Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Hugh Mills goes back to Vietnam and meets with the NVA unit that shot him down during the war. The trip also leads to the recovery of two American remains from the war.
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I've read LTC Mills' book, Low Level Hell. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend it.
"Guts and Glory" Randall McGlone: US Marines - Observations of an artillery observer "taking the Cua Viet River back from the Viet Cong"
ReplyDeleteI came home with a lot of hate and anger. That was a tough load to carry. Somewhere along the line I put it down. I couldn't carry it any more.
ReplyDeleteMe too, buddy. Life got better once I gave all that up. Welcome home.
DeleteH You too Sir.
Delete"Chicken Hawk" by Robert Nelson is another good one on the same subject.
ReplyDeleteRobert Mason. That was the very first book about helicopters in Vietnam that I ever read.
DeleteAfter reading Chicken Hawk I had a better understanding that the crew were under strict orders to never leave the chopper. I've seen them stand on the struts and stretch while reaching way out but could never understand why they didn't jump off and help. Also, in regard to my other post re: letting go of hate and anger, that does not include hanoi jane.
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to let go of hatred towards a former enemy soldier, quite another to forgive a traitor.
DeleteMy granpa was Merchant Marine 1940, sunk in the Caribbean 2x. 1st time the UBoot towed them to the nearest island and sent the location. 2nd time the UBoot shot up their boats. After the war Gramps found out that the Captain was still alive so he wrote a letter to him in Germany telling him what a dirty SOB he was. The Captain wrote back with an apology and a Kreigsmarine Trinket.
ReplyDeleteGramps is gone but we still have the letter and the trinket.
He was a tough old bird, Merchant Marine pre war and made the Murmansk Run 3x, USN at Guadalcanal, Rubal, Palalu and Okinawa WW2 and US NG 45th Division in Korea. The family 'joke' was that he wasnt biased, he would pick a fight with anyone, including primates.
What a terrific story. Those ol birds were something weren't they. How I wish I'd sat and listened more when I was a youngster. Then again, I'm greatful for what I did listen to.
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