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North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series
Rattler One-Seven: A Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's War Story
Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran.
When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old Army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. He spent his entire Vietnam tour with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company flying UH-1 Huey helicopters. Soon after the war he wrote down his adventures, while his memory was still fresh with the events. Rattler One-Seven (his call sign) is written as Gross experienced it, using these notes along with letters written home to accurately preserve the mindset he had while in Vietnam.
During his tour Gross flew Special Operations for the MACV-SOG, inserting secret teams into Laos. He notes that Americans were left behind alive in Laos, when official policy at home stated that U.S. forces were never there.
He also participated in Lam Son 719, a misbegotten attempt by the ARVN to assault and cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail with U.S. Army helicopter support. It was the largest airmobile campaign of the war and marked the first time that the helicopter was used in mid-intensity combat, with disastrous results. Pilots in their early twenties, with young gunners and a Huey full of ARVN soldiers, took on experienced North Vietnamese antiaircraft artillery gunners, with no meaningful intelligence briefings or a rational plan on how to cut the Trail. More than one hundred helicopters were lost and more than six hundred aircraft sustained combat damage. Gross himself was shot down and left in the field during one assault. Rattler One-Seven will appeal to those interested in the Vietnam War and to all armed forces, especially aviators, who have served for their country.
When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old Army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. He spent his entire Vietnam tour with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company flying UH-1 Huey helicopters. Soon after the war he wrote down his adventures, while his memory was still fresh with the events. Rattler One-Seven (his call sign) is written as Gross experienced it, using these notes along with letters written home to accurately preserve the mindset he had while in Vietnam.
During his tour Gross flew Special Operations for the MACV-SOG, inserting secret teams into Laos. He notes that Americans were left behind alive in Laos, when official policy at home stated that U.S. forces were never there.
He also participated in Lam Son 719, a misbegotten attempt by the ARVN to assault and cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail with U.S. Army helicopter support. It was the largest airmobile campaign of the war and marked the first time that the helicopter was used in mid-intensity combat, with disastrous results. Pilots in their early twenties, with young gunners and a Huey full of ARVN soldiers, took on experienced North Vietnamese antiaircraft artillery gunners, with no meaningful intelligence briefings or a rational plan on how to cut the Trail. More than one hundred helicopters were lost and more than six hundred aircraft sustained combat damage. Gross himself was shot down and left in the field during one assault. Rattler One-Seven will appeal to those interested in the Vietnam War and to all armed forces, especially aviators, who have served for their country.
248 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 6, 2019
As a book by Vietnam helicopter pilot goes this ain't chickenhawk or low level hell or to the limit . Slow read .
August 22, 2024
Gross does not sugar coat his experiences at all. His distaste for a war being fought for war’s sake is evident, yet his love for fellow troops and admiration of the infantry is touchingly patriotic. This is by far one of the most comprehensive and honest war memoirs I’ve had the pleasure of reading! Going forward, I’ve developed a passionate interest in the war and the socio-political and military effects of Vietnam on the US. The combination of Rattler One-Seven, Phase Line Green, and hearing from Vietnam veterans from Lynchburg, VA has inspired me to pursue this further as a research interest! Thank you, WO Gross!!
August 4, 2016
Rattler One-Seven is a highly readable insight into the dangers of flying helicopters in combat while illuminating lesser known events of the Vietnam War. Chuck Gross's memoir is a valuable resource on a few levels. The reader gets an understanding of the different types of flights involved in Vietnam including resupply, combat assault, troop insertion and extraction, prepping landing zones, flare drops, and special assignments. Gross's variety of experiences are interesting and he does a decent job of explaining jargon that is unfamiliar to civilians. I would recommend this book for the historian, veteran, pilot, or those looking for a unique perspective into military service. As a civilian, I found the book to be a worthwhile read.
January 2, 2018
Good man! Good pilot.
Well written account of a "slick" pilot in the Americal in I Corp and the Laos battle in 1971. Schwartzkauf and Powell cleaned up bad attitudes in the Battalions they led in this troubled division, but Rattler 17 was a Warrant Officer. He had too little power to help as many troops as the Battalion Commanders, but flew well and led his crew well and was a good example to others.
Well written account of a "slick" pilot in the Americal in I Corp and the Laos battle in 1971. Schwartzkauf and Powell cleaned up bad attitudes in the Battalions they led in this troubled division, but Rattler 17 was a Warrant Officer. He had too little power to help as many troops as the Battalion Commanders, but flew well and led his crew well and was a good example to others.
May 28, 2022
Great Read!!
This was a great first hand account of flying helicopters in Vietnam!
Highly recommended for flying and Vietnam history students!
This was a great first hand account of flying helicopters in Vietnam!
Highly recommended for flying and Vietnam history students!
January 4, 2023
Rattler One Seven you are going in to one hot LZ! Thank you Chuck Gross for your service and sharing your Vietnam tour!
November 6, 2024
For HIUS
August 27, 2025
Well written. Interesting. Not sure I believe all of the authors accounts but enjoyable book nonetheless
March 9, 2017
Great book !!!!!!!!!!
I was in a artillery battery in the Americal Division at the same time as the author! Rattlers supplied us daily for the 15 months I was there,all kinds of weather and while being shot at!!!!! God bless the slick pilots, also the gunship pilots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was in a artillery battery in the Americal Division at the same time as the author! Rattlers supplied us daily for the 15 months I was there,all kinds of weather and while being shot at!!!!! God bless the slick pilots, also the gunship pilots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1, 2014
A well deserved 5 stars for this book
I think the author did a great job of recalling his experiences especially since so many years passed before writing it.
I think the author did a great job of recalling his experiences especially since so many years passed before writing it.
August 19, 2016
Not bad, but i like ChickenHawk better
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews