Chickenhawk

Rating:
Summary: Hats Off-Very Well Done
Review: I read the book and listenned to the audiotape with L.J. Ganser as the reader/narrator. What a powerful experience! Mason's words and Ganser's voice made it seem like a friend was telling about his life. It brought back so many memories of a time when this country was in such turmoil and confusion. Robert Mason and I are roughly the same age and his experiences as a young man were so different than my own. The danger he faced while flying Hueys in Happy Valley is mind boggling. His ability to convey the experience helps others learn and hopefully respect and honor him and all the others who were put in that situation. It was an ugly, horrible time in our history.

His words come as close as any to describing the daily routine of facing death and the power of the mind to defend itself by using humor and diversions. Mason has done a masterful job. I think every American, especially the youth of today, should read this powerful memoir.

Rating:
Summary: Chickenhawk Soars!
Review: This book helps to understand the Vietnam experience a little better. The book is well written and moves along too fast. You will be finishing this story before you are ready!

Mr. Mason, like so many Vietnam Veterans, went through pure hell over there while the American citizen went about his life casually and seemingly unconcerned. This book shows some of the times that our brave soldiers faced for us. They did their duty and I for one am proud of them!

For good, easy, fun and thoughtful reading, I highly recommend this book. It is one of my all time favorites about Vietnam and I have read it 3 times so far. Thanks Mr. Mason and God Bless!

Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting
Review: I thought the book was an interesting view of the world of the helicopter pilot but the dust jacket did sell it a bit much on the action side. I enjoyed the details of the machines and the methods they were used. The book is also written in a light method that is easy to read, the reader does not get bogged down in the alphabet soup of unit designations. The school is also interesting; who would have ever thought that flying a helicopter is so difficult. I did enjoy this book a good deal, it really moves fast.

Rating:
Summary: CHICKENHAWK
Review: This is the first book any of we Army aviators ever saw written about our flying experiences in Vietnam. It is our bible. Bob Mason does an especially good job describing flight school and our early attempts at hovering--which were always ridiculous and hilarious. We looked like crazy square-dancers! When I was with the 175th Aviation Co. (AML), being a hard-nose AC with the Outlaws, my copilots gave me the name of "Chickenhawk," because I got on each and every one of their mistakes, however minute. I have met Bob Mason and his gracious wife, Prudence, at VHPA functions. He stands tall with his latest work producing a video on our flying episodes. I look forward to meeting up with him again at more "author's roundatables" at the next conventions we will have.

Rating:
Summary: vietnam books--start here
Review: this account of the vietnam war from a helicopter pilot's perspective is THE BEST book i have read about that war from anyone's perspective.the author does an excellent job of describing the combat action, but more importantly, he gets you right into the cockpit with him -first in flying school, then coming into a "hot" LZ when the intensity of feelings is almost unbearable.mason is that unusual combination of compelling writer with a compelling true story to tell.The sequel to this book-"chickenhawk-back in the world" is possibly even better! what happens when he gets back is maybe as much of a dangerous mission as any during the war. in the end the writer succeeds in the ultimat mission--letting you into his head.

Rating:
Summary: The helicopter pilot's bible
Review: Being a helicopter pilot myself for the past 6 years, this book has always moved me deeply, thinking about those men, trying to maintain some sort of sanity in a crazy situation.

I have had the unfortunate luck, of evacuating wounded soldiers, from a war which is still controversial in my country, but I never faced the kind of situations that Mason discribes in the book, and I have always wandered how they did it, knowing that every morning and evry mission could spell sudden death, from the enemy, or worse, by your commander's stupidity.

I think it's a book about bravery, about how these helicopter pilots in Vietnam were willing to risk their lives every day for their fellow soldiers. I believe that flying into combat, surviving it, seeing what might happen if it wasn't your lucky day, then doing it again and again and again, takes a special kind of character. Character shown by Mason.

I have read many war books, some about Vietnam, some not. My country is (unfortunately) filled with veterans, including my entire family (my father was also a pilot and my brother was in the special forces, we've all been through combat). I think this book is special in the way it touches you intimately, making you feel, just as if you were hearing the story from the author in person.

This is not about victory or defeat, this is about something else, and to know what this thing is you must read the book and look inside to see the impact it has on you.

Rating:
Summary: truly outstanding story!
Review: I have read many Vietnam books, and this one always stands out as the best one. I have re-read it several times. Mr. Mason writes very well, and his deeds are nothing but incredible. The book flows very well. His bravery and skill earn my greatest respect.

Rating:
Summary: Writing at its best!
Review: This book starts off as a story about a private passion, and takes us through Mason's classes learning to fly helicopters. From there it turns into a novel like Conrads "Heart of Darkness". The book takes you deeper and deeper in small incremental steps until at the end you glimpse the personal private hell of one mans vision of war. When I put the book down I literally gasped. Mason drops you in so fast you just don't see it coming. The transition is brilliant and effective. Mason really makes you see his inner soul in a way I have never seen before. And because he takes you with him in his joyous flights from training school to the war in Vietnam, you are still with him when he falls down hard on his return. A great book if you like helicopters, even better if you don't like helicopters.

Rating:
Summary: No Arguments
Review: My dad bought this for me in junior high. Since then I have probably read it a dozen times. Probably the most powerful book I have ever read. Mason was a Huey pilot in Vietnam. It has been called the greatest book about the Vietnam war, and I have never found cause to argue with that.

Rating:
Summary: Frightening - intense
Review: I stumbled across this book several years ago and couldn't put it down or stop thinking about it - so much that I developed an obsession that prompted me to actually go to Vietnam, just to be where this courageous and charming man was. This book is a powerful, intense read and explains so much about a war that I cannot believe was never mentioned in all my years of schooling in the US (70's - 80's). I've since read several other books about Vietnam, but none better than Chickenhawk.