Action packed of what really happened in nam.Go behind enemy lines and feel the adrenalion rush of close encounters, ambushes
and prisioner snaches. I cant tell you how much this book actually teaches you about the horrors of war and the good times the soilders had to.

Gary Linderer and all the men of the LRRPS give you a first hand account of what it was like to sit through hours of boredom one minute then to have hundreds of enemy soldiers suddenly appear and make your blood run cold with terror as your mind races to the thought that you could be discovred and face 20 to 1 odds . This as with all of Garys books are highly recommended reading if you are the kind of reader who can actually picture yourself being there with him.

The title of this book should be Balls of Steel or something similar. Gary makes you feel as if you are on a mission with him. He is a superb writer and an Honest to God Hero. A must read. 5 BIG Stars.

The book is well written and an accurate portrayal of the helicopter war. It is a good read and should be of interest to veterans, military and history buffs, researchers as well as anyone else interested in the Vietnam War. I was a helicopter crewchief and flew with Bill Meacham in Vietnam.

Lest We Forget was an excellent and exciting book. Mr. Meacham's discriptions of flying and combat were so vivid I could practically feel the movement of the aircraft as I sat and read. Mr. Meacham--thanks for taking me along for the ride, and returning me safely back home again at the end of the book!

I Corps, in 1968 and especially Northern I Corps, was an area that could be called "Ground Zero"in the Vietnam War. The presence of large concentrations of Liberation troops and NVA in the Laos/Vietnam border area was huge. They were well trained, well equipped and possessed mobile anti-aircraft weapons which were devastating for helicopters of the Kingsmen and the 101st Aviation Battalion. "Lest We Forget" is a great story of "cheating the odds" while flying exclusively for the grunts and LRP's for the 101st Division. However, let us start at the beginning....the bloody beginning.

Bill Meacham, alias "Wild Bill" Meacham, began his year long tour in Vietnam assigned to the 17th Assault Helicopter Company at Long Binh. Even before he sat in a cockpit for his in-country orientation, he was tapped to be the investigating officer for a gunship incident deep within the jungles of III Corps. The distasteful job led Bill to realize that Vietnam was truly a dangerous place and he was knee deep in "reality."

The very first month with the 17th, Tet of 68 erupted everywhere across Vietnam. Bill came face to face with NVA, in the wire, all-around the 17th compound for a bit of nighttime excitement. Never one to sit idly by and let himself be killed, Bill took the aggressor group under fire, killing almost a squad as they raced across the 17th's compound. The onslaught was finally halted and the story of Tet 68 became one of slaughter for the enemy. However, the US media never really saw it that way. Bill Meacham couldn't believe he was knee keep in ground combat. He was supposed to be a helicopter pilot!

The nick name "Wild Bill" was not yet coined for William Meacham as the 17th Assault Helicopter Company was uprooted and shipped to I Corps. There they would join and be re-designated, Bravo Company of the 101st Airmobile Division's 101st Aviation Battalion. Still proudly know as the "Kingsmen", the unit faced new challenges and threats within the mountains and weather of North I Corps. And, for the next year Bill and his buddy W.T.Grant would slowly but surely be consumed by the "meat grinder" as they experienced days and days of the same old thing....bad weather, NVA and long, long hours of flying.

It didn't take "Wild Bill" Meacham long to realize that he was best suited to working closely with the LRP teams of the 101st Div. He and W.T. Grant made many good friends and comrades with the LRP's as they concentrated completely on the tricky and specialized work of the LRP units. Their flying skills were quickly recognized by the LRP's as "just what the doctor ordered" and they were assigned almost exclusively to fly for the them. Together Bill, W. T. and the LRP leaders formulated many techniques which proved to be most effective in getting the job done, yet keeping everyone as safe as possible, under hazardous conditions. Higher HQ's basically left them alone to performed their missions almost in their own world. That is not to say they had it easy, just that they were very good at the job. No one within the LRP leadership wanted anyone else...they were the best!!

"Lest We Forget" is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Throughout the book, William Meacham allows the reader to "tune in" on the radios and tactical frequencies to hear the tension and terror from the LRP's on the ground. He also lets the reader hear the commo between he and his wingman, Grant. You will "feel" the sweat dripping from inside his helmet as it burns his eyes. Your gloves will become wet as he hoists LRP team members out of the jungle with a 120' long rope, called a McGuire Rig. You will ride to the hot PZ to extract the "whispering" LRP teams as NVA watch and fire from a tree line only yards away. Yet, most will be extracted safely! "Wild Bill" Meacham will live to fly another day! What a ride! What a book! What a story!

Tom Payne
VHPA
Sec/Treas.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DOCUMENTED BOOKS OF THE VIETNAM WAR.IT TELLS OF THE COURAGE AND COMMITMENT OF NOT JUST THE MARINE THIRD,BUT ALL THE MARINES WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM.THEY HAVE A VALOR THAT ONLY A MARINE COULD UNDERSTAND.THEY SEARCHED FOR AN ELUSIVE FOE THAT WOULD FIGHT TO THE END IF THEY HAD TO. YET,A NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR FOE THEY FOUGHT, WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE, THESE MARINES ALMOST ALWAYS CAME OUT ON TOP. I ADMIRE THESE MEN FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.FROM THE ROCKPILE TO GETTING PULLED INTO THE WINDOW OF A CH-46 WITH THE NVA SHOOTING AT A BARE BUTT,VETTER TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS. SEMPER FIDELIS

I was a grunt in a Line Company with the 3rd Marines on Operations Taught Bow at Charlie Ridge, Hastings and Prairie on the DMZ.

We might have been a little louder than recon liked, but we carried about 50#lbs more on our back than they did and we were invited to their parties. He did make it sound like we were gate crashers!

An excellent book, "Home Is Where You Dig It". It is worthy of the saying, "From the outside, you can't understand it, from the inside, I can't explain it, Semper Fi.

Well done,

As a former U.S.Marine and member of "B" Recon 65/66 I enjoyed reading this book.

We lost members of our company in April through November of 65, as well as a number of us WIA during our tour.

I realize that the author wrote about his experience and had to rely on whatever documentation that he was able to revew concerning our outfit during our deployment from K-Bay Hawaii, to Camp Schwab, Oakinawa and on to Viet Nam.

Aside from a few errors concerning "B" Recon, the book is a must read for any Recon Marine and those who wish they were.

Semper Fi,

Anthony P. De Bellis

(FIRST IN LAST OUT)

If you are looking for a more complete book dealing with the lives of helicopter pilots in Vietnam, look no farther. This book is it! From cover to cover, Outlaws in Vietnam tells the full, rich story of the "Magnificent Seven" as they flew in the 175th Aviation Company (AML) from late 1966 until late 1967. These seven classmates of flight school class 66-14 lived at Vinh Long and experienced the "best years of their lives" as they wrestled everyday with danger, boredom and terror! This book is a wonderful story of comrades in combat, told through the clear, vivid writing of David Eastman, one of the "Magnificent Seven".

Outlaws in Vietnam is a great mix of 40 short stories, so interesting and gripping with detail the reader will easily be able to visualize and understand every described happening. Each story will leave you wanting more, more. Funny, sad, tragic, ironic but never dull, all chapters are "brim full" of wonderful details and emotion. David is very skillful as a writer and he easily brings back vivid memories about his fellow helicopter pilots and enlisted crews. He also enhances the understanding for the non-pilot reader. In real life, David Eastman is a Forester and is attuned to the aesthetic world of wildlife, the environment and landscapes. He writes and publishes regularly for the print and broadcast media about the outdoors and its beauty. He lives in New Hampshire where forestry, nature and esthetics are very important.

Most books about Vietnam usually begin with flight school and the too long a flight to the other side of the world. However, David Eastman teases the reader with a very interesting turn of events, which could have allowed him to, perhaps, escape the trip. David was an honorable man, however , deciding to have no part in the "chance opportunity." Then as luck would have it, his assignment to the 175th Aviation Company (AML) at Vinh Long would be a wonderful stroke that would launch the young RLO (Real Live Officer) for a year of flying which he describes as, "the best year of his life." Many, but not all, helicopter pilots have echoed this thought. But, all would admit that their lives were changed, significantly, by the experience.

One thing stands out about flying helicopters in the Delta was the size and lack of recognizable landmarks. Plus, the vast, flat, often flooded southern ¼ of Vietnam, offered very little contact with or support from U.S. troops. In the Delta, the Vietnamese mainly fought the War. Not until the 9th Division came to Dong Tam, later in the War, did U.S. forces enter the Delta region in significant numbers. U.S. Advisors were the only Americans that David and his fellow pilots came in contact with on a daily basis. The Delta was a different world, a world where the young helicopter pilot and his trusted crew spent hours and hours flying daily to the far reaches of IV Corps. The long days and many flight hours insured their learning many skills and "tricks" about flying over what could be described as mostly enemy territory. And, if these little details were not passed on to other young pilots, or adhered to exactly, the crews could be destined to a lonely death!

Staying alive and reaching DROS was always in the back of each crewmember's mind. But in the end, David Eastman is full of mixed emotions about going home. Leaving his fellow crewmembers and their past months together was harder than expected. He would no more be experiencing the intense and close lifestyle of Vinh Long. Such realizations caused him to wrestle within himself. Then, when that long awaited DROS day finally arrived and he could leave Vinh Long with the other members of the "Magnificent Seven", he found it very difficult. An interesting conclusion to a very good book!

Outlaws in Vietnam is a book that is well written, interesting, and certainly deserving of your reading. It is one of the best I have read. It would not be a surprise to have the entertainment industry agree. We just might see something in the future based on this book and its real life, no, bigger than life characters. If the details, as written by David Eastman are retained....it will be a great story.

I was impressed with this spine-tingling, close-up and intimate version of the lives of these helicopter pilots in the Delta region of Vietnam. Most of the press followed the Americanization of the war north of Saigon, and I was amazed to learn how much went on with the traditional helicopter aviation companies that continued to be stationed at Vinh Long and Soc Trang in the IV Corps. I genuinely liked being in the cockpit with these guys, and felt I had learned to fly a helicopter by halfway through the book. There is much humor to experience here, along with the thrills and bizarre war-stories inherent in a tale like this. Read it! And get a copy for the vets in your family that might have trouble telling you exaxtly what they went through flying these incredible Hueys, either as pilots or door gunners.

For thirty some odd years, America has been subjected to lots of hype and fictional fantasy about the Viet Nam war in the form of movies and books. Now comes a real story in the form of Dave Eastman's book entitled Outlaws In Viet Nam. This book takes you into the hearts and souls of the people who served with the Outlaw Aviation crews from Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam. Eastman provides a direct view into the daily lives of this unique helicopter company and enables the reader to come to an understanding of the bonds that made this military unit such a closely-knit group, different from other such units in Viet Nam at the time. The closely-knit bond of these aviation soldiers continues today in the form of an association that still meets in a reunion every two years, with the next reunion slated for San Antonio, Texas in October 2002. Whether you were part of this unique chapter in the history of Viet Nam aviation, a family member of someone who served with this company, or a reader who is simply interested in knowing about these guys, you will not be disappointed with this book. For the children of the people who served with the Vinh Long Outlaws but never knew their parent, this book will become a wonderful keepsake to document the memory of your parent and what life was like for them in Viet Nam. After thirty four years, it still brings tears to my eyes.

I thought this book was very informative and well written. My heart goes out to all women that served during the Vietnam War. I was nice to here stories of every different types of women that served. If you are interest at all about women that served in the Vietnam war this would be a great book.

... for all of the women who served in Vietnam. Read this book, plus the late Lynda Van Devanter's Home Before Morning and you'll see why.

While Lynda's book is a hauntingly graphic record of the triumphs and tragedies that the ANC nurses and Army surgeons experienced in Nam, A Piece Of My Heart gives the reader a very broad perspective of the contributions of women in many other areas.

The foreword to the book was written by the wonderful Martha Raye, whose unflinching commitment to the men and women who served in Nam led to her being a two-time Purple Heart recipient. That even an entertainer could be wounded twice in the line of duty speaks volumes about the risk level In Country.

Equally, Civilian Flight Attendant Micki Voisard almost met her end when her airliner almost collided with a B-52 that was maintaining radio silence during an airstrike.

Yet even though the Red Cross Donut Dollies, such as Penni Evans and "Sam" Bokina Christie and WACs such as Doris Allen all have compelling stories to relate, it is the experiences of the nurses that really stay with you, long after you have put the book down.

For most of her post-Nam life, former ANC nurse and author Lynda Van Devanter (Home Before Morning - available through Amazon.com) was haunted by the memory of a young soldier who had no face, and who eventually had to be left to die because of the extent of his injuries.

When you read the piece by Anne Simon Auger (91st Evac. - Chu Lai) you realize that injuries of that magnitude were not as uncommon as you might hope and pray. Anne also described a young soldier whose face had been shot away, leaving him blind and in her words, "a vegetable".

While my own view is that people in such terrible physical condition should be given enough morphine to shut down their breathing, or in the absence of that, on the battlefield, a mercy round from an M-16, I fully accept that however you have to deal with such shocking injuries, it will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Let us not forget that while the cowardly Stalinist flag burners were calling the returning troops "baby killers", thousands of true blue American women were risking their own lives to support the largely teenaged US soldiers in a war that increasingly made no sense to the people who were being asked to fight it.

These women were Vets. These women were heroes. These women were angels.

We must constantly seek ways to honour them. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.

These stories are so heart-wrenching I had to take a break while reading simply to keep from falling to pieces. These women are so amazing and strong - they're inspiring. I Loved this book and GREATLY recommend the play with the same title by Shirely Lauro that was based off of these stories. It's so unbelievable and so real it makes you feel for those 6 women more than you'd ever imagine!

I've seen many of the Vietnam War movies (Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Born in the USA). To me, The Proud Bastard would make the best movie of all because it's written by a grunt who was there. I'm a former magazine editor who doesn't read much these days. A friend told me about The Proud Bastards and I obtained a copy. I couldn't put it down, and read it cover to cover although that cost me some sleep. Its stream of consciousness style reminds me of works by Jim Harrison, an author I greatly admire. It is a gutsy, no-holds-barred account of the way things were in the trenches. I can't believe it hasn't already become grist for a movie.

As a career fighter pilot and a retired colonel with a combat tour in Southeast Asia, I always wanted to know what the war was like in the trenches--now I do. Don't pick this book up unless you like those stories that reach out, grab you and won't let go. This one did just that. I couldn't put it down. When the author was at Marine boot camp, so was I. When he faced the North Vietnamese Army, so did I. When he was severely wounded, I felt it. Proud Bastards is in the same league with Born on the Fourth of July and Private Ryan. Mike Helms' book is the "Top Gun" of Vietnam War sagas--a must read.

"The Proud Bastards" is one of the best books I've ever read. Michael Helms tells his true and pain story of MARINE boot camp and the Hell of Vietnam. The book is intense and extremely realisitic(because it's true). This is a story of a young man's right of passage to man hood through the horrors of war. A true classic and a must buy for everyone interested in the Vietnam War. "Welcome Home, A Salute to the forgotten Vietnam War Heroes" is another book E. Michael Helms will be appearing in. It will be out in December. Please e-mail me at AeroPosse3@aol.com for more information. Semper Fi, Mike!

This is one of the best books I have ever read, its got everything you'd want in the book, action suspence, alittle love for the girls, and an especially well thought out theme and plot, there is alittle problem with the accurescy of the plot though, the authur places the characters in the first blatton, 7th cavelery, otherwise knonw as Gary Owen's in some battles where they actually did not fight in. But never the less it is a great book and i would recomend to anyone

Scott, who was there truly captures the essence of what being an Army soldier during the Viet Nam Era was like. I have never read anyone offer a more complete and thorough description of Army Basic Training during those days. Scott also does an excellent job in building his characters by reflecting on their varied backgrounds and then integrating them to produce a suberb book. Excellent and must reading for all Army veterans of the Viet Nam Era.

COL Leonard B. Scott(Ret) has done it again with "The Expendables". The charters are so well developed that you identify at once with each member of the team. Even though this is a work of fiction, the book has many truths interwoven in this a most powerful story. As a Vet (not Vietnam) I found myself crying as I finished the last chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone, Vet or otherwise.

Outstanding first person narrative seats readers in the cockpit of Vietnam era reconnaissance aircraft involved in combat. Absolutely one of the five best books I've ever read. Harrison opens Chapter 1 by emersing the reader into the radio chatter of an aircraft fire mission. His flowing and economical style enable the reader to actually place themselves into the scenario. From there the book continues to ride like a modern day Clancy novel. From directing fire missions deep within North Vietnam and Laos to dropping commando teams by parachute behind enemy lines in light aircraft only designed for a pilot and observer. Harrison spins his tales as if he's sitting comfortably in your living room tracing flight manuevers through the air with his hands. A fabulous book that, unfortunately, read too quickly. May slow down some readers who are not famililar with aviation technical terms or slang.

This has to be one of the best books on combat aviation in Viet Nam. I've read a lot of book about this subject, but Harrison's ability to describe the life of a Forward Air Controller left me wishing that he had put more in print. There is almost a kinship that develops during the book - you share the sweat and I have seen no one else write about aerial manuevers as vividly. His style sems to assume that the reader has a basic understanding of aviation; he gives vivid descriptions of flight without excessive digression to explain the manuevers.

I won't loan this book to anyone.

Buy it.

I cannot count how many times I've read this book. A very well written account of the making of a forward air controller (FAC) and his tour of duty in Vietnam. This book is filled with non-stop aerial combat interspersed with wit and humor. I swear you can hear the engines, the explosions, the radio chatter and the myriad sounds of aerial combat. This is the definitive book on the FAC. Harrison's vividly writes about the inter-service rivalries, fighter pilot and elite unit culture. Vietnam had them all, from the ticket punchers to the true professionals, the "conscientious objectors" to the patriots, balls-out young men and know it alls, politicians and name dropers, clowns and cowboys, the scared and all too brave. Harrison's seen and flown with all of them. You will not put this book down once you start reading it. Harrison will hold you in suspense screaming, laughing and dying over and over. You will read it again and again in between browsing the web about the FAC and that "war" fought on the other side of the fence in Laos. How good is this book? I have seen precious copies churned out of copier machines circulating with pilots of the Philippine Air Force, 15th Strike Wing, one of the few users of the OV-10 Bronco in combat in the 21st century. This book should be made into a movie.

There is no doubt that this man is a hero. I am sure he has many heroic deeds and tales that Uncle Sam will not let him tell. That was the nature of Special Forces duty. I have read many books that are better written, and I wish Miller would have chosen a different person to document his story, but I am sure he had his reasons. The stories themselves are fantastic. I had to read the book in one sitting, I could not put it down. Someday I would like to meet Miller face-to-face, buy him a beer and hear him tell the story first hand.

A book about a real warrior. CSM Miller's life story has been one of inspiration to me throughout my military career. His stories of heroism remain in my mind constantly. Although, sadly I was never able to meet him in person, his stories were always there to keep me motivated. I cannot count the number of times I have read his book. It was always a favorite wherever I went. It would be passed around the platoon on every deployment I went on. I was saddened to hear of his death, this country has truly lost a great hero.

This is an amazing book. It runs a little over two hundred pages, but is so engrossing that you'll probably blow through it in one sitting (like I did). The recounts of battle are vividly written and capture the terror and exhileration of combat better than any other book I've read. The non-combat stories, however, are just as engrossing and often laugh-out-loud funny. If you have any interest at all in war memoirs, buy this book now while you still can. This is one of the few books that demands more than one reading.

This book is an outstanding account of recon battalion actions in Vietnam. It is well worth reading. I served with Mike before the war. He was a straight shooter then, and a straight shooter in Vietnam

Michael Hodgins captures the real spirit of the place and time. As a former Marine who served with the 1st Recon Bn, I can testify Mr. Hodgins presents a true and vivid picture of life in the bush, on an OP, and in Camp Reasoner. With all the distortions about Vietnam presented in the movies and on TV, as well as the anti-war prejudice of public school history teachers, this book should be required reading in the high school cirriculum. I hope someday someone will write a book that will tell us more about Lt. Skibbe, Lt. Rathmell, and Captain McVey who gave lost their lives protecting their troops.

The authors accounting of himself as an officer of elit Marines is as serious and straight-forward as the missions they undertook in Viet-nam. Michael Hodgins skillfully, without the usual shoot em up bang bang of war novels, creates an accurate and exciting account of his time with 1st Recon. We are privy as readers to an inside look at preparations,logistics and worry not ever seen when looking at a small group of camoflaged men clinging to a ladder below a helicopter.

This novel will remain always an historical account of the Marine Corps involvement in Vietnam during its dangerous disengagement in 1970. Well done Michael Hodgens, I hope you will writr more.