Mission M.I.A.

by J.C. Pollock

Jack Callahan, an ex-Green Beret, organizes an unofficial Special Operations force to penetrate the jungles of Vietnam to search for a former comrade-in-arms MIA, who is reported to be incarcerated in a prison camp

Genres: Fiction, Military Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

J.C. Pollock is a mysterious figure who wrote several strong selling adventure/action novels over an eleven-year period (1982-1993) and then abruptly dropped off the radar. He is a topic of speculation on the Internet and many suspect that he was a CIA agent attached to the SOG during the Vietnam War, but this has had not been confirmed or denied. It appears that his life is like the novels he wrote.

Reviews

[Terry Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictional Ramboesque story of freeing captive POWs in Vietnam seven years after the war's end. Upon learning that a fellow Green Beret is still alive in a remote Vietnamese camp, his former commanding officer puts together a small team of his former comrades to go and rescue him. Coincidentally, the POW's father-in-law has a boatload of money to finance this mission. The government won't attempt the rescue due to the typical bureaucratic red tape. Most of the book is about getting the team together, planning and training for the assault. The actual mission is about one third of the book. A pretty good action-adventure with a twist at the end. The author seems knowledgeable about operations of this sort, and when I did some research online some people claim he was a CIA operator during the Vietnam War era. He's written several books in this genre, but his life remains mysterious. An entertaining read.

[Andrew Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it at a garage sale for a quarter, and I have to say it was a well spent quarter. I started this book on Sunday, and I had it read by Monday. I couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed the story of the team reuniting to rescue their captured member.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book so much that I read it a couple times.

[Eric.s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mission M.I.A was a book about how,out of a group of about 4 vietnam soilders one was left behind in veitnam, captured by the oposing force and is being held prisonr. And they are getting together there old special ops-team.
I realy liked this book because it told a great story of how some where left behind and in honor of them. Another reason why I like this book was that I enjoy reading about all the stuggels and trumps that all the soilders have over come to achive there goals.
The type of person that I could see reading this book is , realy any guy that enjoys a good war store with great stuggles and amazing trumphants!

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a group of former soldiers who return to Vietnam to rescue a group of POW's. They must work without the support of their government and against the misgivings of family and friends. Yet for the men in the secret camp hidden in the remote jungle of North Vietnam, this unlikely group is their only chance to end over a decade of torture.
The portraits of the POW's are ravaging. Some have family to return to, but none will come out of the jungle unscathed.
A harrowing book about loyalty, perseverance, and the small gestures and large acts of kindness that make being human just a bit more bearable.

[Tim Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission M.I.A. is the story of the rescue of some U.S. POWs from Vietnam in the 1980s. The story has been done to death by Hollywood, with movies like Rambo First Blood II. But this book is different. It develops the stories of the different American prisoners, and gives a lot of backgroun details about the various former Green Berets who go into Vietnam. It is an oddly moving novel, about honor and duty.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It does have a fair bit of swearing in it if that is something that a person doesn't like. But i had trouble putting it down. Well written.

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always good to go back and even better to go back to 'Nam. MISSION M.I.A. does this well and the only criticism it'll have to face is burying the phrase "Welcome back to 'Nam" deep in the story rather than use it to open Chapter 1. This assemble-a-team-and-head-back-to-Nam-and-rescue-POWs tale is probably the grand daddy of them all as it was published in 1982 and grandiose adventures like UNCOMMON VALOR (1983), MISSING IN ACTION (1984), RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (1985) and LET'S GET HARRY (1986) followed in its footsteps. The second installment of Rambo even went as far as borrowing the character name Murdock and installing it as one of the antagonists in the 1985 film. This, however, is nothing to worry about as MISSION M.I.A. has lots more to offer, including svelte named (DIA) characters like Luger and Thompson.

At the core, MISSION M.I.A. is a heart rending story of patriotism, love, hope and healing a nation still bearing the scars of the Vietnam War. This novel seems to be the (exact) blue print for MISSING IN ACTION (1984) where Chuck Norris assumed the role of six war hardened and battle tested Green Berets all in one - which is an apt metaphor for the world of Chuck. Nonetheless, much of the narrative is spent on assembling the team, reminiscing the days of yore, gearing up and finally taking on the mission that will put the Raid on Son Tay and Bull Simons to shame.

Mainly, these six (former) Green Berets are in for one more mission, leaving a world where indifference and selfish materialism are the norm. They are brimming with determination and personal loyalty and a sense of honor that on page 190 will send chills down your spine when a major announcement is made through a solid commitment.

MISSION M.I.A. is a phenomenal read in the wake of the Vietnam War and perhaps the novel that gave Jack Carr his love for vintage Toyota Land Cruisers & inspiration for the good old Det Cord wrapped around the neck trick. Make it your mission to go along for a thrilling ride and one more trip to the home of lost causes.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I started this book on Sunday, and I had it read by Monday. I couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed the story of the team reuniting to rescue their captured member.

[The Villan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with good technical knowledge used by the author. I bought it at a book sale and it was worth every little penny I paid. Will be definitely reading more of this author’s

[Randy Grossman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the story had some interesting events. When a group plans a rogue mission, things don't always fall into place perfectly! Some of the described events were brutal and some language was colorful. I supposed being imprisoned for 8-10 year AFTER a war was declared OVER could make a guy bitter though!

[Drew]

Mission M.I.A. by J.C. Pollock (1992)

[Mdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author's stories, they are tight, suspensful and action packed. I wonder if he has died though because i haven't seen a new book in years.

[Tim Martin]

re read of a very good book

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as a teenager and couldn't put it down. Its a great novel. Too bad this isn't a true story about rescuing POWS left languishing for decades in Southeast Asia.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah I really just thought this would be a book that I would read to get out of my house, but I guess not! I loved it.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a 7th grader and loved it. Thanks go to the GoodReads group "What's the name of that book???" for helping me remember something I read 30 years ago!