Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 959.704348
EAN num: 9780804115605
ISBN number: 0804115605
Label: Ballantine Books
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 304
Printing Date: January 29, 1997
Publishing house: Ballantine Books
Release Date: January 29, 1997
Sale Popularity Level: 1624209
Studio: Ballantine Books
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Product Description:
PLUNGING INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH . . . EVERY DAY
After being mortared his very first five nights in Vietnam during Tet, 1969, Richard D. Spalding was ready to fly Cobras with the Centaurs, Buffalo Bill Cody's old outfit as part of D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division.
The Cobra *an AH-IG gunship helicopter armed with rockets and machine guns and cannon *was the very first U.S. Army helicopter designed as an attack helicopter, and Spalding soon found himself pitched into a fierce new kind of aerial warfare. When not providing support for dicey LRRP missions, the Cobra became the killer half of hunter-killer teams. Once the enemy was spotted by a low-and-slow-flying observation helicopter, Spalding used his Cobra to turn Victor Charlie into Ground Chuck.
But the VC were often ready with their deadly .51 caliber machine guns, and Spalding had plenty of wild rides in bullet-riddled gunships. This is his story--bloody, graphic, and raw *filled with all the fear and fearlessness, danger, tension, brotherhood, and sacrifice that comprised America's heroic hell in Vietnam.
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Rated by buyers -
I also flew gunships in D Troop, 3/4 Cav, callsign "Centaur 40" but in the UH-1C "Charlie Model" gunships prior to the period of time that Richard Spalding was in the unit flying Cobras. We flew in the same AO (area of operations) it appears. I enjoyed reading of his experiences and found that they were not much different than mine. The book appears to be a compilation of intensely recalled events and some genuine but not so life threatening events which, it seems, is common in war. I thank Richard for writing the book and suggest he check in with the 3/4 Cav Assn website to renew the kinship all us old Centaurs have as a result of our shared experiences.
Rated by buyers -
While Mr. Spaulding does not expose his intermost thoughts and emotions, he nontheless give a true and inspired accounting of his piece of the Vietnam Helicopter war. There have been many books written about this aspect of the war, and all have their own unique perspective. However, there is "something" about this straight forward no nonsense narrative that grabs the readers attention and keeps it. I have read this book 7 or 8 times. If you read a lot of Vietnam books, you will not be disappointed.
Rated by buyers 
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I liked the book alright, but only gave it a three star, because the author skip around to much. It was hard for me to keep an intrest in the book.this was probably the autor's very first book,so I can't fault him too much.
Rated by buyers -
Iliked the book alright, but only gave it a three star, because the author skip around to much. It was hard for me to keep an intrest in the book.this was probably the autor's very first book,so I can't fault him too much.
Rated by buyers 
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I have read many books with regard to the Vietnam Conflict. Some books have been quite analytical while others seem like something out of a Sgt. Rock Comic.
For some reason Spalding's excellent work draws you into the conflict in a way that's difficult to describe. You sense the technical challenges required of a Cobra driver and the skills needed to deploy the deadly Cobra platform.
When I very first picked up the the book I thought "Well, looks like another shoot-em up." It's not, it will haunt you.
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