Publisher Description

By 1969, the Sikorski H-34 was an older helicopter with severe limitations for combat duty in Vietnam. For pilots like U.S. Marine Lieutenant Rick Gehweiler, the good news was it could still take significant damage and keep flying. His vivid memoir narrates his harrowing, at times deadly flight missions under fire, as experienced in the cockpit, along with anecdotes of tragedy and humor from his 13-month tour through Da Nang and Phu Bai.

Author Biography

Rick Gehweiler graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1967, attended Marine Corp Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, earned his navy wings in Pensacola, Florida, and served a tour in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot flying combat missions. He currently manages a fly fishing lodge on the Bighorn River in Montana.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments
• Preface
•  1. Pop Smoke
•  2. The Beginning
•  3. Quantico
•  4. Pensacola
•  5. The Edge of the Envelope
•  6. Phu Bai
•  7. Water Buffalo
•  8. The Sikorsky Bounce
•  9. Flying for the ROKs
• 10. Incoming or Outgoing?
• 11. Hill 818
• 12. The Twilight Zone
• 13. Final Days
• 14. Departure
• 15. Boat Ride from Hell
• 16. Coming Home
• 17. You Can Run but You Cannot Hide
• Epilogue
• Military History of Richard W. Gehweiler
• Index

Review

I was a Marine infantry company commander in Vietnam. The majority of our time was spent in the jungle fighting. Our lifeline was the helicopter and the pilots who flew them. They brought us food and water, carried out our wounded and dead and delivered replacements. Without them we could not have survived. They never let us down, no matter how dangerous or desperate the situation. I never remember them not responding to my call. It was incredibly dangerous flying in the worst terrain and circumstances imaginable. Their skill and courage were astounding. To this day I remain in awe of them. Read Rick Gehweiler's personal account and you will understand."—W. E. Boomer, General, U.S. Marine Corps (ret)

Review Quote

"I was a Marine infantry company commander in Vietnam. The majority of our time was spent in the jungle fighting. Our lifeline was the helicopter and the pilots who flew them. They brought us food and water, carried out our wounded and dead and delivered replacements. Without them we could not have survived. They never let us down, no matter how dangerous or desperate the situation. I never remember them not responding to my call. It was incredibly dangerous flying in the worst terrain and circumstances imaginable. Their skill and courage were astounding. To this day I remain in awe of them. Read Rick Gehweiler's personal account and you will understand."--W. E. Boomer, General, U.S. Marine Corps (ret)

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