Customer Reviews

"Charlie" Brown's Vietnam Journal: A Tactical Airlift Pilot's View of the War

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent journal of a pilots day to day experience while serving in Vietnam. I served with Charlie during his tour at Phan Rang AB. A wonderful person and a wonderful summary of his combat flying experience.

Charlie Brown was what the hot-shot jet jockeys called a 'trash hauler.' He flew C-123 Providers around Vietnam for a year (1970 to 1971). The C-123 was an ugly, slow but reliable air plane. Twin engined, with two auxiliary jets for extra power when needed. During the year he flew 59 combat missions of more than 350 sorties and over 300 hours of flying time.

The book is in the form of a diary. He began the diary just before getting assigned to Vietnam, kept it throughout the year and once home entered less and less. His was not a heroic or terribly exciting tour. He was one of many who went, did their duty, and came home without the horror of wounds or recurring illness.

He would probably say something like 'just another soldier doign his duty.' And he was. But his duty took him to a place that most of us didn't go. He went, he did his duty as best he saw it, and he came home. It's a story of quiet courage. It's a story he can be proud of. I am proud that we have men like him.