Chickenhawk

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Summary: If you're going to read one book on Vietnam, this is it.
Review: Whilst this book concentrates on the Vietnam experiences of a helicopter pilot, it also captures "the way it was" for all combatants. With clarity and immense detail, Mason reminds us of that incredible transition from civilian to soldier many of us went through and how miraculously the processing enabled us to cope with events and experiences of the war. The coping lasted until the end of your tour or until you were "full up" and getting a little frayed at the edges. A major element in holding men together in the insane stresses of combat is the fact that all those about you are doing the same thing - and nobody wants to be the first to crack. The resulting scenario is hundreds of men seemingly cruising unaffected through a roller-coaster ride in hell. Using the same dry humour and understatement that was part of survival tactics at the time, Mason takes you on that ride, but kicks you in the stomach with an ending you struggle to comprehend. Meantime, Mason's plain English descriptions of learning to fly choppers are so breathtakingly realistic the average reader could jump in a Huey and take it for a joy ride on the first reading. This is one of those books where, on turning the last page you want to pick up the phone and chew the fat with the author

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Summary: This was a great book.
Review: You are there, Piloting Helicopters, a tremendous first person account of flying a copter in nam

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Summary: The best book on Helicopter war in Vietnam ever written
Review: This book by Robert Mason grabs you by the shirt collar from page one and keps you thoroughly absorbed in the story from his training to fly a helicopter to his many missions in Vietnam in both 'hot' and 'cold' landing zones..as a Viet vet i can tell you that this is not just a book on the mechanics of helicopters,or an interesting venture in prose writing,but it is a gut gripping account of what it is like to fly a chopper into a 'hot' landing zone with troops on board,or vitally needed supplies..He flew in all kinds of weather-dry and monsoon, thunder and lightning..It was dangerous and dirty work and he did his job well..He tells of what it feels like to go from relaxation one minute to heart thumping,adrenaline pumping action the next minute...It is no wonder he received over 200 decorations for his missions,a testimony to the heart and courage of this brave man...Highly recommended reading..

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Summary: Classic Tales of the Helicopter War
Review: Robert Mason was a reluctant warrior who flew more than one thousand combat missions as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Because of the mixture of fear and bravado that made up his character, he named his book "Chickenhawk." It is one of the finest personal narratives from the war in Indochina. Mason's book is simply a searing, but beautifully written recollection of one veteran's experiences - exciting, tragic, humorous, pathetic and ironic. Starting with pilot's training in Texas, Mason takes readers on an irreverent journey aboard the helicopter, which was a ubiquitous presence in Vietnam. Used for transporting troops into areas of almost impenetrable triple-canopy jungle where vehicles could not take them, these landing zones know as "LZ's" were often "hot" meaning that the choppers, so easily brought down by the enemies small arms, were under fire. Then, when soldiers were wounded or killed, the choppers had to come back in to pick them up. The bravery of the pilots and crewmen was legendary and because they were the thick of it - essentially flying to the action every day - they suffered grievous losses. Mason's readers will understand the kinship of men joined together in a small group under the most difficult of conditions. The author was a young man who wanted to fly and so he ended up in the Army flying in "the helicopter war." His experiences in Vietnam, the heroism and loss that he was witness to, shaped his thinking and made him angry and bitter over what he felt was a poorly run effort and a unnecessary loss of life.

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Summary: Excellent book...
Review: I picked this book up at the library a number of years ago while I was reading various books about the Vietnam War. It was a very good read and told the story pretty well. I especially like the stuff about the training and grouping with other pilots. I also liked the stuff about the emotions as they were going to war.

I remember seeing the first part of the trailer for "We Were Soliders" as the helicoptor pans across the screen and thinking that they were going to make a movie of this. I wish that were true because I think this book would lend itself pretty well to being a movie.

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Summary: What can I say?
Review: My mother bought me this book for my birthday once, unfortunately I put it on my bookshelf and forgot about it. Some time later I picked it up whilst looking for something to read. When I finished the book that night I realised that this had been one of the best books that I have ever read. Indeed I have re-read it half a dozen times since.

This book is Masons personal account of flying helicopters in Vietnam. Mason is a brilliant writer. Reading this book I was transported into Masons world. Very few book ever do that to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading Chickenhawk.

I not only recommend, I insist that you read this book. It is easily the equal of All Quiet on the Western Front.

Cheers