Black Cat 2-1 by Bob Ford

 

Black Cat 2-1: The True Story of a Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and His Crew by Bob Ford -276 pages

After attending the University of Oklahoma's ROTC program, Ford became a Huey helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His unit mostly flew out of Hue in the northern sector of South Vietnam and experienced many hot landing zones delivering supplies, troops, and evacuating the wounded under intense fire. His crew flew dozens of missions each day during the Tet Offensive in early 1968. Two of his fellow pilots were killed in action, and Ford continues to speak about his experiences at schools and veterans services to honor their memory. The book does a good job of relating the risky flights (often only three feet above the terrain) and the author's admiration for the reliable Huey helicopter and their crews.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 The Women by Kristin Hannah-471 pages

1965 and the Vietnam War is in full swing.  Frankie's  (Frances) brother ships off...then she joins the Army as a nurse and follows him to Nam.  Once she gets off the helicopter she is thrown straight into chaos and the fatigue of the long journey hits her full force.  There is no rest for any of the doctors and nurses as they are all involved in making life and death decisions for the soldiers in their care.

In true Hannah form, she has done so much research to make the characters come to life.  She also brings to the fore the heroes that had been forgotten.  Excellent read.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Women by Kristin Hannah, 480 p.

"Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era."--Amazon blurb

This may be the best Hannah book I've ever read, and I've read a lot! Grabbing me from the first page, and aided by the always-amazing narration of Whelan, I wasn't able to put this book down, nor have I been able to stop thinking about it. With her amazing character development, a storyline that is engrossing, and emotions from the heart, I am so glad I started out 2024 with this book. The first book of the year is a 5-star read!

 

The Sniper by Jim Lindsay

 

The Sniper: The Untold Story of the Marine Corps' Greatest Marksman of All Time by Jim Lindsay -230 pages

At the age of 18, Chuck Mawhinney began his first tour in Vietnam as a sniper and eventually set a Marine Corps record of 103 confirmed kills. Mawhinney eventually served three tours in Vietnam, but was rotated out of the sniper role after two tours as standard practice since the role was so dangerous. If he'd been allowed to continue as a sniper in his third tour, his total would have been even higher, but he might not have survived. After the war, Mawhinney lived anonymously for many years until another sniper's book mentioned his record. The book is simply written, and its most interesting feature is the discussion of the specific tactics and equipment used during the Vietnam War.

Tap Code: the epic survival of a Vietnam POW... by Carlyle S. Harris and Sara W. Berry

 256 pages / 8 hrs, 38 mins

"When Air Force pilot Captain Carlyle "Smitty" Harris was shot down over Vietnam on April 4, 1965, he had no idea what horrors awaited him in the infamous Hoa Lo prison--nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton." Harris was the sixth American POW captured in the air war over North Vietnam, and for the next eight years, Smitty and hundreds of other American POWs--including John McCain and George "Bud" Day--suffered torture, solitary confinement, and abuse. 

"Their dignity was taken, their wills were challenged, and their bodies were bruised and battered. But in the midst of the struggle, Smitty remembered once learning the Tap Code--an old, long-unused World War II method of communication through tapping on a common water pipe. He covertly taught the code to many POWs, and in turn they taught others. 

"Simple and effective, the Tap Code quickly spread throughout the prison and became one of the most covert ways for POWs to communicate without their captors' knowledge. It became a lifeline during their internment--a morale booster, a vehicle of unity, and a way to communicate the chain of command--and was instrumental in helping them prevail over a brutal enemy. 

"Back home, meanwhile, Harris's wife, Louise, raised their three children alone, unsure of her husband's fate. One of the first POW wives of the Vietnam War, she became a role model for many wives, advocating for herself and her children in her husband's absence. 

"Told through both Smitty's and Louise's voices, Tap Code shares a riveting true story of ingenuity under pressure, strength and dignity in the face of the enemy, the love of family, and the hope, faith, and resolve necessary to endure even the darkest circumstances."  --from the publisher

This is an amazing story that is told well. While the poor treatment of the POWs is evident, the author focuses on hope and survival. I give it four out of five stars.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

 The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold - 361 pages

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she's been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who's just entered hospice care.

But there's more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she's not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it's a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that's just what Mrs. Kip will give her--but she's going to have to work for it.

Abandoned in Hell by William Albrecht & Marvin J. Wolf

 Abandoned in Hell: The Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate by William Albrecht-356 pages

Albrecht was a young Special Force captain given command of Firebase Kate along the Vietnam-Cambodian border only one day before a major enemy onslaught. Albrecht and his small force of U.S. and Montagnard troops withstood the attack for several days before running out of ammo and water. He then decided to undertake a night withdrawal through enemy lines to safety before being overrun. The author provides a detailed picture of the vital importance of air support in Vietnam, and how prejudice toward the Montagnard troops by the South Vietnamese likely affected the battle. 

Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans

Noel Street by Richard Paul Evens-280 pages

The story is told through Elles diary.  The year is 1975.  She is raising her son alone after her husband was killed in Vietnam.  A mysterious army man arrives in town and through a series of events the two collide and lives are changes.

Though a little sappy at times, his books are always a sweet, easy read.  I enjoyed it.

Ghost Warriors: Long Range Patrol Airborne Rangers by Bob Stein

Ghost Warriors: Long Range Patrol Airborne Rangers by Lt. Bob Stein -291 pages

Stein served as an officer in Vietnam and organized this book to give the enlisted men who served in the same reconnaissance unit a chance to reflect on their service in Vietnam. Their stories convey the varied background of the men recruited into the Long Range Patrol service. Surprisingly, most felt much safer in enemy territory as part of a small unit rather than in larger conventional units considering the guerrilla tactics of the enemy.  These men also felt much more valued by their superiors than they had been in conventional units. Overall, this is an interesting book recalling encounters with an omnipresent enemy and even unusual encounters with wildlife such as tigers.

Legend by Eric Blehm

Legend by Eric Blehm -288 pages

Roy Benavidez had a poor and anger-filled childhood in Texas, but was able to channel that anger into the determination needed to become a career Special Forces soldier serving two tours in Vietnam. This book details a 1968 mission on Roy's second tour when he volunteered to help extract a surrounded recon team and earned his nickname and a belated Medal of Honor. The author provides a clear account of what was a chaotic and bloody mission that cost the lives of several brave men and left Benavidez badly wounded. Because the mission took place covertly in Cambodia, and an essential witness was believed to have died, Benavidez was not considered eligible for the Medal of Honor for many years. This is a harrowing book illuminating a man who was dedicated to helping others no matter the cost.

SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam by John L. Plaster

SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam by John L. Plaster -367 pages

A recent National Geographic article described Laos as the most bombed nation in history. The U. S. bombed this neutral country during the Vietnam War due to North Vietnam's extensive use of Laotian territory as staging grounds to attack across into South Vietnam. The author is a veteran of the Studies and Observation Group, composed mostly of Green Berets, who undertook harrowing reconnaissance missions in Laos and Cambodia.  Regardless of one's opinion on how the U.S. carried out the war in Vietnam, this book will leave the reader astonished at the bravery of the recon men and their air crews who operated under the noses of large numbers of enemy forces who gave no quarter.

Loss of Innocence by Richard North Patterson--349 pages

This book is set in the summer of 1968 on Martha's Vineyard.  The main character is a young woman just starting out in life after attending college.  Through her we see the main issues of that time: the blossoming women's movement, the civil rights struggles, assassinations of Jack and Bobby Kennedy as well as Martin Luther King Jr., and conflict over the Vietnam War.  Having grown up during this period, this book made me think back to those issues.  At the time, I had no idea that the late sixties and early seventies would play such an important part in influencing the future of our country.  This was a new author for me, and I must say that I enjoyed his book.  I will definitely read some of his other titles! 

Loss of Innocence by Richard North Patterson

Loss of Innocence by Richard North Patterson--349 pages

This book is set in the summer of 1968 on Martha's Vineyard.  The main character is a young woman just starting out in life after attending college.  Through her we see the main issues of that time: the blossoming women's movement, the civil rights struggles, assassinations of Jack and Bobby Kennedy as well as Martin Luther King Jr., and conflict over the Vietnam War.  Having grown up during this period, this book made me think back to those issues.  At the time, I had no idea that the late sixties and early seventies would play such an important part in influencing the future of our country.  This was a new author for me, and I must say that I enjoyed his book.  I will definitely read some of his other titles!