This is a truly amazing story of determined, (real) heroism by both downed aviators and their airbourne rescuers. This very well written, technically detailed, story narrates some forty hours following a naval aviator's harrowing parachute descent into the midst of a large concentration of North Vietnamese army, complete with many light and heavy caliber AA artillery, in the Laotian jungle.
The evasion by Streetcar 304 and the truly dedicated and dogged attempts by airbourne rescuers, the Jollys and the Sandys, is almost beyond belief.
This saga will become a classic of the Vietnam Air War.

Author and Navy veteran Kenny Wayne Fields flew 139 combat missions during two combat tours in Vietnam, and served for years as a flight instructor. The Rescue of Streetcar 304: A Navy Pilot's Forty Hours on the Run in Laos is Fields' true-life story of his first combat mission in his A-7 Corsair II. At the time, his target was Laos, even though it was "officially" off-limits for U.S. attacks. He destroyed his target, but was shot down with enemy troops in pursuit. This began his brutal, 40-hour struggle for survival while the U.S. Air Force embarked on one of its largest air rescue missions of the war. In the process, 189 sorties were flown, four pilots were forced to eject, seven planes were lost or severely damaged, and one pilot became a prisoner of war for five years. The Rescue of Streetcar 304 is a captivating true tale of duty, brotherhood, and confronting the very real possibility of an early death. Highly recommended.

As a former Vietnam black water Salvage diver for the U.S. Army (yes, they had divers), I figured this would be anything but a great book. After all, how much can you jam into a book about an experience that only lasted 2 and 1/2 days? Boy oh Boy...was I ever wrong! Sell the house, sell the wife but do anything you need to get the money to buy it. You will not be disappointed! First rate R-E-A-L adventure! One lucky guy. Got one question: Who the heck was the guy or thing that pushed you on the shoulder while you were sleeping up against the tree? Was that a dream? Sandy...of all the trees you could pick in Laos, you just had to pick that one? Geee!

What a book! To me the acid test was, "Would I find this book interesting even if I wasn't mentioned in it?" The answer is a resounding "Yes!" Kenny has done a masterful job of weaving together the thoughts and actions of all the various principal characters--quite a feat by itself. Read the book. You will feel yourself evading the enemy as you wonder why it is taking so long for the rescue forces to arrive. Vietnam Air Rescues

I have not finished reading this book but so far it has been a very good read and glad so many other people are enjoying it. Of course even if it wasn't good I couldn't give a bad review since my father was the helicopter pilot who saved Kenny.

Eric Richardson

This is an outstanding book. Commander Fields gives an incredibly detailed account of what it was like to evade capture and probably death in the jungles of Laos. He battled the dangerous jungle elements and avoided the communist Pathet Lao and NVA for 40-hours. This book explains his thoughts, his fears, and emotions over these 40-hours. Commander Fields also recounts how closely he came to being captured multiple times as well as nearly being killed by friendly bombs. It is truly amazing that he lived through this ordeal. Fields also gives great detail of the men involved in his rescue, the struggles they experienced, and the sacrifice they made to 'pull him out of probable death'. Commander Fields reflects that this book 'was his feeble attempt to glorify the Lord and remind us whe the real heroes are'. I'd say he greatly accomplished this goal. Buy this book. You will enjoy it.

Rescue of Streetcar 304: A Navy Pilot's Forty Hours on the Run in Laos
One of the very best "war stories" I have ever read. The authenticity of this first-hand account jumps out. The guts of this hero and his tribute to those who would sacrifice their lives in a prolonged and extremely dangerous effort to rescue him demonstrates the best of the patriots who walk among us. This ought to be required reading in high schools throughout America.

CDR Fields did a great job of reconstructing the events around his shootdown and rescue to illuminate the heroism of his rescuers. This book will absorb the reader in some of the loftiest and selfless behavior humans are capable of exhibiting. Men like this have been my heroes since childhood and deserve complete acknowledgement. The humility of CDR Fields is as obvious in the book as it was at the airshow book signing and is evidenced in the way he and the USAF rescue helicopter pilot openly express their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which is particularly uplifting. What an example Sandy 7 provides in his sacrifice and lack of bitterness.

This excellent book tells the horror story of a Navy A-7 attack plane pilot, who was shot down on his first combat mission in SEA: Laos. He ejected and landed amongst 10,000 or so Pathet Lao, Viet Cong, and NVA troops who were hiding in the Techpone area, unbeknownst to our intelligence officials or Forward Air Controllers (FACs) responsible for that particular locale of Laos.

After 40 hours of hiding, running, and acting as a ground FAC guiding fighter-bombers that arrived in force to defend him, he was miraculously rescued by a very brave USAF Jolly Green helicopter crew. This books tells his story, and it's one hell of a story!

For what it's worth, I was an RF-4C USAF fighter /reconnaissance pilot, who flew many missions in that same area, plus, many others in SVN and NVN. I and other pilots/WSOs always dreaded the possibility that we might suffer the same rotten fate as this author, Kenny Fields, did. We all knew that if shot down, there was a strong probability that we'd die with the plane, but also if we made it safely to the ground, the enemy was inclined to summarily execute us, or take us prisoner and treat us very brutally. Kenny knew the same possibilities, and when his moment of fate arrived, he was naturally scared, but he was also a determined and smart survivor, which played a major role in his escape and evasion followed by his eventual rescue.

The language and tone of this book vividly represent how it actually "felt," and how it actually was, for Kenny Fields and for many others. It's hard to put this book down, once the reading has begun. It goes to show that planning for the worst is what smart people do, and that good planning and thoughtfull actions play major roles in survival during the worst of times during a war.

Don't miss reading this terrific book. If you liked BAT-21, you'll love THE RESCUE OF STREETCAR-304! You'll feel like you're on the ground with Navy pilot Kenny Fields, but you won't be shot at, as he was!

A great page-turning read that brought back tons of memories ........I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel like the've actually experience a combat search and rescue mission. I flew several - Kenny Fields took me back to SEA for a while.

Joe Panza
Colonel, USAF (Ret)
Jolly Green Pilot (HH-53B)
40 ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand '67-'68

excelent book. as a crew member of USS AMERICA, on the same cruise as the author, we had no idea what difficulties the pilots had to endure once they left the ship. this is a real eye opener. kenny fields did a great job of not only telling his story, but making the reader feel like you are right there in the cockpit with him. very well done.

This is one of the best books to come out of Vietnam. Streetcar 304 gets you right down in the weeds with him while he does his best to "evade and escape." A serious page turner. Not to be missed. As an Air Force F-4 pilot, I was in on several rescues in the same area, and I can tell you this book is right on!

Mr Fields, Yes, heroism was the main theme that came across in your book...heroism and the will to survive! Streetcar 304 shows the frail human qualities that we possess and the heroic qualities that surface in times of need. I don't know who said it but the difference between a hero and a coward is only a few minutes and that is clearly evident in this book! I hope there are plans to make this book into a movie? I have read many books about Vietnam...Bat 21 (both books) Flying Black phonies, Cheating Death, Going Downtown, Escape from Laos and too many more to list...this book is at the top! Fields' use of call signs rather than names was at first troubling but by the end it proved to be the best way so as not to confuse the reader by all the different participants...he then had a glossary at the end with all the actual names...great method! It was well written and very readable...when at the end of your work day, the only thought on your mind is to go home and pick up this book...you know it is a good one!

Before you start reading this book, do the laundry, wash the dishes, buy some t.v. dinners, and dig yourself a hole , because you won't stop reading until the end. It is that exciting, well written, funny, sad, adventurous, clever, scary, told in a great voice, vivid, memorable (you'll find yourself thinking about it for days), magical, spiritual, but most of all you live it as you read it. That's a great book. I met the author at the Oceana Air Show in Virginia. What a guy. Holly

An incredible story; told extremely well! I had trouble putting it down. As an ex-Navy pilot, my hat is off to the author and the many, many persons who participated in his rescue!

The author has captured the true essence and impact of the ordeal he went through during his 40 hours evading on the ground in laos. Every page keeps you on the edge of your seat. There were many heroes in this well written, true adventure and Kenny was foremost among them. Well done Cdr. Fields.

After anxiously awaiting my pre-ordered copy of The Rescue of Streetcar 304, it finally arrived. Once I began reading it, I didn't want to put it down. It is an intriguing book from beginning to end. Kenny did a great job in telling his amazing story of survival. I think it would make a good movie. Definitely the best book I've read lately. I was so impressed that I purchased two more copies to give away.

The Rescue of Streetcar 304 is a truly amazing story that everyone will enjoy reading. The detailed account of those 40 hours give you a great appreciation for the courage and dedication of everyone involved. I'm reading it again for a second time!

As a "bit Player" in the rescue of 304 I knew (know) most of those mentioned in the story. I was the flight scheduler for Nail Fac's at the time. It's a great read, very accurate as far as those things I personally know of. I met Kenny by chance a short time after his ordeal. Very professional, unassuming, and a very nice person. If you're interested in history, read this book. Buck Sheward, Nail 67, NKP '68-'69.

An incredible story of REAL heroes who put their lives on the line for all they hold dear and believe in --- their faith, their country and their families. Kenny Wayne Fields tells of a fight to survive against insurmountable odds in such graphic detail and vivid description that the reader feels he is right there with him as he evades bullets, bombs, wild beasts, and most of all "the bad guys". You won't regret buying this book!!!

This book is the finest I have read with regards to the air war during the Vietnam war. I truely felt as if I were on the ground with Kenny experiencing all the emotions he felt during those 40 hours. The courage of Kenny and the airmen involved in his rescue is a true testament to the fine people that served in the Vietnam war. Thank you Kenny for telling your story.

I have never read a better book about heroism than this book, it is a must read. This true adventure takes place during the Vietnam War. Kenny Fields, a Navy Pilot, has written an adventure story about his escape from Laos after his aircraft was shot down. We are told in graphic detail of his experiences and of those attempting his rescue. The reader will feel as if he or she is in the jungle with him and in the Air Force aircraft attempting his rescue. It also tells of the heart ache and fear family members go through when their loved ones are placed in harms way. This book will become a classic of men at war. It illustrates the courage, love of God, country and family of our men in the military.