Almost five decades after American troops left Vietnam, thousands of that war’s veterans are dying. Many are taking untold stories of combat to their graves, believing nobody wants to hear what they had experienced. Others, who see their horizon approaching, are now sharing memories with families, friends and other veterans.
Combat Contrails: Vietnam captures 18 of these stories told by combatants who fought on the ground, in the air and over the water. Most have never appeared in print:
• An A-6 Intruder pilot’s private pre-mission musings, asking, “Am I ready to die?”
• A gutsy Marine calling in more than 450 five-inch rounds fired by two ships, wiping out an entire enemy battalion—half of which were Chinese regular troops. Why was that horrific battle at the Ca De River bridge covered up for 53 years?
• An F-105 pilot being shot down twice within a few weeks—and rescued both times.
• A Navy helicopter gunship racing into an enemy killing-zone trap and its crew’s miraculous survival, thanks to a superb pilot’s next-to-impossible maneuvers. Then repeatedly flying back into that nightmare of blistering gunfire, because fellow Americans were pinned down.
Finally, warriors who fought in Southeast Asia are being heard—and honored.
Author profits from COMBAT CONTRAILS: VIETNAM are being donated to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a wounded-warriors charity (https://projecthealingwaters.org).
Available at amazon.com and NorthSlopePublications.com