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Blue Ghost: A helicopter pilot writes home from 1968 Vietnam. "Don't worry about me. Us Gun-Pilots are invincible!"
Tommie Pueschel dreamed of flying ever since he was a little kid. It's now 1968, and U.S. Army Warrant
Officer Thomas R. Pueschel is 22 years old and his dream of flying is being realized.
Only thing is, he is in Vietnam and the helicopter he is flying is loaded with guns and rockets and while
he may be flying, there's people on the ground who are shooting back at him. His dream has now turned
into a full-blown nightmare. The events around him are encapsulating him, forcing him to do things he
would never do, never even think of doing, and he’s got no choice. In a letter home to his parents, he
voices his
“All my life, you and the church have taught me, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and yet, I now find myself on a ship
which is taking me to a place where I will be expected to do just that. It is a battle that has been raging in
me for many months now, and I cannot find what seems to be an answer, and I guess I will not until that
final test comes when I come face to face with my enemy and have to tighten my finger on the trigger
and blast the breath of life in an instant from the body of a fellow man. I know it will be him or me, and I
think that I may be able to do it, but the thought still frightens me terribly. Can I really take the life of a
man, and afterwards, can I really justify that act by attributing it to my own instincts for self-
preservation?”
This is the story of Tom’s 423 days in Vietnam from his first days in country in October 1967 through to his “freedom bird” home on the 5th of December 1968. Vietnam was ugly and brutal and 1968 was the bloodiest and most deadly year of the war. Troop levels were at their highest (536,100 American troops) and the fighting was at its worst. As one of the original “Blue Ghosts”, Tom flew over 900 missions in his 423 days and experienced “enough blood and gore for all.”
Much of Tom's story is told in his own words, through the many letters he wrote home, with his
changing thoughts and insights, and his great attempts to call out for some of the normalcy of the life he
left behind. It is also told through the history of the times, the decisions made by others that he had no
say in but greatly affected him, and how expendable life can be in times of war. This is a unique
portrayal of one soldier's journey through the Vietnam War and his own inner struggle with the
consequence of what he was doing.
Officer Thomas R. Pueschel is 22 years old and his dream of flying is being realized.
Only thing is, he is in Vietnam and the helicopter he is flying is loaded with guns and rockets and while
he may be flying, there's people on the ground who are shooting back at him. His dream has now turned
into a full-blown nightmare. The events around him are encapsulating him, forcing him to do things he
would never do, never even think of doing, and he’s got no choice. In a letter home to his parents, he
voices his
“All my life, you and the church have taught me, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and yet, I now find myself on a ship
which is taking me to a place where I will be expected to do just that. It is a battle that has been raging in
me for many months now, and I cannot find what seems to be an answer, and I guess I will not until that
final test comes when I come face to face with my enemy and have to tighten my finger on the trigger
and blast the breath of life in an instant from the body of a fellow man. I know it will be him or me, and I
think that I may be able to do it, but the thought still frightens me terribly. Can I really take the life of a
man, and afterwards, can I really justify that act by attributing it to my own instincts for self-
preservation?”
This is the story of Tom’s 423 days in Vietnam from his first days in country in October 1967 through to his “freedom bird” home on the 5th of December 1968. Vietnam was ugly and brutal and 1968 was the bloodiest and most deadly year of the war. Troop levels were at their highest (536,100 American troops) and the fighting was at its worst. As one of the original “Blue Ghosts”, Tom flew over 900 missions in his 423 days and experienced “enough blood and gore for all.”
Much of Tom's story is told in his own words, through the many letters he wrote home, with his
changing thoughts and insights, and his great attempts to call out for some of the normalcy of the life he
left behind. It is also told through the history of the times, the decisions made by others that he had no
say in but greatly affected him, and how expendable life can be in times of war. This is a unique
portrayal of one soldier's journey through the Vietnam War and his own inner struggle with the
consequence of what he was doing.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2023
206 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 29, 2023
Well-written
I had heard first hand accounts about Vietnam, but this was quite an intimate look at what went on, given constraints probably placed on what guys could say in their letters. It was well written and was glad Tom made it out alive.
I know Larry from high school and their collaboration was well-done! I am thankful for Tom's service in Vietnam, along with the tens of thousands of others who served there. They had little choice but to go in most cases.
I had heard first hand accounts about Vietnam, but this was quite an intimate look at what went on, given constraints probably placed on what guys could say in their letters. It was well written and was glad Tom made it out alive.
I know Larry from high school and their collaboration was well-done! I am thankful for Tom's service in Vietnam, along with the tens of thousands of others who served there. They had little choice but to go in most cases.
December 27, 2023
Blue ghost
What a great read and wonderful. Brave. Person. I had a few friends killed in the war and also ones coming back were not the same, but our politicians made it thru and many got rich over and over. Soldiers were looked down upon,and the ones in power didn't suffer and nothing has changed 50 years later.
What a great read and wonderful. Brave. Person. I had a few friends killed in the war and also ones coming back were not the same, but our politicians made it thru and many got rich over and over. Soldiers were looked down upon,and the ones in power didn't suffer and nothing has changed 50 years later.
January 17, 2024
Patriot all the way!!!
I loved the book. A true accomplished professional! I was however, very saddened to read at the end, that this soldier/pilot died early in his life. Sad. I highly recommend this book
I loved the book. A true accomplished professional! I was however, very saddened to read at the end, that this soldier/pilot died early in his life. Sad. I highly recommend this book
January 25, 2024
A beautiful remembrance of a warrior.
April 8, 2024
Super
Well done. A good depiction of military life at that time in history. I
Really like reading such accounts.
Nice
Well done. A good depiction of military life at that time in history. I
Really like reading such accounts.
Nice
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews