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Rating: 
Summary: I don't think so.
Review: "Legendary 1st Air Cavalry Division pilot Alexander was the most highly decorated American helicopter pilot of the thousands who served in the Vietnam War."
I don't know and have never heard of the "Legandary" Mr. Alexander and have no doubt he did his duty but the "most decorated" in the war he was not. I cannot rank him at all. I do know combat scout pilots Larry "Kickass" Brown, Rod "Outcast" Willis, Ace "War Wagon" Cozzalio and Lou "Rocket" Rochat, and gun pilots Skip "Redskin" Butler", Ron Timberlake, Tim "Blue Ghost" Sprouse, Lou "Animal" Breuer, Mac "Charliehorse" Cocherell, Dean "Darkhorse" Sinor, Chuck Koranda and Steve Wing. Jolly pilot Rodney "Quang Tri"Griffiths and "Dustoff" MOH recipients Patrick Brady and Mike Novosel. I know "Legandary" Huey drivers like Joe Hogg, Wayne McAdoo, Bob Holmes, Joe Estes, Larry Ezell, Noel Harvey, and Mike Sloniker. You want "Legandary", I just gave you legandary. It would take Mr. Alexanders Huey to haul the medals these guys earned. Several of their crewchiefs are more highly decorated than Alexander. Mike Clausen comes to mind with his MOH. Jim parker and Ken Stormer are two. If the guys who were there with Alexander didn't "buy it", that's a bad sign. I hope this was someones else's fault and not his, but it is just not true.
Rating:
Summary: I don't think so.
Review: "Legendary 1st Air Cavalry Division pilot Alexander was the most highly decorated American helicopter pilot of the thousands who served in the Vietnam War."
I don't know and have never heard of the "Legandary" Mr. Alexander and have no doubt he did his duty but the "most decorated" in the war he was not. I cannot rank him at all. I do know combat scout pilots Larry "Kickass" Brown, Rod "Outcast" Willis, Ace "War Wagon" Cozzalio and Lou "Rocket" Rochat, and gun pilots Skip "Redskin" Butler", Ron Timberlake, Tim "Blue Ghost" Sprouse, Lou "Animal" Breuer, Mac "Charliehorse" Cocherell, Dean "Darkhorse" Sinor, Chuck Koranda and Steve Wing. Jolly pilot Rodney "Quang Tri"Griffiths and "Dustoff" MOH recipients Patrick Brady and Mike Novosel. I know "Legandary" Huey drivers like Joe Hogg, Wayne McAdoo, Bob Holmes, Joe Estes, Larry Ezell, Noel Harvey, and Mike Sloniker. You want "Legandary", I just gave you legandary. It would take Mr. Alexanders Huey to haul the medals these guys earned. Several of their crewchiefs are more highly decorated than Alexander. Mike Clausen comes to mind with his MOH. Jim parker and Ken Stormer are two. If the guys who were there with Alexander didn't "buy it", that's a bad sign. I hope this was someones else's fault and not his, but it is just not true.
Rating:
Summary: "Taking Fire" Removed from National Air and Space Museum
Review: After an internal review at the NASM, the Executive Director ordered "Taking Fire" to be removed from the gift shop due to fraudulent claims and highly racist rhetoric. For example, the back cover of the paperback states that Mr. Alexander was the "second highest decorated helicopter pilot of the Vietnam era." That would come as a big surprise to the nine helicopter pilots who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. If you like lightweight, highly fictionalized accounts of the Vietnam War, then read this book. However, it makes a mockery of the sacrifices made by members of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry and Company H, 75th Rangers. How do I know? I flew with Alexander throughout his entire tour and I have firsthand knowledge of the missions he describes so poorly and inaccurately. I wish I could give it zero stars but the format doesn't allow it.
Rating: 
Summary: Vietnam Veteran and Avid Vietnam Book Reader
Review: I have read approximately 200 books on the Vietnam war, and I have to say Taking Fire is the best of all. I never realized how dangerous the helicopter pilots jobs were. This is absolutely the most exciting book I have ever read. It is one of those books you can't put down. I have the most respect and admiration for Ron Alexander that I have ever had for anyone else. What a remarkable man. I just wish I knew if he had an e-mail address where I would be able to correspond directly with him. Thank you Ron for publishing such a terrific book.
Rating:
Summary: Vietnam Veteran and Avid Vietnam Book Reader
Review: I have read approximately 200 books on the Vietnam war, and I have to say Taking Fire is the best of all. I never realized how dangerous the helicopter pilots jobs were. This is absolutely the most exciting book I have ever read. It is one of those books you can't put down. I have the most respect and admiration for Ron Alexander that I have ever had for anyone else. What a remarkable man. I just wish I knew if he had an e-mail address where I would be able to correspond directly with him. Thank you Ron for publishing such a terrific book.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Disgusting
Review: I was one of Alexander's first Aircraft Commanders (AC) when he arrived in Vietnam, and I was still in the unit six months after he left. When I confronted his co-author Sasser about the ridiculous claims in this book, he told me "You don't know what the hell you're talking about." Oh, but I do. I read this "book" again and feel compelled to let other less-informed readers know that it goes beyond fiction to flat-out delusion. A classic example is the "Sergeant Snider LRRP" incident, where Alexander flagrantly steals the valor of his now-deceased AC Kit Beatton, (who was much loved and respected by the Troop and received a Silver Star for the action) as well as claiming kills that rightfully belonged to the LRRP Team Slashing Talon 36. Despite what Alexander and Sasser say, Alexander did nothing but sit in the helicopter; the landing zone never took a shot; the enemy were either killed, wounded or routed by the covering Cobras and the survivors of the LRRP Team (Slashing Talon 36) by the time Alexander's aircraft landed; a medevac had already extracted the wounded (and was not fired on either). I was flying above Alexander's (or more rightfully Kit Beatton's) aircraft the entire time. I never took a shot. My recollections are corroborated by SGT Paul Alfaro, one of the LRRP survivors and Assistant Team Leader, and the after action reports of Company H, 75th Rangers. This sort of self-aggrandizing rubbish has no place on the fiction shelf, let alone the history shelf. Alexander and Sasser should be ashamed of themselves. But they apparently lack the ability, so the rest of the Troop has to do it for them.
Rating:
Summary: Avoiding Fire:The made up story of how I wished it happened
Review: It is truly a sad book, you can feel the teller of the STORY trying to create a past that is technicality in-corect that I could only conclude factitious. Mr. Alexzanders account of battle told in the way Mr. Sasser wrote it pleads for accountability. So I cant wait for Book two and all of the apologies to the men who really fought there. Thanks
Rating:
Summary: A great work..............of fiction :-(
Review: This a clearly a book where they author has taken several things that he heard from others, a litle bid of his own experince and then inflated the whole thing.
There are too many things in this book that don't fit what happend.
I have read other books about A troop 1/9 Cav, and it clear that this author has lent/stolen varius bits and used them with a nice twist in his own book
Don't buy it, its work of fiction....
Mr Alexander....shame on you, you disgrace the ones who gave all
Rating:
Summary: Good story of one man trying to survive
Review: This is an amazing book about the life of a helo pilot and his friends. This book is full of fighting and extreme action. It introduces you to fighting in Vietnam and how dangerous flying helos can be. I give this book a five because it is a very easy read but it also is full of battles and action. If you want to learn about helocopter pilots live this is a must read!!!
Rating: 
Summary: a great read.. easy style
Review: This was not an easy book to read because of the helicopter techno language, military jargon and profanity. In addition to that, I do not pretend to be an authority on war books. However, Alexander's book appears to be an honest and exciting recounting of his time in Vietnam. Several chapters into the book, I found it hard to put down. This book gives the reader insight to the many harrowing experiences many of our men and women in uniform experienced during the Vietnam war and of their bravery as they honorable served our country. This book allowed me to feel some of the emotions, confusion, stress and fear of these soldiers. At times you feel as if you should be on the sidelines cheering the good guys on.In addition to their war experience, this book gives an honest accounting to how these brave men and women were treated upon their return. I would recommend this book to anyone who is curios about the Vietnam war or to those who want something to read that will challenge them emotionally. As the mother of a son serving our country in the Navy, it certainly gives me alot to think about should this country decide to go to war again.
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