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Wings of War #1
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder is an historical novel about the CRIPPLING role politics played during the Vietnam War. Its characters range from men in the field to the Pentagon and the White House. Fighter pilots and Special Forces warriors try to do their best but are hampered by President Johnson, Secretary of Defense McNamara, and their staff members who despise the military. Only one aging USAF general, who fought in Korea and WWII, is on their side. His clashes with his Commander in Chief, Lyndon Johnson, are epic in proportion and startling in content. In Rolling Thunder, the time is late 1965 and 1966 in war zone places such as Saigon, Hanoi, Bien Hoa, Da Nang, and Tahkli. While back in Washington, LBJ sits over lunch and personally picks bombing targets in an attempt to fight a limited war. In Vietnam the war knows no limits. There, as the hostilities escalate, the fates of three men USAF Captain Court Bannister, overshadowed by a famous movie star father who fought in WWII as a B-17 gunner, driven to confront missiles, MiGs, and nerve-grinding bombing raids in order to prove his worth to his comrades -- and to himself...Air Force First Lieutenant Toby Parker, fresh from the States, who hooks up with an intelligence unit for a lark, and quickly finds his innocence buried away by the lessons of war...and Special Forces Colonel Wolf Lochert, who ventures deep into the jungle to rescue a downed pilot -- only to discover a face of the enemy for which he is unprepared. Four airline stewardesses, who fly the civilian MAC contract flights that bring American soldiers to and from the war zone in Vietnam, have difficult love affairs with G.I.s and fighter pilots. After one flight they come under attack while on an airbase. Young American G.I.s are cursed and taunted as they return to the United States. Through their eyes, and those of many others -- pilots, soldiers, lovers, enemy agents, commanders, politicians, profiteers -- Rolling Thunder shows us Vietnam as few other books have, or can. Berent captures all the intensity and drama of that searing war, and more, penetrates to the heart and soul of those who fought it. Rolling Thunder rings with authenticity.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 1989
422 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Mark Berent
24 books32 followerssource: BN Nook Store
Meet the Author
MARK BERENT
Lt Col Mark E. Berent, USAF (Ret), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Cretin High
School and attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later he graduated from Arizona State University under the Air Force Institute of Technology program with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Lt Col Berent began his Air Force career as an enlisted man, then progressed through the aviation cadet program. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and then Laredo Air Force Base, Texas flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 aircraft and then moved on to F-86s at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He served on active duty for 23 years until retirement in 1974. He began his operational flying career in the F-86 and F-100 flying at various posts throughout the United States and Europe. He later served three combat tours, completing 452 combat sorties, first in the F-100 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, the F-4 at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, and then in Cambodia for two years to fly things with propellers on them and through a fluke in communications timing, to personally run the air war for a few weeks.
He has also served two tours at the United States Space and Missile System Organization (SAMSO) at Los Angeles, California working first in the Satellites Control Facility and later as a staff developmental engineer for the space shuttle. In his expansive career he has seen service as an Air Attaché to the United States Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and also as Chief of Test Control Branch at the Air Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He also served as an instructor at the Air Force's Squadron Officer School.
During his flying career he has logged over 4300 hours of flying time, 1084 of those in combat missions in the F-100, F-4, C-47 and U-10 over North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has flown 30 different aircraft.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with twenty four oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Cambodian Divisional Medal, and numerous Vietnam Campaign ribbons. He completed jump school with the Special Forces. Later, he jumped with and was awarded Cambodian paratrooper wings. He also flew with and received Cambodian pilot wings.
After leaving the Air Force he lived in Europe to establish and direct international operations for the sale of spares for combat aircraft. He has flown many foreign aircraft such as the Swedish Viggen and Royal Air Force Jaguar and Hawk. He also established Berent and Woods Inc, a firm that managed many aviation related activities.
Over the years he had published numerous articles for such publications as Air Force Magazine and the Washington Times and for 18 years wrote a monthly pilot/reporter column for the Asian Defense Journal. Under the name Berent Sandberg he and Peter Sandberg collaborated on three novels. He now has five Vietnam air war flying novels in print, Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, Phantom Leader, Eagle Station, and Storm Flight.
Berent states it is never too late for any endeavor: he published the first of his five books at age 58, ran his first Marathon at 59, bought a T-6 warbird and flew in airshows at 64, and rode in his first cattle roundup in Montana at 74.
Meet the Author
MARK BERENT
Lt Col Mark E. Berent, USAF (Ret), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Cretin High
School and attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later he graduated from Arizona State University under the Air Force Institute of Technology program with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Lt Col Berent began his Air Force career as an enlisted man, then progressed through the aviation cadet program. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and then Laredo Air Force Base, Texas flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 aircraft and then moved on to F-86s at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He served on active duty for 23 years until retirement in 1974. He began his operational flying career in the F-86 and F-100 flying at various posts throughout the United States and Europe. He later served three combat tours, completing 452 combat sorties, first in the F-100 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, the F-4 at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, and then in Cambodia for two years to fly things with propellers on them and through a fluke in communications timing, to personally run the air war for a few weeks.
He has also served two tours at the United States Space and Missile System Organization (SAMSO) at Los Angeles, California working first in the Satellites Control Facility and later as a staff developmental engineer for the space shuttle. In his expansive career he has seen service as an Air Attaché to the United States Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and also as Chief of Test Control Branch at the Air Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He also served as an instructor at the Air Force's Squadron Officer School.
During his flying career he has logged over 4300 hours of flying time, 1084 of those in combat missions in the F-100, F-4, C-47 and U-10 over North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has flown 30 different aircraft.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with twenty four oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Cambodian Divisional Medal, and numerous Vietnam Campaign ribbons. He completed jump school with the Special Forces. Later, he jumped with and was awarded Cambodian paratrooper wings. He also flew with and received Cambodian pilot wings.
After leaving the Air Force he lived in Europe to establish and direct international operations for the sale of spares for combat aircraft. He has flown many foreign aircraft such as the Swedish Viggen and Royal Air Force Jaguar and Hawk. He also established Berent and Woods Inc, a firm that managed many aviation related activities.
Over the years he had published numerous articles for such publications as Air Force Magazine and the Washington Times and for 18 years wrote a monthly pilot/reporter column for the Asian Defense Journal. Under the name Berent Sandberg he and Peter Sandberg collaborated on three novels. He now has five Vietnam air war flying novels in print, Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, Phantom Leader, Eagle Station, and Storm Flight.
Berent states it is never too late for any endeavor: he published the first of his five books at age 58, ran his first Marathon at 59, bought a T-6 warbird and flew in airshows at 64, and rode in his first cattle roundup in Montana at 74.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 28, 2024
Accurate history, entertaining fiction
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: ROLLING THUNDER: An Historical Novel of War and Politics (Wings of War Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Factual fiction or fictionalized fact? Either way this is entertaining history. If you want to know about Vietnam without reading histories or memoirs, this will do it. Well written and paced with fine character development by a man who was there. This novel contains stories of both air and Special Forces operations.
I have read several books by Mark Berent, an outstanding author. All were very good. The remainder of the Wings of War series is excellent. Some of the best aviation novels I have ever read.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: ROLLING THUNDER: An Historical Novel of War and Politics (Wings of War Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Factual fiction or fictionalized fact? Either way this is entertaining history. If you want to know about Vietnam without reading histories or memoirs, this will do it. Well written and paced with fine character development by a man who was there. This novel contains stories of both air and Special Forces operations.
I have read several books by Mark Berent, an outstanding author. All were very good. The remainder of the Wings of War series is excellent. Some of the best aviation novels I have ever read.
September 10, 2020
“Precisely how a crashing jet fighter breaks up is a function of its speed, of its angle of impact, and of the topography of the ground it strikes.”
The opening work in a five-volume fictional Vietnam War series. Berent was there; it shows. He manages to capture the insanity and the pathos of the war most Americans would like to forget, especially those who served in it.
"I've got to tell Ho Chi Minh that unless he stops his aggression in South Veet-nam, that I'm going to hammer hell out of him; and at the same time I've got to tell, to convince the American people, that I am not going to escalate this Veet-nam war."
Berent captures the attitudes, vocabulary, antics and pain of the men (mostly) who fought this pointless ruin in Southeast Asia. He also reveals the lack of understanding and empathy of American leaders up to Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara, who bear much of the blame for getting us in so deeply with no clue what they were doing or how we were to extricate ourselves.
“From half a world away these men, politicians for the most part, would decide which targets would be struck and with what ordnance.”
Heroes and opportunists share the pages with hapless Gilligans who had no clue what was going on. Truth was the first casualty each day. Every day. For politicians—in suits, uniforms, and with press passes—what went on was merely something to be manipulated for ones own advantage and point of view.
“Most youngsters his age were letting their hair grow while investigating the wonderful mind expanding properties of cannabis under the tutelage of Harvard Professor Timothy Leary. Exactly as his own son was doing, Norman reflected sadly.”
Early in my reading I kept thinking Berent was relating needless details, then I realized: most Americans have no clue what went on in SEA in the 60s and 70s. My generation went—willing and unwilling—bled, died, grew up, dropped out, and were scarred for life. The folks in Washington never understood nor apparently the Saigon Commandos.
"So what's a nice Jewish boy like me doing here anyhow killing Buddhists to make the world safe for Christianity?" "Now that's profound, [redacted], really profound. The only problem is, it's what you always say after you've had two beers."
Many of my generation served; many never came back or returned physically and mentally scarred. Yet, having vowed we would never get into another land way in Asia, here we are: same song; new verse. (Yes, we were treated that poorly on our return landing in California. We were warned not to wear uniforms in public.)
"Does anybody know or care how many Air Force people we've lost in this screwed up war?”
The opening work in a five-volume fictional Vietnam War series. Berent was there; it shows. He manages to capture the insanity and the pathos of the war most Americans would like to forget, especially those who served in it.
"I've got to tell Ho Chi Minh that unless he stops his aggression in South Veet-nam, that I'm going to hammer hell out of him; and at the same time I've got to tell, to convince the American people, that I am not going to escalate this Veet-nam war."
Berent captures the attitudes, vocabulary, antics and pain of the men (mostly) who fought this pointless ruin in Southeast Asia. He also reveals the lack of understanding and empathy of American leaders up to Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara, who bear much of the blame for getting us in so deeply with no clue what they were doing or how we were to extricate ourselves.
“From half a world away these men, politicians for the most part, would decide which targets would be struck and with what ordnance.”
Heroes and opportunists share the pages with hapless Gilligans who had no clue what was going on. Truth was the first casualty each day. Every day. For politicians—in suits, uniforms, and with press passes—what went on was merely something to be manipulated for ones own advantage and point of view.
“Most youngsters his age were letting their hair grow while investigating the wonderful mind expanding properties of cannabis under the tutelage of Harvard Professor Timothy Leary. Exactly as his own son was doing, Norman reflected sadly.”
Early in my reading I kept thinking Berent was relating needless details, then I realized: most Americans have no clue what went on in SEA in the 60s and 70s. My generation went—willing and unwilling—bled, died, grew up, dropped out, and were scarred for life. The folks in Washington never understood nor apparently the Saigon Commandos.
"So what's a nice Jewish boy like me doing here anyhow killing Buddhists to make the world safe for Christianity?" "Now that's profound, [redacted], really profound. The only problem is, it's what you always say after you've had two beers."
Many of my generation served; many never came back or returned physically and mentally scarred. Yet, having vowed we would never get into another land way in Asia, here we are: same song; new verse. (Yes, we were treated that poorly on our return landing in California. We were warned not to wear uniforms in public.)
"Does anybody know or care how many Air Force people we've lost in this screwed up war?”
March 16, 2014
More descriptive and authentice than most non fiction war books. It's clear that this guy has walked the walk, even though this book is fiction. Some readers might be turned off by all the flying jargon, for me, it put me in the cockpit. On the level of the WEB Griffith stuff.
July 12, 2015
Too much jargon, too many acronyms and too much bad grammar. It may have been a good story, but I gave up.
January 28, 2018
Started out with a bang but slowly became monotonous and unfortunately boring. I want to thank Mr. Berent for his service and sacrifice in Vietnam. He is a highly decorated pilot and served his country with distinction.
I appreciate the jabs, and rightfully so, at McNamara and Johnson. I know many will say Eisenhower and Kennedy got us into the conflict, but it was Johnson and his administration that botched the entire affair.
The story centers around Court Bannister, son of the famous Hollywood Star Sam Bannister. Instead of falling into the privilege of his father, he strikes out to set his own course under his own rules. And he succeeds in spades. He becomes the pilot you want on your wing or leading you in battle. When is heritage is brought up, he shies away but letting people know he can’t help who is father is, but isn’t going to use that status to advance his career or obtain cushy jobs. NO! He is a fighter pilot who instead of taking the easy road out and staying the states, goes to SEA and joins his brothers in arms. I wonder if the author had the same battle?
The first half of the story is exciting and well delivered. You get a real feel of what these men, in the air and on the ground, are dealing with. You understand how they aren’t there to questions orders, but to follow them and make sure everyone comes back alive. You get to see the behind the scenes politicking of officers and the Johnson Administration. At times, it will boil your blood at the hypocrisy going on and affecting the fighting effectiveness of our men. The questions that starts circulating for the circles is, “What are they dying for?” No one has answer.
The second half of the story started dragging. Too many sub stories and intricate details on flying. I hate to say it came across as filler, but it did.
Who will like this? Those who wish to know more about Vietnam and the operations of the United States Airforce and the weapons used during the war. Those who served and want to remember those who didn’t come back and those who did.
I’ll have to think about continuing the series.
Three Stars
I appreciate the jabs, and rightfully so, at McNamara and Johnson. I know many will say Eisenhower and Kennedy got us into the conflict, but it was Johnson and his administration that botched the entire affair.
The story centers around Court Bannister, son of the famous Hollywood Star Sam Bannister. Instead of falling into the privilege of his father, he strikes out to set his own course under his own rules. And he succeeds in spades. He becomes the pilot you want on your wing or leading you in battle. When is heritage is brought up, he shies away but letting people know he can’t help who is father is, but isn’t going to use that status to advance his career or obtain cushy jobs. NO! He is a fighter pilot who instead of taking the easy road out and staying the states, goes to SEA and joins his brothers in arms. I wonder if the author had the same battle?
The first half of the story is exciting and well delivered. You get a real feel of what these men, in the air and on the ground, are dealing with. You understand how they aren’t there to questions orders, but to follow them and make sure everyone comes back alive. You get to see the behind the scenes politicking of officers and the Johnson Administration. At times, it will boil your blood at the hypocrisy going on and affecting the fighting effectiveness of our men. The questions that starts circulating for the circles is, “What are they dying for?” No one has answer.
The second half of the story started dragging. Too many sub stories and intricate details on flying. I hate to say it came across as filler, but it did.
Who will like this? Those who wish to know more about Vietnam and the operations of the United States Airforce and the weapons used during the war. Those who served and want to remember those who didn’t come back and those who did.
I’ll have to think about continuing the series.
Three Stars
April 1, 2021
Disheartening
The story is about fighting in Viet Nam and all of the challenges facing the fighter pilots.
Not only were they dealing with life and death most days they had politics standing in the way so the battles were lost before they began.
There is a lot of information about the jets they flew.
Overall this book was well written and that's why I posted that the story is disheartening for me to read. It brought me back to a time in our history that some wish to ignore.
I'll read more of his books though because he gives a lot of history, feelings and emotions in these books.
The story is about fighting in Viet Nam and all of the challenges facing the fighter pilots.
Not only were they dealing with life and death most days they had politics standing in the way so the battles were lost before they began.
There is a lot of information about the jets they flew.
Overall this book was well written and that's why I posted that the story is disheartening for me to read. It brought me back to a time in our history that some wish to ignore.
I'll read more of his books though because he gives a lot of history, feelings and emotions in these books.
July 21, 2016
I am giving this book five stars, but I understand some of the lower-level reviews. The very things that I appreciated might not be what others want. I am a Marine with extensive experience with the Navy, of course, and the Army. I don't have as much experience with the Air Force, and my wars were in the Middle East. So the details given in this book were something I really appreciated. I read much of the book while on a stationary bike at Nellis, so it was an added bonus to be able to walk out of the gym and look at the airframes highlighted in the book. I was familiar with the F4 as this was also a Marine bird, but the F105 and F100 were both new to me. One thing I really liked was discovering how many traditions and phrases were essentially the same between the Air Force and Marine Corps.
The story itself was well-enough written. I had a few issues, such as Parker's fall into the depths, and his love-interest's fate was a little too pat, but overall, I liked the characterizations and the basic storyline. The action on the ground seemed reasonable, and I would have to surmise that the action in the air was realistic.
I was amazed to learn that bombing targets in Vietnam had to be approved by the president himself. What a way to fight a war!
For me, this was a great book, not only pulling me along with the storyline, but giving me a great foundation in understanding the Air Force in Vietnam.
The story itself was well-enough written. I had a few issues, such as Parker's fall into the depths, and his love-interest's fate was a little too pat, but overall, I liked the characterizations and the basic storyline. The action on the ground seemed reasonable, and I would have to surmise that the action in the air was realistic.
I was amazed to learn that bombing targets in Vietnam had to be approved by the president himself. What a way to fight a war!
For me, this was a great book, not only pulling me along with the storyline, but giving me a great foundation in understanding the Air Force in Vietnam.
September 9, 2012
The first of five books about the war in Vietnam, written by a fighter pilot who was there.
This book sets up the main characters, Court Bannister, fighter pilot, Wolf Lochert, a Special Forces major, and Toby Parker a FAC, Forward Air Controller. It also incorporates many of the political arguments of the time and the reasons, real or fiction, why LBJ would not allow the military to prosecute the war in a manner that would lead to victory or at least concessions from the North Vietnamese.
A very good read, combining fact, fiction, and history (actual and fictionalized).
This book sets up the main characters, Court Bannister, fighter pilot, Wolf Lochert, a Special Forces major, and Toby Parker a FAC, Forward Air Controller. It also incorporates many of the political arguments of the time and the reasons, real or fiction, why LBJ would not allow the military to prosecute the war in a manner that would lead to victory or at least concessions from the North Vietnamese.
A very good read, combining fact, fiction, and history (actual and fictionalized).
October 6, 2015
I've read a number of Vietnam War books and this one had too much receptive jargon for me and not enough action. I felt the jargon did not help the story and did not make it any more authentic (it is a work of fiction) for me. That said it is well written and captures many of the nuances of the age well: the cynical journalist, the boredom between bouts of action, and the bootlegging going on between servicemen and locals. Not a bad read overall.
February 2, 2021
Got this free on Kindle so can't really complain, but the story just didn't emerge. Manager the first quarter of the book and the only two pieces of action were the almost crash landing at the start and the church bomb. Was expecting more from an 'Historical novel of War and Politics' definitely won't be getting any more of the series.
August 19, 2014
A good read
A good read
A well written account of how not to run a military campaign. This should be mandatory reading for every president of the United States. As a veteran that served in the Air Force in the early 60s, I enjoyed this book.
A good read
A well written account of how not to run a military campaign. This should be mandatory reading for every president of the United States. As a veteran that served in the Air Force in the early 60s, I enjoyed this book.
November 18, 2015
Way too much jargon, and I was an aircrewman in both fixed-winged and rotary-winged aircraft from 1962-1965. Some jargon adds authenticity to a book covering this type subject matter but Berendt went way too far with it. I felt like I was at times reading air ops reports...wait...I was.
July 11, 2017
This book opens as one of the main characters is flying back to base after participating in an airstrike over Vietnam in which he witnesses the fiery crash of a colleague. The pacing and suspense don't lessen much over the remaining chapters.
The story follows a group of men as they progress through the Air Force involvement over Southeast Asia during the late 1960s. Whether they joined as a lark, or because they were young and idealistic, or because they wanted to live up to (or surpass?) the almost-mythical public image of a famous father as a war hero, the characters are compelling and the story gripping. I finished the book with a deeper respect for the men and women who choose to strap themselves into flying machines and go to war. Despite advances in technology, armaments, and navigational equipment, this is not a risk-free endeavor, especially when other people are shooting at said machines.
I eagerly began the second book in the series and look forward to seeing how the author sustains these characters and the story line over five books.
The story follows a group of men as they progress through the Air Force involvement over Southeast Asia during the late 1960s. Whether they joined as a lark, or because they were young and idealistic, or because they wanted to live up to (or surpass?) the almost-mythical public image of a famous father as a war hero, the characters are compelling and the story gripping. I finished the book with a deeper respect for the men and women who choose to strap themselves into flying machines and go to war. Despite advances in technology, armaments, and navigational equipment, this is not a risk-free endeavor, especially when other people are shooting at said machines.
I eagerly began the second book in the series and look forward to seeing how the author sustains these characters and the story line over five books.
June 5, 2017
the truth of viet nam
this book is riveting , truthful, and agrivating in the way lbj handled the war. he did not . to win. it was like he gave to oklahoma, the university of texas play book, except this was worse. I was not interesred during the war because of the press coverage, so I learned quite a lot about polotics as usual...this is book one of five and I plan to read them all. I have to in order to discover if emd learns of his nemesis wolf and towbee and lizard are unanswered questions. lets go mark.. mp
this book is riveting , truthful, and agrivating in the way lbj handled the war. he did not . to win. it was like he gave to oklahoma, the university of texas play book, except this was worse. I was not interesred during the war because of the press coverage, so I learned quite a lot about polotics as usual...this is book one of five and I plan to read them all. I have to in order to discover if emd learns of his nemesis wolf and towbee and lizard are unanswered questions. lets go mark.. mp
June 5, 2022
Eye Opening
As a Veteran and daughter of a Vietnam Veteran this book shocked me. I've heard stories of Vietnam but never really thought about what happened there. I was recently given the honor of saluting Vietnam Veterans at an event honoring and welcoming them home. I wish I had read this first. It aches my heart what they went through both at war and when they got home. This book should make it evident the true heroes they are and the horrors they have faced all these years.
As a Veteran and daughter of a Vietnam Veteran this book shocked me. I've heard stories of Vietnam but never really thought about what happened there. I was recently given the honor of saluting Vietnam Veterans at an event honoring and welcoming them home. I wish I had read this first. It aches my heart what they went through both at war and when they got home. This book should make it evident the true heroes they are and the horrors they have faced all these years.
April 16, 2019
Great story, strong characters
There are probably some people in this present generation who are not aware what is being said when Vietnam is said to be a war that politics would not let the military win. This book spells this out from every angle. Good guys, enemy, newsies, and incidental characters are presented to emphasize this point. I feel that all of the characters did their best within the things they believed. I found nothing that I didn't like.
There are probably some people in this present generation who are not aware what is being said when Vietnam is said to be a war that politics would not let the military win. This book spells this out from every angle. Good guys, enemy, newsies, and incidental characters are presented to emphasize this point. I feel that all of the characters did their best within the things they believed. I found nothing that I didn't like.
September 2, 2017
Good history of the pilot activities in the Viet Nam war
Well done story of a most difficult time for so many. My heart goes out to the many who suffered such great loss in this war. Thank you for recording the background to some of the poor decision-making of that time by our government leaders.
Well done story of a most difficult time for so many. My heart goes out to the many who suffered such great loss in this war. Thank you for recording the background to some of the poor decision-making of that time by our government leaders.
December 5, 2019
Entertaining Read
I had the privilege to serve with a good number of Vietnam veterans at the beginning of my military career. The stories and frustrations they conveyed felt honestly conveyed and mirrored in this entertaining novel. A worthy read and one that feels historically on point.
I had the privilege to serve with a good number of Vietnam veterans at the beginning of my military career. The stories and frustrations they conveyed felt honestly conveyed and mirrored in this entertaining novel. A worthy read and one that feels historically on point.
October 28, 2021
A really good V N war story.
I loved reading it all the way through, but there are many sub stories that never get to an end.. Maybe the loose ends are addressed in the following books, which I do plan on reading. Very entertaining and enlightening if the D.C. politics is accurate.
I loved reading it all the way through, but there are many sub stories that never get to an end.. Maybe the loose ends are addressed in the following books, which I do plan on reading. Very entertaining and enlightening if the D.C. politics is accurate.
November 2, 2016
Though I don't know a lot about the Vietnam War (advising mission?), I get a good feel for the frustration our military suffered from reading this book. The writing is very good and the flight "scenes" are well described. Looking forward to reading the next in the series, "Steel Tiger".
June 29, 2017
Exciting and educational
I lived thru Vietnam, but never understood much about it until now. I couldn't put it down. Lots of front line action and behind he lines drama. A read for beryone.
I lived thru Vietnam, but never understood much about it until now. I couldn't put it down. Lots of front line action and behind he lines drama. A read for beryone.
January 2, 2018
Well done and sadly accurate telling of the lives our military led in Vietnam. The ending was all to real and honest. There are four more books in this series. I look forward to reading them with a bit of trepidation.
July 5, 2018
What a great read. Mark made this story real to me. I didn't understand the extent to which the war was mismanaged by LBJ and the
Cronies around him. The story, the characters, and the writing style has me turning pages not wanting to stop. Book 2 tomorrow.
Cronies around him. The story, the characters, and the writing style has me turning pages not wanting to stop. Book 2 tomorrow.
October 19, 2018
Authentic
The characters are believable. The action is continuous and gripping. My own memories flooded back with the author’s descriptions. I felt as if I had revisited that war zone, but this time at peace as an observer, a cathartic experience.
The characters are believable. The action is continuous and gripping. My own memories flooded back with the author’s descriptions. I felt as if I had revisited that war zone, but this time at peace as an observer, a cathartic experience.
December 23, 2020
The Vietnam series:
I enjoyed this book as it told a story of what happened in the air conflict in Vietnam. It was a page turner for sure. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I enjoyed this book as it told a story of what happened in the air conflict in Vietnam. It was a page turner for sure. I look forward to reading more in this series.
April 4, 2024
Good book
Good story about the pilots of Vietnam. What a crazy and challenging war that was. Interesting insights into the life of pilots in that era and the challenges they faced during combat and when coming home.
Good story about the pilots of Vietnam. What a crazy and challenging war that was. Interesting insights into the life of pilots in that era and the challenges they faced during combat and when coming home.
July 28, 2025
Have loved this series since it was first published!
Great characters, story lines,and telling. Buy the series read all five books. And somebody wake up the audible book people and finally get them to record them please.
Great characters, story lines,and telling. Buy the series read all five books. And somebody wake up the audible book people and finally get them to record them please.
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December 20, 2025Exploseive
When reading this book I felt I was there in the airplane or on the ground with the troops. This book should be read by everyone who thinks war is fun & no one gets hurt.
When reading this book I felt I was there in the airplane or on the ground with the troops. This book should be read by everyone who thinks war is fun & no one gets hurt.
June 7, 2017
Pretty good read so far about Vietnam. A little too technical for me.
August 6, 2017
Very intriguing book
I would recommend this book to anyone. The author did Ana amazing job in writing this book. Thank you very much
I would recommend this book to anyone. The author did Ana amazing job in writing this book. Thank you very much
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