What do you think?
Rate this book
Firehammer
FIREHAMMER is a novel based on a true story about the final battle of the Vietnam War. Written by Ric Hunter, a fighter pilot who participated in this event, this book educates, entertains and excites the reader. It also honors those who served including the author's high school friend, Tim Davies, USMC -- who died earlier in the war.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2013
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 7, 2016
Phantom pilot drives home a winner!
As a young Marine grunt in Vietnam, we were often locked in close combat with well-equipped and battle-hardened NVA Regulars. There was never a more welcome sight than treetop-level Phantoms swooping from the sky with their 20 mike-mikes grinding and napalm raining fire and brimstone on the enemy. Watching in admiration as they bailed us out of a world of hurt, I often wondered what war would be like in an F-4 as seen through the Phantom driver's bird's-eye view. In Firehammer, Ric Hunter answers that question, and then some.
Firehammer is based on a gripping true story of two dedicated and patriotic young men who follow different paths to serving their country during the war in Vietnam and its bloody aftermath. Tim Scott joins the Marine Corps shortly after he and best friend Randy Houston graduate from high school in Mobile, Alabama. While Tim ships out for the battlefields of Vietnam, Randy heads for college and ROTC to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a fighter pilot. When Tim is killed by a sniper, Randy is more determined than ever to earn his wings and exact revenge for his friend's death.
Randy's goal of becoming a fighter pilot is realized, but time and circumstance have caused him to miss the combat in the skies over Vietnam he so desired. But as fate would have it, when the American container ship SS Mayaguez is seized by Khmer Rouge forces, Captain Randy "Pepper" Houston is on station at Korat Royal Thai AFB in Thailand. Carrying his late friend's lighter (nicknamed "the Firehammer") as a good luck charm, Randy leads a mission--call sign "Firehammer Flight"--to provide support for a battalion of beleaguered U.S. Marines who find themselves engaged in a desperate, bloody battle on Koh Tang Island while trying to rescue the crew of the Mayaguez.
In a thrilling, climatic scene, Randy gets his long-awaited revenge as he and his squadron provide close-air support for the embattled Marines while dishing out a "world of hurt" on the communist forces.
As a former ground-pounder, I was most impressed by the vivid scenes inside the cockpit of an F-4 as seen through the eyes of Captain Randy Houston, the realistic pilot-to-pilot dialogue, and the visual and emotional experience of streaking through the sky with afterburners blazing. Ric Hunter straps you inside the cockpit of those beautiful birds for an experience you won't soon forget. Be prepared for one heck of a ride!
As a young Marine grunt in Vietnam, we were often locked in close combat with well-equipped and battle-hardened NVA Regulars. There was never a more welcome sight than treetop-level Phantoms swooping from the sky with their 20 mike-mikes grinding and napalm raining fire and brimstone on the enemy. Watching in admiration as they bailed us out of a world of hurt, I often wondered what war would be like in an F-4 as seen through the Phantom driver's bird's-eye view. In Firehammer, Ric Hunter answers that question, and then some.
Firehammer is based on a gripping true story of two dedicated and patriotic young men who follow different paths to serving their country during the war in Vietnam and its bloody aftermath. Tim Scott joins the Marine Corps shortly after he and best friend Randy Houston graduate from high school in Mobile, Alabama. While Tim ships out for the battlefields of Vietnam, Randy heads for college and ROTC to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a fighter pilot. When Tim is killed by a sniper, Randy is more determined than ever to earn his wings and exact revenge for his friend's death.
Randy's goal of becoming a fighter pilot is realized, but time and circumstance have caused him to miss the combat in the skies over Vietnam he so desired. But as fate would have it, when the American container ship SS Mayaguez is seized by Khmer Rouge forces, Captain Randy "Pepper" Houston is on station at Korat Royal Thai AFB in Thailand. Carrying his late friend's lighter (nicknamed "the Firehammer") as a good luck charm, Randy leads a mission--call sign "Firehammer Flight"--to provide support for a battalion of beleaguered U.S. Marines who find themselves engaged in a desperate, bloody battle on Koh Tang Island while trying to rescue the crew of the Mayaguez.
In a thrilling, climatic scene, Randy gets his long-awaited revenge as he and his squadron provide close-air support for the embattled Marines while dishing out a "world of hurt" on the communist forces.
As a former ground-pounder, I was most impressed by the vivid scenes inside the cockpit of an F-4 as seen through the eyes of Captain Randy Houston, the realistic pilot-to-pilot dialogue, and the visual and emotional experience of streaking through the sky with afterburners blazing. Ric Hunter straps you inside the cockpit of those beautiful birds for an experience you won't soon forget. Be prepared for one heck of a ride!
December 14, 2019
Action-packed story
This story introduced me to fighter pilots in a way I’d never read before. The writing kept my attention. It also brought back to mind the sadness of the Vietnam conflict. The conflict touched so many lives and that is brought out by the deaths of family members and friends in the story. My father was a surgeon at Cam Ranh Bay earlier in the conflict than this story, but it made me think of all the men that my dad worked on to save their lives or help mend wounds. I recommend the book.
This story introduced me to fighter pilots in a way I’d never read before. The writing kept my attention. It also brought back to mind the sadness of the Vietnam conflict. The conflict touched so many lives and that is brought out by the deaths of family members and friends in the story. My father was a surgeon at Cam Ranh Bay earlier in the conflict than this story, but it made me think of all the men that my dad worked on to save their lives or help mend wounds. I recommend the book.
May 30, 2020
Ric Hunter offers a gripping saga about an F-4 Phantom pilot at the tail-end of the conflict in Vietnam. The detailed descriptions of high-speed flight maneuvers will keep you pushed back into your seat. Highly recommended for those who love aviation, or those who like to read about the Vietnam War.
August 8, 2014
The Zippo Lighter carried by thousands of soldiers in Vietnam; often personalized with name, rank, branch of service and unit insignia, was an iconic memento of a soldiers life and times overseas.
Randy “Pepper” Houston, the Phantom jet pilot in Ric Hunter’s novel, “FIREHAMMER”, carries a Zippo with deep personal meaning. It belonged to his best friend in high school, Tim Davies, a US Marine lost in battle during 1966.
Houston arrives in Bangkok in April of 1975. Vietnam is falling and Houston worries he has arrived to late for revenge on the Communists who killed his buddy.
Hunter’s description of Houston’s in-country training puts the reader in the cockpit of an F-4 pulling 7-G turns, slamming the throttle to afterburner and flying formation at 400 knots, wing tips 3 feet apart.
When the Communist Khmer Rouge seize the Mayaguez, an American flagged container ship in May of 1975, Randy Houston gets his chance for payback.
US Marines have landed on Koh Tang Island to attempt a rescue of the crew being held hostage. The Khmer have them pinned down. The Marines need air support. Houston touches Tim’s lighter, always present in his flight suit, as he rolls in on the enemy. He needs all the help he can get to hit his target without harming friendlies.
As a Vietnam infantry veteran I can recall the sound of an F-4 splitting the air, a continuous thunder, felt as much as it was heard, it’s intimidating presence suddenly shifting the outcome of battle.
I recommend this thrilling seat of the pants read to anyone interested in the Vietnam War and it’s heroic aviators.
Randy “Pepper” Houston, the Phantom jet pilot in Ric Hunter’s novel, “FIREHAMMER”, carries a Zippo with deep personal meaning. It belonged to his best friend in high school, Tim Davies, a US Marine lost in battle during 1966.
Houston arrives in Bangkok in April of 1975. Vietnam is falling and Houston worries he has arrived to late for revenge on the Communists who killed his buddy.
Hunter’s description of Houston’s in-country training puts the reader in the cockpit of an F-4 pulling 7-G turns, slamming the throttle to afterburner and flying formation at 400 knots, wing tips 3 feet apart.
When the Communist Khmer Rouge seize the Mayaguez, an American flagged container ship in May of 1975, Randy Houston gets his chance for payback.
US Marines have landed on Koh Tang Island to attempt a rescue of the crew being held hostage. The Khmer have them pinned down. The Marines need air support. Houston touches Tim’s lighter, always present in his flight suit, as he rolls in on the enemy. He needs all the help he can get to hit his target without harming friendlies.
As a Vietnam infantry veteran I can recall the sound of an F-4 splitting the air, a continuous thunder, felt as much as it was heard, it’s intimidating presence suddenly shifting the outcome of battle.
I recommend this thrilling seat of the pants read to anyone interested in the Vietnam War and it’s heroic aviators.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews