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Fly Safe: Letters from the Gulf War and Reflections From Back Home
It is August 1990, and Iraq has just invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain reaction of events leading up to the first Gulf War. Vicki Cody’s husband, the commander of an elite Apache helicopter battalion, is deployed to Saudi Arabia—and for the next nine months they have to rely on written letters in order to stay connected.
From Vicki’s narrative and journal entries, the reader gets a very realistic glimpse of what it is like for the spouses and families back home during a war, in particular what it was like at a time when most people did not own a personal computer and there was no Internet—no iPhones, no texting, no tweeting, no Facetime. Her writing also illuminates the roller coaster of stress, loneliness, sleepless nights, humor, joys, and, eventually, resilience, that make up her life while her husband is away. Meanwhile, Dick’s letters to her give the reader a front row seat to the unfolding of history, the adrenaline rush of flying helicopters in combat, his commitment to his country, and his devotion to his family back home. Together, these three components weave a clear, insightful, and intimate story of love and its power to sustain us.
From Vicki’s narrative and journal entries, the reader gets a very realistic glimpse of what it is like for the spouses and families back home during a war, in particular what it was like at a time when most people did not own a personal computer and there was no Internet—no iPhones, no texting, no tweeting, no Facetime. Her writing also illuminates the roller coaster of stress, loneliness, sleepless nights, humor, joys, and, eventually, resilience, that make up her life while her husband is away. Meanwhile, Dick’s letters to her give the reader a front row seat to the unfolding of history, the adrenaline rush of flying helicopters in combat, his commitment to his country, and his devotion to his family back home. Together, these three components weave a clear, insightful, and intimate story of love and its power to sustain us.
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2021
4 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 8, 2021
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This is such a moving story of an army wife and her life being one. Between having a husband who serves and then having children who also serve to then figuring out civilian life and how to be “a normal family.” These letters are absolutely touching and it pulls at your heart strings more than once. I always tell people “drive safe” or “fly safe” and now I’ll always think of this book when j say fly safe. The anxiety and worry that Vicki went through makes her so unbelievably strong—all armed forces spouses (and of course everyone in the armed forces) are so strong and I commend and thank you all for doing a job I could never do.
Many thanks to BookSparks for my free copy to review! #summerpopup
This is such a moving story of an army wife and her life being one. Between having a husband who serves and then having children who also serve to then figuring out civilian life and how to be “a normal family.” These letters are absolutely touching and it pulls at your heart strings more than once. I always tell people “drive safe” or “fly safe” and now I’ll always think of this book when j say fly safe. The anxiety and worry that Vicki went through makes her so unbelievably strong—all armed forces spouses (and of course everyone in the armed forces) are so strong and I commend and thank you all for doing a job I could never do.
Many thanks to BookSparks for my free copy to review! #summerpopup
August 22, 2021
Fly Safe by Vicki Cody: this memoir is about Vicki, an arm wife who’s husband was deployed to the Middle East during the time of the gulf war. This happens between 1990-1991, a time when cell phones and instant messaging was not a thing. Vicki’s only way to hear from her husband is through written letters.
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As someone who knows a thing or two about the military and military families, it was very interesting to read the point of view of a military wife who’s husband was not on just any deployment, but in an actual war zone. I know many amazing military wives (army, Air Force, and navy!) who are so resilient, and this memoir really gives a voice to the families behind the scenes, the ones left behind. Vicky talks about the good, the bad and the ugly bits of such a terrifying deployment. The sleepless nights filled with worry, and the joy a simply had written letter can bring.
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If you are in the mood for a non fiction, and more specifically a memoir, then this may be of interest to you! I recommend this book to military families as well as those interested in learning what the lives of military families are like.
Thank you @booksparks for this copy!
#flysafe #vickycody #booksparks #shewritespress #memoir #usa #gulfwar #1990 #1991 #nonfiction #bookstagram #saudiarabia #kuwait #iraq #deployment #military #militarywife #militaryfamily #apachehelicopter #armywife #war #warzone #desert #soldiers #army #usarmy #america #readmorebooks #readinggivesyouwings #summerpopups
🇺🇸
As someone who knows a thing or two about the military and military families, it was very interesting to read the point of view of a military wife who’s husband was not on just any deployment, but in an actual war zone. I know many amazing military wives (army, Air Force, and navy!) who are so resilient, and this memoir really gives a voice to the families behind the scenes, the ones left behind. Vicky talks about the good, the bad and the ugly bits of such a terrifying deployment. The sleepless nights filled with worry, and the joy a simply had written letter can bring.
🇺🇸
If you are in the mood for a non fiction, and more specifically a memoir, then this may be of interest to you! I recommend this book to military families as well as those interested in learning what the lives of military families are like.
Thank you @booksparks for this copy!
#flysafe #vickycody #booksparks #shewritespress #memoir #usa #gulfwar #1990 #1991 #nonfiction #bookstagram #saudiarabia #kuwait #iraq #deployment #military #militarywife #militaryfamily #apachehelicopter #armywife #war #warzone #desert #soldiers #army #usarmy #america #readmorebooks #readinggivesyouwings #summerpopups
September 14, 2021
Fly Safe
Vicki Cody
She Writes Press
August.03.2021
I was sent a complimentary copy of Fly Safe by Vicki Cody through She Writes Press in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
Fly Safe by Vicki Cody is a follow up memoir to her first book Army a wives, but it can easily be read as a stand alone as well.
Vicki Cody’s Husband who was the commander of an elite Apache helicopter battalion is deployed to Saudi Arabia in August of 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait starting the First Gulf War.
In a time before Cell Phones, FaceTime and Social Media, Vicki and her husband would spend the next nine months communicating mainly through letters.
Fly Safe will give the reader a very raw look at what loved ones at home went through when a spouse or family member was deployed. A time before the Internet and Cell Phones allowed for instant connection even from across the globe. She does not only highlight the good, but she openly talks about the stress, loneliness and sleepless nights as well as the humor, the joy and resilience.
In the meantime we get a glimpse into what is happening in history through Dick’s letters to Vicki.
Fly Safe is a book that is filled with bravery, humor, heart, as well as sadness, and pain, it is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand more about what deployment is like both for the deployed and their family.
I give Fly Safe five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 25, 2021
This was an interesting story following the life of an Army Wife. I enjoyed the journey of realizing all the things that these women go through. If you are looking for an eye opening story check this one out.
February 22, 2025
As an Apache pilots wife, I especially loved this. It may be a niche read, but I think anyone could find it interesting. A picture of life during deployment for the Gulf war in 1990-91 through Mrs. Cody's letters and journal entries.
October 13, 2021
Poignant and heartfelt, this memoir is a must read for anyone with a family member in the military…or anyone who loves a good memoir!
May 22, 2022
Another great book by Vicki Cody about living the life of an army wife especially during war time.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews