Chickenhawk by Robert Mason Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Chickenhawk
Book Review: The definitive first-hand narrative about the helicopter war in Vietnam
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to imagine a more powerful, or insightful "pilot's eye" non-fiction book about the helicopter war in Vietnam, than Robert Mason's Chickenhawk. Everyone has something to learn about the war, and its effects on the soldiers who fought there, from this seminal work. Easily the definitive first-hand narrative on the subject, Mason's empathetic, coming-of-age perspective, witnesses his cowardice (chicken) and courage (hawk) in combat. His story is impossible to put down, honest, and sometimes humorous. The tragedy, and horror of human conflict, are written indelibly, in this readable tale, that puts the sound of thudding rotor blades in your ears, the gritty taste of Pleiku dust in your mouth, and leaves the vision of graceful, burning, machine gun tracers, coming out of the jungle at night, etched forever in your memory.Book Review: This is a great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this 20 years ago & never forgot it. I just re-read it & nothing has changed. This edition has 2 afterwards and pictures, which are a nice addition.Book Review: This one's a doozy
Summary: 4 Stars
Robert Mason flew choppers in Vietnam from 1965 - 1966. His book is a testament to the bravery of the chopper pilots who served.
The Prologue has Mason listing things he didn't know about Vietnam prior to his deployment to Vietnam, Things like the USA once supported Ho Chi Minh against the Japs in WWII. He didn't know that Britain handed Vietnam back to the French after WWII. He didn't know that Vietnam threw the French out after a 9 year war culminating in Dien Bien Phu in 1954. There's more he didn't know but one thing he knew for sure, he wanted to fly. Fly helicopters more than anything.
The chapters starts with Mason recalling how, as a child, he dreamed of levitating. He takes us through basic, advanced infantry and then flight school training prior to being shipped off to Vietnam.
Landing in Vietnam he recalls how he felt about leaving his wife and young child back home and facing the prospect of a year away from them. Mason is all keyed up as he starts his one year tour. Flying with the Air-cav he goes into one hot LZ after another. One of these LZ's is X-ray the subject of the book and subsequent movie "We were Soldiers".
The guts these fliers had to have to survive is staggering. Once you hit the ground you are basically sitting there until the unit you are resupplying, dropping off, picking up etc tells you to leave. He recalls seeing muzzle flashes from all sides including the front. He tells us how the old salts taught him to fly in formation by picking out reference points on the chopper in front of you.
During the book Mason starts to tell us how he felt he was losing his mind and how he'd wake up from the same nightmare sweating profusely time and time again. Despite his love for his wife and child, he still succumbed to the trappings of a war zone and engaged in sex with prostitutes. For me, this didn't take anything away from his character as, in a place where any day could be your last, what else do you have? At least he admits it to the world.
As the book moves along, the irony inherent to so many soldiers starts to kick in. The reasoning behind the war comes into question. Are we the good guys as we level villages and kill and relocate the South Vietnamese. Why won't the ARVN fight? Why aren't we holding captured real estate? all the questions have no answers but the job still has to be done.
The Epilogue is a condensed narrative of Mason's life after Vietnam up until 1981 or so. It reads like a trail of bad luck and devastation as he deals with PTSD and nervous paranoia. So sad given his service to his country.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. One of the better ones I've read in the Vietnam none-fiction category as it's well written, doesn't focus TOO hard on individual battles but more provokes thought from the reader as to the whole episode of Vietnam and it's worthiness.
Book Review: Timeless and much to learn
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read this book 3 times. After the first I had it stolen so bought it again. I am fascinated by the history of Vietnam and it's struggles it has much to teach us for the present. I'm not a helicopter pilot, never will be although I too like Mason wanted to fly. Some will have differing recollections of events particularly this one, but that's okay. I was able to lose myself in the story that is expertly told. Having been in close quarter combat I understood where he was coming from. I continue to study and have read some good accounts but this will always remain one of my favourites.Book Review: Two faces in South-Vietnam
Summary: 5 Stars
Chickenhawk? Yes, these men in their 20s both feared their missions and fought for them to the limits of what their harware allowed them to do, displaying incredible bravery. This story takes you in South-Vietnam and into the world of the Air Cavalry that distinguished brilliantly itself in this theater of operations. Reading this book tells even tricks to better fly the very much famed "Huey Chopper" under extreme conditions. This book is one of the very finest choice for the UH-1D engagement in SEA. Thank you so much Mr. R. Mason!