Undaunted Valor: Lam Son 719

Undaunted Valor #3

by Matt Jackson

“Get your affairs in order because we are about to go to war…“We all go into Laos together and we all come out of Laos together”“ I am on Fire and going down…tell my family I loved them…”(The above are actual quotes from pilots in the battle.)Undaunted Valor, Lam Son 719 is a novel based on an accurate account of the bravery and dedication of helicopter crews, consisting of mostly teen agers and young officers flying under the most intense combat conditions since WWII. US Army and Marine Corps helicopters flew South Vietnamese ground forces fifty miles into Laos to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail in hopes of providing time for the South Vietnamese to take over the fight and allow American forces to come home. Fly with the men of the 223rd and 14th Combat Aviation Battaions and 101st Aviation Group as they press the attack at the cost of aircraft being blown out of the sky. Although Lam Son 719 was a military failure for its intended purpose, it was a victory for Army aviation and the employment of helicopters on the battlefield into the 21st Century. The lessons learned from this one action, set the stage for the development of todays Army Aviation. Follow Lieutenant Dan Cory as he recounts some of the most intense helicopter and ground combat of the Vietnam war from the eyes of the man who spent two combat tours there. The accounts reveal the dedication helicopter crews had for each other and their desire for mission accomplishment. Awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals for Valor, Colonel Jacksons’ hair-raising accounts of what it was like to fly in this environment will make you feel as if you are right there with him.Get your copy of this true-life event of American heroes that have been overlooked too long.

Genres: History, War, Military Fiction

476 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2020

About the author

Born into a Navy Submarine Family, he traveled the world as a child. Enlisted in the Army in 1968 after two worthless years of college and became an Army helicopter pilot serving for 18 months in Vietnam. Was promoted to a commissioned officer while serving in Vietnam and stayed on active duty until 1993. In that time he commanded rifle companies at Fort Lewis Washington and Anchorage Alaska where he commanded an airborne company. Highlight of his career was commanding an air assault infantry battalion during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. The Army sent him back to college to finish his bachelors degree and later working on my own, two master degrees. Once he retired he went into private business and finally retired in 2015. He has two sons, both Army officers who rose up through the ranks like their grandfather and father.

Reviews

[Raymond Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulous detail

The author was very obviously writing from first hand experience. Some parts were a little heavy going for this inexperienced reader. However, the story is well written and deserves a five star review.

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found UNDAUNTED VALOR: LAM SON 719 by Matt Jackson was captivating from the beginning until the end. I was in the 101st Airborne as a grunt during the 45-day campaign in 1971 and remember that our unit was primarily used in firebase defense as helicopters were scarce at the time as most in-country were used for this foray into Laos.

The story was told from the viewpoint of Lt. Cory of the 1st Cav. from An Khe. His crew and two others from the unit were sent north with their ships to support the South Vietnamese attempt to sever the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. Each mission was dangerous and nerve-wreaking, ships sustained damage and/or crashed daily while having to land or pick up soldiers through a non-stop hail of gunfire. I did find the daily briefings redundant, and after the 3rd briefing, I began to skim over them.

In the story, Lt. Cory shared his experiences during the flights he participated in. However, the story on the ground was never told. Readers learned of troop evacuations necessary because firebases were on the verge of being overrun, Yet nothing was told about the ground battle or if there were survivors. As a result, the story seemed one-sided.

I heard how the invasion to sever the Ho Chi Minh Trail failed in Laos, and now I understand why that happened. It's unfortunate that so many aircraft, pilots and helicopter crews lost their lives or were wounded during the operation which South Vietnamese soldiers primarily fought on the ground.

All-in-all, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in this particular operation or in understanding the role of helicopter pilots during the Vietnam War.

[William Blume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Correct

I was an Army Warrant Officer helicopter plot in Vietnam in 1968 and I can vouch for the absolute accuracy of this book, both technically and philosophically. The author has done an excellent job of recreating the texture and spirit of an experience most people can not began to imagine.
As stated, the warrant officer pilots were typically very young, and I think it is fair to say that the experience of Vietnam shaped us favorably for the rest of our lives.

[George W. Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabs your attention

I felt like I was riding along with those crews. I do think that sometimes the author went too far with some of the tiny minutia when describing the operations. Since he was there, I guess he felt it needed all the information to tell the story. I highly recommend this book.

[James BELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of the series

This book puts you there so that you actually get a feel for what it was like. At least that's what it did for me. I was in south Vietnam at the time this took place but I was down in the delta assigned to the 191 AHC, 1st Aviation Brigade. If you are interested in this time and battle, this book is one of the best.

[Jewell Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Excellent read, especially if you are interested in the Viet Nam war. You will stay captivated. Be sure to read to the last page in the book, The notes contain a lot of clarificatio
n.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Books

Some of the best Vietnam war books I have ever read and I’ve read a lot. Thanks to all Vietnam vets for their service to our country. Unfortunately our politicians fail to learn from history so we are doomed to repeat it.

[John Fagner, 1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

why write this book?

Can’t a reason for this book. Too much explaining and planning, not enough action. It seemed as though he just wanted to fill up pages. Shouldn’t have ended story in volume 2.

[Stephanie Cohu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Jackson does it again!

The book started slowly which his books usually does. However, it leaves a good sense of accomplishment the helicopter’s pilots and flight crews had done in the Vietnam War.

[Michael W. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

There is nothing to dislike, the book is about our pilots who risked everything to do a job that they were called to do. I wish there were more to read. Thank you Mr. Jackson for a great book.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. I am a lover of military aviation books and this is one of the most incredible accounts I've ever read. I've never said "I cannot freaking believe it." more times while reading a book in my life!

[John Chancellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been there, done that.

Flew Hooks there with the 132nd ASHC.

Good read about a Slick Drivers perspective

Not pretty for any of us that crossed the border

[Wesley Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Another fantastic book with details aplenty. Good work. Definitely recommended if you’re into reading about the Vietnam era. All three books are great!

[Michael Dwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Didn’t know how much these pilots gave at such young age and how many were killed really brave soldiers my hat is off to them

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Logistics were not enough.

[John Burlew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the series. Excellent book. I had no idea that more bombs were dropped in the US conflict in Vietnam than WW2. Over 4 million more actually.

[Lawrence Puckett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

Not as good as the first two books in the series, but still a good read. I would recommend this book.

[Ryane Peeples · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series!

Excellent books. Definitely plan to read them all. Entertaining and informative. I love helicopters and veterans and this book is the perfect combination.

[Kristie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent', OUTSTANDING as my father would say!

This book gave me so much insight as to what my father went through in Vietnam. My father was never the same father I knew prior to his going to Vietnam in 1967 and served two tours. I would hear him wake up from having nightmares many times screaming. I also saw the aftermath of younger soldiers who served in Vietnam and were sent to Germany after their tours. My father being a "Lifer" was stationed in Germany after a year back in the states, I worked at a military dispensary and had witnessed several tried to commit suicide. One in particular will always stay with me as he was a medic in Vietnam then sent to Germany.I worked with him, he was young, great at his job but then one day he decided enough and jumped from a 5 story building, he would say sometimes to me why did I make it ? It was a question he never answered.