My only fault with the book is a comment on the jacket that said, in so may words, that only the Catkillers could put in airstrikes, artillery and naval gunfire. In fact, Bird Dog pilots in other Corps were trained as FACS by the USAF and Naval Gunfire Forward Observers by the Navy. But that was on the jacket and not found in the book.

"!00 Feet Over Hell" captured my attention right off. You do not have to be a pilot to appreciate what events are told in the book. Hooper has a knack of telling his story for everyone.

In my case, I was a bird dog pilot in the 221 RAC in IV Corps 65-66 and a Mohawk pilot in I Corps 68-69. The book expertly describes the Bird Dog mission as I knew it. The enemy called the Bird Dog the "Old Lady Airplane. It flies around and looks and then talks and talks about what it has seen." As "!00 Feet Over Hell" relates, it talked to artillery, air and naval gunfire with devastating results for the enemy.
The book's geography is accurate. He places Dong Ha, Phu Bai. Con Thien and others on the map with reference to where they fit into the overall battle. The DMZ was only demilitarized for us; the NVA used it at will. Hooper aptly points that out.

I recommend "100 Feet Over Hell" to anyone interested in the way it was in Vietnam.

Norman Svarrer AKA Shotgun 10 and Redeye 02.

The genuine article, 19 Dec 2009
By Bruce G. De Wert (Scotland) - See all my reviews

As a private pilot, I found this book to be entirely fascinating and made my own exploits as a fair weather flyer pale into insignificance. What incredible stress these pilots underwent. To fly at such ridiculously low heights, being shot at and braving death and injury for hours on end, day after day, would test any man.

It is amazing that so many survived. At low level, like this, you are vulnerable not only to anti-aircraft fire but to personal weapons. The fact is, however, that both Jim Hooper and his colleagues did keep getting back into their cockpits and do it, whether they wanted to or not. I can only wonder at such people and be thankful that I have lived through a time of comparative peace when I was not required to go to war. The long-term consequences of such stress are to be feared for our own lads who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to look after them.

I highly recommend this book for the insights that it gives both to the role of spotter aircraft and to the humanity of the pilots that flew them.

All Heroes, 26 Nov 2009
By P. Pienaar (Pretoria, South Africa) - See all my reviews

Having taken part in another war, namely the RSA/Angola conflict in SWA/Namibia, I can relate to the characters in this book. Their dedication, bravery and heroism is brilliantly portrayed by the author. The book 'sucks you in' and it's difficult to put down once the first page is turned. It's a shame that Doc Clement, Bill Hooper, Charlie Finch and their comrades haven't received the recognition for service to their country that they so richly deserve. They lived with death on their shoulder every day that they were in Vietnam and they are true heroes, one and all.

Jim Hooper has certainly captured the subtle nuances of life at the sharp end of war. Even though we may not all agree on the necessity for the Vietnam conflict, the author 'tells it like it is' and it's refreshing to read an honest and accurate account of this 'war within a war'. Full marks for an excellent, exciting and tremendously readable book!!

Wonderful, 25 Aug 2009
By Mr. Jonathan R. Charlesworth (Ware,Herts, UK) - See all my reviews

An excellent book on an aspect of the Vietnam conflict that I have not found covered before. Highly recommended.

A Great Read, 7 Mar 2010
By S. Crowhurst (UK) - See all my reviews

If you are thinking about buying this book, then definetly do so. I highly reccommend it. It gives an informative, heartfelt account of life in Vietnam, thru the eyes of a rarely known about or heard of group of pilots. It shows the reality of the day to to day lives these guys led, and gives a really unique insight into how they coped (or tried to) during their tours. Full of really interesting stories with accounts from alot of the participants in some of the main firefights it covers (the marines on the ground, the bird dog pilots etc), you get a unique insight into how they all interacted and worked together during a battle and how intense it all was. There is also has some really hilarious moments in there as well. A nice touch is the epilogue as well, detailing what all the guys featured in the book did in later life.


Bird Dog !, 1 Mar 2010
By N. Page (UK) - See all my reviews

A military adaptation of a 1950s design that first saw service during the Korean War, the Cessna Bird Dog was already rather long in the tooth by the time of the Vietnam war. However in the Forward Air Control role the Bird Dog managed to get into far more scrapes than many other far more glamorous combat machines. Although it was a flimsy parasol-winged light aircraft barely capable of 100 mph, the Bird Dog over Vietnam spent most of its time in the early years of the conflict in the air stooging around over the jungle, spotting and sighting within range of every enemy weapon on the battlefield. Author Jim Hooper's brother flew one and this is his story and that of his unit, the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company, the 'Catkillers'. It is the tale of a handful of young pilots who put their lives on the line virtually every time they got airborne. They operated over the northern-most part of South Vietnam, along the so-called DMZ or demilitarized zone, either alone or with a second crewman, often, amazingly enough, venturing into North Vietnam searching out targets and directing artillery or air strikes against them. The only Army Bird Dog company to bear the Marine designation of Tactical Air Coordinator (Airborne), they supported both Army and Marine infantry, often spelling survival for embattled American or Vietnamese troops. They went to war the hard way, with nothing more than 217 hp, a radio and a map. With the exception of a handgun and a M16, they were unarmed. But as the Vietcong learned, once the Catkillers had located their target and marked it with their smoke rockets, they could bring a formidable arsenal to bear. From rolling artillery barrages to successive flights of Phantoms or Skyhawks, all the FAC had to say was "Hit my smoke," and a carpet of destruction would descend upon enemy troops, sometimes within tens of metres of friendly positions.
A handful of aviation memoirs from the Vietnam War truly stand out - 'Thud Ridge' and 'Chickenhawk' to name just two. Jim Hooper's 'history' of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company will become another classic, packed as it is with accounts of rare heroism and thrilling flying action. In these days of unmanned drones, it almost beggars belief that the Catkiller FACs flew low and slow in some of the most heavily defended airspace in the history of aerial warfare. 'A Hundred Feet Over Hell' is a must read for all with an interest in military aviation.

Couldn't put it down, 18 Dec 2009
By G. L. Avery (UK) - See all my reviews

Only about the third book I've read on Vietnam, but it was really outstanding. Not only a fine account of men in combat, but leavened with humour and humanity.
I thought the format - allowing the men to speak for themselves - worked very well. Plus the author's good knowledge of flying - no descriptive mistakes.
A highly recommended read, even for a non-American!

Warriors pass to other men, who also become warriors, the example and masculinity needed to succeed as a warrior. That is why we have check pilots, instructors, standardization pilots, and heroes like the real characters in Jim Hooper's book A Hundred Feet Over Hell. These men were able to do their job well because of other men doing their jobs well; like the company staff, the supply chain, maintenance support, and the guys who kept the airplanes flying. No man accomplishes much in life without other men, but we often find it difficult to acknowledge this fact. Jim Hooper writes with skill to demonstrate the interconnectivity between men of strength, courage, and acquired ability and the success of men who follow. Without our consensus examples, men struggle to discover their true identity and purpose. This book is full of real men, who knew who they were, from the flight line soldier to the one who launched the rocket or made the call for help to support units, these are the men who made war. Our warriors, indeed!

As I read Jim Hooper's book, full of his skillful presentation of words and deeds provided by the men highlighted in his book, my mind naturally wandered back to the first days of my own Vietnam era flight experiences. I felt the passion, the often un-acknowledged fear, the awesome exhilaration of the moment. This book will take you back to memories you thought you had forgotten. These accounts are real, they are accurate, they represent what made the unit successful, and they anoint this book a treasure to own and read.

This is a book about men being men; it is all masculine and provocative. Bill Hooper said it plainly: "War was our life. It was what we did." Camaraderie lives where men share experiences and respect for one another. The 220th RAC enjoyed a sterling reputation, because there were standout warriors in every level of unit operations, and this book makes that clear. It is also why the commander merely continued to throw darts when these men let off steam. Leaders knew these men required an outlet. In the words of Bill Hooper, "Perhaps the saddest thing of all was that I would learn to be unemotional about killing, eventually joining others who were very good at it." Those emotions were often soothed by strange and aggressive brotherly behavior. Jim Wisby, Catkiller Six, made a profound statement, as descriptive as any to affirm the pilots of the unit: ..."because they were virtually on their own from takeoff to landing, it also required a personality bordering on controlled recklessness." These men loved, laughed, partied, set the example, and influenced everyone in the unit. The enlisted men were strong and valuable, too, inspired by the success and reputation of their officers.

I could write more but choose to merely state that this book is a gift, a labor of intense love for the men of the 220th RAC. Get your copy, and order a copy for your best friend, children, or for anyone you feel will benefit from a Wild At Heart example. An excerpt from the aforementioned book quotes King Henry V, who wrote to his men in 1598:

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Thank you, Jim, for a commendable job in putting together the essence of this special unit.

An excellent work by Mr. Hooper, one of the most spellbinding books I have read recently. You can actually imagine yourself in the cockpits of those light aircraft who were forward fire control troops for flights of aircraft and on one case a naval bombardment.
By exposing the inner workings of the tactical situations in Nam, Hooper helps you understand, from an extremely personal level, what it felt like to see ground troops, both enemy and friendly forces, and how the Catkillers in many cases saved lives and held off the enemy until ground troops could either escape from the attacks or until the enemy could be routed from the area.
Hooper's extremely vivid description of his brother taking fire and actually getting hit will leave you amazed and holding your breath for the outcome of the incident.
By weaving together individual accounts of the same incidents, Hooper allows you get a 360 degree view of specific actions and leaves you better able to understand the "Big Picture" of enemy engagement and what it took to neutralize enemy actions.
If you were at all involved in the Vietnam war you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this book and read it, you will not be dissapointed.

I loved "A Hundred Feet Over HELL" by Jim Hooper from the first page. I spent hundreds of hours as an aerial observer in the same area flying out of Dong Ha and Camp Carroll for the 108th Artillery, the 1st Bn 5th(MECH), the 1st Arvn Regiment and the 101st Airborne, and sad to say I didn't know much about the Catkillers, even though I bunked for a few months with the aviators in Dong Ha, a very rowdy and fun loving group. This book is riviting and I couldn't put it down. I knew the terrain intimately and the stories brought back many memories of that area and the DMZ, the people and wonderful soldiers I met and served with. The professionalism and bravery of the aviators and their "backseats" put the rest of us to shame. The author worked hard to put together not only a comprehensive timeline of events, but fleshed it in wonderfully with personal stories and vignettes and even was able to find some of the grateful "ground pounders" who lives and limbs they saved. I do know about that as I've seen their work first hand. It's a great book, and one of the few that talks about northern I Corps other than about the Tet offensive at Khe Sahn.

Mr Jim Hooper's rousing compilation "A Hundred Feet Over Hell", documenting the absolutely incredible exploits of the 220th Recon Airplane Company are a DEFINITE must-read for anyone who has even just dreamt of piloting a small aircraft. Sit back and enjoy a long overdue history lesson detailing previously unknown heroics of a small band of plank drivers who were undoubtedly responsible for countless lives saved by placing themselves in harm's way during every flight. This dumb, Irish helo pilot enjoyed every page!

100 Feet Over Hell is extremely well written in first hand accounts of the bravery and ingenuity of these young men. Dad was a Catkiller just prior to the time period of these accounts. This book gives me a whole new perspective and appreciation for his recollections of those days flying FAC. Thank you for your service Dad and thank you for a great book Jim!

I read this book because I am acquainted with one of the featured flyers. It is a riveting collection of tales - part history, part diary, part journal - of those who served in Vietnam in ways that are at times beyond imagining. I was captivated by the "real time" sense of the Forward Air Control stories, and even more, astounded by the way in which Jim Hooper connected troops on the ground DECADES LATER with the flyboys - and marveled as they learned who it was that long ago saved their butts by their selfless service as they located their infantry brothers and called in resources to save the day. This was unlike any other account of the Vietnam era I have seen or read. I highly recommend it! Rev. Don Lincoln, West Chester, PA

This was a great read. The book is in an interview style, but it doesn't detract from the reading experience at all. I learned a lot about what the Catkillers and their service was.
I've lent this book out to all my family, because we all know someone who was in the Catkillers.

What a great read! This book is a captivating story of the Vietnam conflict. I read this book over a weekend, it's a very quick read, and there were times I felt like I was the "back-seater" in Bill Hooper, Charles Finch, or "Doc" Clements Catkiller 18. I loved your story guys... God Bless You All
Hey Doc! Castle Heights Miliatary Academy "69"

Jim Hooper has captured the essence of combat flying. The bullets seem to rip through the cockpit; the radio chatter with the grunts, support aircraft and other FACs are true to life. These men hung their lives on the props of single engine aircraft to support the infantrymen. 100 Feet Over Hell ranks in the top five combat books I have read.
I flew Hueys in Vietnam, these guys had larger gonads than most.
John

I also flew O-1s as a pilot in the 74th RAC in 65-66 III Corps. I can attest to the accuracy of the story line. Without sounding self aggrandizing, it is a very vivid and accurate depiction of combat in the Bird Dog. I was afforded the privilege of previewing the transcript before it went to print, and I can assure you that Hooper has done his level best to tell a true story without embellishment because, it needs none.

I agree with previous reviews, that if you served in Viet Nam and had contact with these diminutive air craft and their intrepid pilots, you will be taken back in time and will relive the chaos, and the brotherhood of souls trying to survive a difficult time.

Read the reviews, they all can't be wrong. It is a page turner, enjoy.

This book shows a part of the vietnam war that I didn't even know existed. Fascinating to read and hard to put down this is easily one of my favorite books to date.

Great read. Gives excellent insight into the mind set of soldiers from that era. These guys were a true "band of brothers" as well as great americans. Hope someone makes this story into a movie. It reveals is a facinating aspect of "close air support" in Vietnam that few people know about.

I was honestly sad that the book came to an end. This will forever be one of my favorites I've ever read.

As a combat veteran of the 101st Airborne Division in the very same I Corps region as the setting for the book, I thought I was familiar with combat operations. After reading "100 Feet Over Hell", I was able to see the war from a much different perspective. All we knew about Bird Dogs was that they were a radio call sign for artillery. Jim Hooper gives vivid descriptions through the eyes of his brother and fellow Bird Dogs. The absolute hell that the Bird Dogs went through to provide artillery support for us grunts on the ground was something I didn't appreciate until reading this book. "100 Feet Over Hell" is very well written, well presented and well researched. Jim Hooper is a professional writer and his talent shows throughout this book.

Hooper's book is more about the men who fought a thankless war over one of the most hazardous areas in an unarmored, virtually unarmed, and slow airplane (the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog) than about flying the Bird Dog. Men who flew and fought right down in the weeds, typically well within the range of even small arms fire. The men were mostly young, newly minted Army pilots with an abundance of determination, intestinal fortitude, and camaraderie and a limited tolerance for bureaucracy and regulations.

Most of the book is told in their own words, with inputs from several participants alternated as a particular event or story unfolds, all blended with editorial commentary to set the scene and provide a "higher altitude" view of what was going on. This approach provides a thoroughly engaging means of understanding not only what was happening but what those combatants were thinking and how they were handling both the stresses and challenges of combat.

However, Hooper does not just tell one combat story after another. He wisely provides a lot of insights into what they did before and after missions, how they dealt with the constant threat of death, and how they partied to alleviate the tensions of war. Again, most of this is told in the first-person by the men who lived it.

If you're an experienced combat pilot, you'll feel a kinship with the young men in the book. If you're not, you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for their trials, successes, and even failures.

This is a book I highly recommend!

It's difficult to imagine more heroic men than those featured in "A Hundred Feet Over Hell." Pilots and veterans of the highest order, these brave--some would say "crazy"--men flew in close aerial proximity to some of the deadliest combat zones of the past 100 years, all in an effort to support the fighting Marines and soldiers on the ground. Even more amazing, these aviators did so in airplanes that most outsiders would guess weighed less than the pilots themselves. Author Jim Hooper has a passion for the topic--his brother was one of the pilots featured in the book--and it shows in his prose. The riveting firsthand accounts from the flyers themselves only add a hair-raising dimension to an already made-for-Hollywood story. Get yourself a copy of this book ASAP!

I was with the 2nd. Batt. 3rd. Marines during the time frame covered by this book. Our AO was the area described by Jim, northern I Corps. His descriptions of places and events are so vivid that I felt I was back on Foxtrot ridge. If you were there you need to read this book.

Michael Owens

This book is most revealing of the hazards faced by the pilots and spotters who flew the Bird Dogs in Vietnam. It reveals their bravery, their vital concern over their fellow soldiers many of whom they saved from a certain death or capture! The first hand accounts by those who flew and were there is outstanding! Highly recommended.

Joe Noah, Preddy Memorial Foundation

If you were in VietNam as a "grunt" or an aviator this is a book you need to read. Its both a history and a tribute to a unique group of young men who did incredible things with their small, slow planes while supporting our troops on the ground. Jim Hooper has done a great job of assembling the experiences of his brother's unit and presenting them in a way that the reader can appreciate the dedication and professionalism of each member of the Catkillers. As a VietNam vet who had the privilege of working with both Army and Air Force aviators, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it highly.

A very good read with an interesting perspective based upon the use of first person voice, being very effective...nice flowing style...terror, excitement, manly men....good stuff. History, flying, real time experiences with focused dedicated individuals makes for an engrossing story of men, doing a job seldom heard about by the general public. The author puts you in the front seat of the Bird Dog, out on the front lines taking enemy fire and staying to ensure that air and /or artillery support gave relief to the troops on the edge of being overrun and killed. Hats off to tireless, fearless warriors doing their job!! Buy the book, tighten your seat belt, enjoy the flight!!

Very few books capture my rapt attention enough to read them through without stopping. A Hundred Feet Over Hell is one of those. Jim Hooper has skillfully crafted the 220th Catkiller story by seasoning first person accounts from those that served as Catkillers with his own third person narrative to add context only when necessary. It's a blend that works and does justice to their incredible story of skill, courage, sacrifice, humor and sadness set in the backdrop of the Vietnamese DMZ during the late sixties.

As a retired military professional and Army aviator of a more recent era, I am simply amazed and deeply impressed at the hair raising feats these Army FACs and their Marine observers accomplished over and across the DMZ on a daily basis with their small and frail O-1 Bird Dogs, a few marking rockets, M-16s, grenades, radios and a map. It's the stuff of legend and a proud legacy for all current and future warriors to be inspired by.

I highly recommend this book for your reading and library collection. You won't be disappointed.

Above the Best!

A HUNDRED FEET OVER HELL WAS WRITTEN BY JIM HOOPER ABOUT THE 22OTH RAC IN VIETNAM DURING THE WAR. MY HUSBAND SERVED WITH THE UNIT FOR ONE YEAR. WHILE I HAVE HEARD HIS "STORIES" OVER THE YEAR, IT WAS NICE TO SEE IT ALL CONNECTED BY THE OTHER BRAVE MEN WHO WERE THERE. IT BROUGHT BACK LOTS OF EMOTIONS AND MEMORIES! THANKS, JIM

Fac's were a unique breed of pilots and all had varying types of experiences in Vietnam. Having been a Swampfox delta Fac it's interesting to read a fellow Fac's experience in another part of Vietnam.

A Hundred Feet Over Hell is a great insight into what these young men went through in 1968-9. The action is fast and one small mistake would have ended in tragedy (which it often did). A great read with the details of particular missions and a few "off mission" exploits. I really enjoyed the book.

Jim Hooper's "A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is the story of his brother's Vietnam War experiences flying the O-1 Bird Dog Observation Aircraft. Bill Hooper was a Tactical Air Controller - Airborne, or a TACA. He flew this low-flying, slow-speed aircraft with the 220th Reconnaissance Aircraft Company, a unit known by their call-sign "Catkillers". In the second war of the Jet Age, the Bird Dog was a very unglamorous aircraft, but to the men on the ground, having a Bird Dog overhead was like having your own personal guardian angel. Hooper's book does an outstanding job of documenting the contributions of the Catkillers between 1968 and 1969.

"A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is a very personal story told by the men who lived the war. Hooper does an amazing job telling the story of how these aviators called in airstrikes in support of ground troops. After reading the book, the reader gains a new appreciation for the difficulty of simultaneous flying a plane; describing a target to a jet aircraft traveling four times as fast and 10,000 feet higher than you; and avoiding ground fire. American aviators were the best in this lethal business.

In the chapter "Busy Month of June", Hooper describes a Catkiller attack on a North Vietnamese Truck Convoy. "I started climbing, mentally computing where I wanted to roll in. At about eight hundred feet, I nosed over. Fixed on the windscreen of the lead truck, I armed both outboard tubes. The truck grew larger, and I could see the driver leaning forward to look up. Steaadyyy. Passing through five hundred feet, I squeezed the trigger, holding the dive for the split second it took the rockets to ignite and clear the tubes. In less time than it takes to describe, they hit. What happened next was not part of the plan."

Hooper put together this book by interviewing the men who flew with the Catkillers; and he corroborated these stories by researching various official documents such as radio logs from the various command posts associated with the Catkillers.

A minor annoyance in the book is the non-capitalization of marines, air force, and navy. In modern American military parlance, there is only one Army, one Marine Corps, one Navy, and one Air Force. Therefore, when referring to these specific American military organizations, the term is always capitalized.

Overall, "A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is a fantastic book capturing the experiences of this small set of aviators. 469 TACAs (and Air Force FACAs or Forward Air Controllers) were shot down during the Vietnam War. This book is a fitting tribute to their contributions. I highly recommend this book to any aviation enthusiast.

Jim Hooper's "A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is the story of his brother's Vietnam War experiences flying the O-1 Bird Dog Observation Aircraft. Bill Hooper was a Forward Air Controller - Airborne, or a FACA. He flew this low-flying, slow-speed aircraft with the 220th Reconnaissance Aircraft Company, a unit known by their call-sign "Catkillers". In the second war of the Jet Age, the Bird Dog was a very unglamorous aircraft, but to the men on the ground, having a Bird Dog overhead was like having your own personal guardian angel. Hooper's book does an outstanding job of documenting the contributions of the Catkillers between 1968 and 1969.

"A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is a very personal story told by the men who lived the war. Hooper does an amazing job telling the story of how these aviators called in airstrikes in support of ground troops. After reading the book, the reader gains a new appreciation for the difficulty of simultaneous flying a plane; describing a target to a jet aircraft traveling four times as fast and 10,000 feet higher than you; and avoiding ground fire. American aviators were the best in this lethal business.

In the chapter "Busy Month of June", Hooper describes a Catkiller attack on a North Vietnamese Truck Convoy. "I started climbing, mentally computing where I wanted to roll in. At about eight hundred feet, I nosed over. Fixed on the windscreen of the lead truck, I armed both outboard tubes. The truck grew larger, and I could see the driver leaning forward to look up. Steaadyyy. Passing through five hundred feet, I squeezed the trigger, holding the dive for the split second it took the rockets to ignite and clear the tubes. In less time than it takes to describe, they hit. What happened next was not part of the plan."

Hooper put together this book by interviewing the men who flew with the Catkillers; and he corroborated these stories by researching various official documents such as radio logs from the various command posts associated with the Catkillers.

A minor annoyance in the book is the non-capitalization of marines, air force, and navy. In modern American military parlance, there is only one Army, one Marine Corps, one Navy, and one Air Force. Therefore, when referring to these specific American military organizations, the term is always capitalized.

Overall, "A Hundred Feet Over Hell" is a fantastic book capturing the experiences of this small set of aviators. 469 FACAs were shot down during the Vietnam War. This book is a fitting tribute to their contributions. I highly recommend this book to any aviation enthusiast.

On this Memorial Day, I am proud to be counted amoung the few that had the honor of serving our country. I read this book and found the writing to be both engaging and moving. In retrospect, of how these men were seen by "some" people in our nation, it a refreshing to see and "feel" the journey these boys to men accomplished. I believe this book is both moving and remarkable to see all that these men did for every single soldier they protected. I salute all those who served for honor, country and most importantly each other.

This terrific book tells the story of a company of Army fixed-wing aviators performing forward air controller duties flying very slow, prop-driven, single engine Cessna aircraft over some of the hottest battlefields of the Vietnam war.

From grunts on the ground wading through the swamps of the Delta or struggling through the jungle highlands, to medical personnel providing care to wounded warriors, to the pilots and crews of helicopters or "fast-mover" jet aircraft, to small Special Forces units patrolling deep in enemy-controlled areas in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos, each veteran saw the war from their individual perspective. In this book, Jim Hooper tells about the Vietnam war from the perspective of his brother Bill and his fellow aviators providing their forward air controller services in support of Marines and Army grunt units on the ground in the northern part of South Vietnam known as I Corp.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army (1967-70), I served both stateside and elsewhere in the Asia during the period covered by this book. Probably because of my service as well as my long-standing fascination with military history, I have read many books about war and I can say that this book ranks right up there with the very best.

This book is "edge of the seat" and "riveting". It gives an eye opening account of what our service men endure and accomplish. For us safely in our homes and everyday life, it is hard to believe it is humanly possible for men to achieve this type of bravery. My thanks to all the men who have gone before this book and who will follow. "Myth Makers" is the best title given to them. The author has given a professional and detail read.

This was a fantastic read. It pulled me in and didn't let me go until I finished it. The author weaves an incredible tale of young men in small, slow aircraft facing death every day while striving to save the lives of their fellow soldiers. Well researched through interviews with the actual pilots who flew these missions, it is a fascinating story. One page could have me laughing and the next page could fill me with sadness. The writing style is superb.

If you were in the Viet War, this is a must read book. The boys flying these little, flmsey planes did not get enough credit for saving lives on the ground while risking theirs. A 21 gun salute to all you brave flyers.