in the World". He writes how the U.S. government in his opinion manufacturers crime. Mason gives us proof of this by telling a story of a man he met in jail named "Danny", a pilot. Mason is told by Danny that he was approached by 2 guys that offered him $10,000 to simply test drive a new DC-6. If Danny liked the plane, they will pay him another $90,000 to fly in contraband from South America. Danny test drove the plane, accepted the 10K from the 2 men, and went home to discuss the story with his wife. The next day, he returned the $10,000 to the 2 men and told them "no deal" (something Mason points out he wished he did in his ill-fated boat ride to Colombia). A year later, Danny was arrested and convicted of conspiracy. He received 5 years. The 2 men were D.E.A. agents and Danny's crime was that he failed to inform the authorities about the offer the 2 men made. Finally, there is the bone chilling story Mason tells of "Johnson" the Navy Seal and professional assassin, who wouldn't say why he was at Eglin, but tells Mason that he almost strangled his wife to death, has no friends, likes to kill, and that his "employer" (the U.S. Government) will be getting him out any day, because there is a "job" coming up. Mason listens to Johnson's stories of personal assassinations in Viet Nam that he carried out as part of the infamous "Phoenix Program". This was a program the U.S. Government undertook in conjunction with the Navy Seal Team and plotted in the U.S. by the "Rand Corporation". Communist Viet Cong elders, teachers or leaders were kidnapped, interrogated for intelligence and ultimately murdered. Mason relates how Johnson claimed that the Government was going to get him out in 2 days so he can "execute" a job that has come up. Sure enough, 2 days later, Johnson was out! Scary! There are many stories like this and I found this book very enjoyable to read! An excellent sequel to his first book!

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was 10:10 when I finally dropped this book on the floor beside my bed and turned out the light with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. A minute later, I switched the light back on and got up to look for some paper. I had to write down my thoughts lest I foget them in the night.

Two or three more nights reading, I had told Rick when he asked how I was coming on the book and I'd checked to see how much I had left to read, and yet I finished it all.

I started reading Chickenhawk: Back in the World reluctantly, expecting that it would be a hard book to read, as reading about war, especially the Vietnam war, can be difficult. It took a couple of chapters to get me in. There were a few things that helped ease me into this true story of one man and his family after Vietnam. One was that this was an after Vietnam story rather than a war story. I skimmed over parts of the first chapter that I didn't understand until I was to a place where I did understand. There were some well chosen photos to show that Mason and his family are real people. The last thing that helped me was relating to Patience, who truly lived up to her name.

Bob and Patience Mason handled his post Vietnam years in a very different way than we have. Bob and Patience were able to (or had to) travel and move around even though they were equally or perhaps even more poor at times than we ever have been. Still they had some problems, I won't say worse than anyone else but a need for money drives Bob to take a job that went against his better judgment, and yet once committed, he felt he had to carry through with it. That's how Bob Mason becomes a drug smuggler and ends up in a low-security prison called Eglin.

It was surprisingly interesting to read about his trip on the boat to Columbia and his prison time. He works on the boat, practically builds it from a kit, sails, gets seasick, homesick, gets his sea legs and has a hard time holding his tongue with the captain at times. At the end, just when they thought they were home free something went wrong and they're arrested.

Painted white lines keep the prisoners from escaping at Eglin. It's a prison for embezzlers and smugglers and other men who have committed non-violent crimes. The prisoners won't step over the line because they are there to be punished and if anything goes wrong, they move to a maximum security prison. Bob works his way through his prison time determinedly. He was hoping to write while there but the routine of the days didn't allow for much time to work on his second book. I prayed he wouldn't get in a fight with the Cuban's when he was so close to release.

I think that God gives each of us something to work with, be it wealth, good looks, or talent. Mason is a writer and a good one. He went through the proper channels and is a successful writer. Mason and his wife Patience have each written books, gained fame, honor, money and I hope they're doing well in the real world.

It was Mason's final page that got to me, most pointedly, his two sentence acknowledgment of his wife, Patience's part in all of this. It made me wonder if I should read Patience's book.

[Jim Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to re-read Chickenhawk before I started this book having tracked it down on ebay. Chickenhawk left me, 10 years earlier, on a cliff hanger wondering what happened to Robert Mason after coming home from Vietnam and this book didn't disappoint. Whilst this book lacks the pace of Chickhawk, Mason describes the raw emotion and difficulties faced by returning Vets trying to handle the reality of peace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the fact that it comes right up to 1990 highlights the impact this war still has on those who did the fighting.

[Tim Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book/read, updates his story from where the original left. Still good reading and interesting.

[ramon antonio rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vietnam February 1966--September 1967

This narrative parallels my experience, though I wasn't a gunship pilot. Nervous breakdowns time two. Hospitalizations in Vietnam and Fordham VA Hospital in the Bronx. Two years of therapy at the Durham, NC VA, 50% disability and the shame I felt. The horrors my family, wife, and children endured, a daughter that to this day doesn't speak to me. Thank you, Bob Mason, for making it real to others. I cried my way through both books. And yes, I was sentenced to twelve years in Mexico's infamous Lecumberri Prison, El Palacio Negor. I, too, was an employee to a good friend, a smuggler. Extradition to the US under a treaty designed to bring Americans home--all low-level smugglers. The big boys always got away. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[Cory Pickett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this after finishing Chickenhawk because chickenhawk kind of ends on a cliff hanger. I wanted to see what happened next and the story itself is interesting. I enjoyed reading about the sailing trip and all that but then the book just becomes full of monotonous stories about being in prison. That part was very boring for the most part and became a bit of a snooze fest for me. The ending was good though, I just could have gone for a shortened chunk of the prison sections of the book which seems to be like 3/4 of the book

[Mark Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Having 1st read ‘Chickenhawk’ in my teens then several times after that, I thought I’d find out the history behind the man who wrote the book. I wasn’t disappointed, Bob doesn’t glorify his life, he just tells it how it is. Brilliant book and I’d recommend it to anyone.

[Signe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now 2022 and we still don't understand the causes of PTSD or C-PTSD and have very little effective, affordable, widely available treatment for it. Now "they" finally admit that depression is not a chemical imbalance in the brain, and all those billions of pills they dispense to people might be ineffective or do more harm than good long term.

This is an interesting follow up to Bob Mason's first book "Chickenhawk". This second memoir is a good example of survival of prolonged stress and trauma then loss of career/livelihood.
For some people loss of career is loss of identity and even personhood. It's a crushing humbling blow to be gifted at something and lose it all and then cope with PTSD at the same time.

Bob is cut loose from combat, then is teaching combat flying, but PTSD was not treated effectively and he lost that position as well with a disability on his record. That disability barred him from other work in his chosen field.

He was left to flounder and try to support his family while self-medicating for relief from the constant PTSD symptoms and to also simultaneously dig out some type of opportunity in the United States.

Bob still has his dry sense of humor in the follow up. Interesting to see his self awareness growing as he matures and takes stock of what has transpired in his life.

Happy for Bob and Patience that they made it through all those trials together. She is a apparently a published author on the topic of PTSD as well.

Enjoyed his description of his sailing trip as much as "Chickenhawk".

I heartily agree with the wonderful letter his friend wrote to him about God sparing him for a purpose. Hope Bob can see God's hand in his life as I sure do.

[Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any military pilot tells you he/she is glad to be off active duty, he/she is lying. Military flyers all hate the mickey-mouse dramas imposed by picayune military routines but universally, pilots are struggling to withdraw from the uber-addicting drug known as FLIGHTIME. Mixed in with this consuming addiction is the significant, mind-bending terrors of flying close to a ruthless enemy in combat. Army Huey pilots, operating underpowered, fragile aircraft, had this in spades for unending periods of time during our misguided conflict with communism in Indochina.

This book is the riveting follow-on to the author's brilliant wartime saga, "Chickenhawk." We see an Army combat pilot struggling with adaption to mundane civilian life after being released from the Army and loosed on society.

Every former military pilot of whatever service will relate. Well-written throughout; another masterpiece from Mr. Mason.

And, if you were not privileged to fly for your country, you should still read this book. If only to understand the considerable psychological damage pummeled on our valiant flight personnel who were sent into a viscous war that our elected leadership never intended to win.

[David Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Robert Mason’s Chickenhawk Back in the Real World: Life After Vietnam. I can’t say it was an good ad Chickenhawk p, but it clearly illustrates the struggles some vets have in reintegrating back into society after war service, a lesson no less valuable today.

Robert Mason honestly appraises his post war service and reintegration process. He discusses his personal and professionally successes and struggles, as well as the mistakes he made and the cost he paid in going to jail. Not a boo hoo story of how life was unfair but rather an honest assessment of his post Vietnam life.

Robert Mason should be applauded for first writing about his war service and later about his post war life. A shirt, quick and readable worthy read.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Mason has lead an exciting life and this book tackles the story of his life after his time in Viet Nam as a Huey pilot. He is a talented writer and does a very good job of describing his travels, ventures, struggles and victories. His wife stood by him even in all sorts turmoil. I read his first book (Chickenhawk) about 30 years ago. I liked both books. When I finished reading this one I felt like a kid drinking a soda through a straw as they slurp and slurp trying to get the very last drop.

[M SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching up with an old friend

I first read chickens when it came out and I was a student overdosing on Vietnam books.

It was the best and I've recommended it countless times in the subsequent 30+ years

With changing technology it's eAsier to read something on A whim and I found myself back in Vietnam with the Cav.

I'm in my fifties now with many more life experiences and it affected me even more deeply than before.

Once again new techno!ogy intervened and I became aware of the companion book. Well worth a read.

Banco to chickenhawk's papillon

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I meant to read the first book, about his years actually in Vietnam, but my library only had this one. Perhaps the first one is better. This was very superficial feeling. Lots about his life mess ups - marital affairs, drinking, financial problems - with little tie to how any of this was related to PTSD or his war experiences. Hard to relate to. Hard to find empathy for him the way he tells his story. I'm sure readjustment was difficult but he doesn't really address it the internal, just the external.

[Neil Barriskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say

I first read Chickenhawk years ago. I had just finished my time in the army. I identified with Bob; though our military roles, and country of service are very different. Our thoughts on why military services are sent to war however are equally cynical. This book doesn’t just tidy up the lose ends of Chickenhawk. It stands alone as a superb read. The depth of feelings, transparency and naked honesty makes you wince at times, but the pages just keep turning.

[Aj Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about life after the Vietnam war. It was interesting to read about the way a soldier in VIetnam saw the Vietnam war as merely a means of political wrangling by American politicians. I have not been able to find the book Chickenhawk and now I definitely want to find a copy and read it.

[Kai Fredyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked the style of 'Chickenhawk', you must read 'Back in the world' !
Mr Mason doesn't know me at all, but i liked it so much that it feels like you listen to a good friend. I would love to hear/read his story after Back in the world and i hope with all my heart that Mr Mason has found peace in this life.

[Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered Chickenhawk, but got this book instead. It was very interesting. Learned about smuggling, the stupid the U.S. Justice system and some of the problems of Post Traumatic Stress. I hope the VA and the medical system treats the current combat vets much better.

[Dave Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the Chickenhawk, if only because Mason did not have as interesting life experiences. Which is not to say that his post-war life didn't contain a few adventures, but there's a reason why wartime experiences tend to become the dominant experiences in a person's life.

[MR N R MOORE · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sequel to Chickenhawk

Chickenhawk was an outstanding book and this sequel is every bit as good. If you are a veteran of a war or wars, as I am, you'll probably recognise elements of yourself in this book.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as his Vietnam memoir, but not as harrowing and mind bending.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definately not as good as the first. A bit of wollowing in self pity, BUT still a reminder of what happened to those that fought in the "unpopular" war.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post-Vietnam and busted! Check it out.

[Jeremey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Feels like you're right there with the author.

[Keatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing portrait of Mason's life with PTSD. Excellent for anyone who wants insight into the inner war soldiers fight when they return home or who just wants to read a great story.

[Lizistanton]

This was the beginning of a long journey through my war.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book (but not as gripping as the first one)

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brutally honest memoir of a rocky life after Vietnam.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dysfunctional part of the author’s life as he attempts to survive and get his head straight after VietNam.

[Tishly Herrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorites.