Cherubs 2

Josh Haman #1

by Marc Liebman

In combat, there is a fine line between being overly cautious and cowardice. It’s Josh Haman’s first tour in Vietnam and he’s fresh out of the training command - a “nugget” in Naval Aviator parlance. Josh Haman has to figure out on which side of the line the combat search and rescue detachment’s officer-in-charge stands. Untested and without a lot of experience, he has to make a career and life and death decision and live with the consequences.
Josh gets his first taste of the unpredictability of Naval operations when he is picked to be a pioneer in flying helicopters in Navy special operations. He, and Marty Cabot, a Navy SEAL, become pawns in inter-service politics. The two of them are ordered to fly missions that could, if not carried out successfully, have international consequences beyond the war in Vietnam.

533 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2017

About the author

Marc Liebman is an experienced writer as well as a Naval Aviator combat veteran of both Vietnam and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He retired as a Captain after twenty-four years in the Navy and a career that took him all over the world. Marc has worked with the armed forces of Australia, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Republic of Korea, the Philippines and the U.K.

He has just under 6,,000 hours of pilot-in-command/co-pilot flight time in a variety of tactical military, civilian fixed and rotary wing aircraft. In the business world, he has been the CEO of an aerospace and defense manufacturing firm, an associate editor of a national magazine and a copywriter for a advertising agency. Marc lives in North Texas with his wife of 50+ years and Standard Poodle and spends a lot of time visiting his seven grand-children.

Reviews

[Bill "Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 28 year Naval Aircrewman in Helos and some fixed wing I can relate heavily to the Josh Haman series of books by Marc Liebman. At one time or another I have been in similar situations that required some out of the box thinking that the Author describes in this novel. While reading Cherubs 2 I found myself reflecting on the smell of "Helicopter". There is only one and it is a strange mix of Jet Fuel, engine exhaust fumes, hydraulic fluid and sweat. Throw in the scent of fossil fuel stack gas while executing a ship board landing and you have completed the sensory ride I call "Helicopter".
I know the feeling of waiting for the hoist cable with the survivor connected to complete its 100 foot a minute climb so you can retrieve the survivor. Sometimes its an eternity!!!
As a WESTPAC Sailor in 60's, 70's and 80's I was familiar with the exploits of HAL3 and HC7 and some of the gutsy rescues they made and some of the crews that did not make it back.
I have performed SEAL Team delivery via Fast Rope and been in the helo when the Testosterone was flowing and Adrenalin pumping so hard you could think only of the next step in the mission. Throw in the M203 and 60's firing and it can get real exciting real quick. Marc Leibman has incorporated all of these finer points of Helicopter operations (and some surprises) which makes for an excellent and exciting read. FLY NAVY

[Nancy Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my copy free through goodreads. The book arrived during the holidays and was misplaced. I am now kicking myself for waiting to read it!
I was aware of the war in Vietnam...my husband was in the Army at the time...served in Germany. I knew that helicopters were vital to the war, but I really had no clue as to exactly how the men trained (and sweated) to fly those life-saving machines. This book is well worth reading. Marc Liebman brings the principal characters to life quite expertly. I found myself wanting to hug some of the men and also wanting to kick a few!

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in this series and a good one it is. The characters are introduced and filled out and the action realistic and chilling. The writing style is easy to read and it is hard to put down once you start, always a surprise coming.

[Laurent Reinhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by a friend who was an H-2 and H-60 pilot. It has many exciting plot elements beyond just combat rescue, including covert flights into China, the theft of a Soviet missile, spiriting away a Russian defector, etc. Requires suspending disbelief, but no more so than do other military thrillers such as Top Gun Maverick. Liebman spins some great yarns and it would be fun to see a film treatment of this. The book is enhanced by a glossary and appendices, including a history of the US Navy helicopter community, which richly deserves much more recognition that it has gotten.

"No one gave Josh, who was wearing sneakers, shorts and a sweaty t-shirt, a second glance as he followed Van der Jagt down the passageway of green linoleum tiles running down the length of the ship. Joggers were a common sight. Equally common were the skinned kneecaps earned when they tripped over a tie down chain or some other piece of gear on the flight deck and the abrasive non-skid surface ripped off several layers of skin." p187