Customer Reviews

Cleared Hot!: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary (Special Warfare Series)

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I was a Marine "guy in the Back" of RF4 aircraft for 13 years. One of the most important jobs of a Gib is to be the communicator. We learned that phraseology used over the radio had to be precise and very very clear. Make no mistake radio procedures are written in blood, widows and smoking holes.There is absolutely no room for BS and colorful language. Col. Stoffe got it exactly right. He mentions one instance where a couple of Air Force F4s got [messed] up and nearly killed themselves becouse their radio procedure was slack. Col. Stoffe does a great job of telling his story. He was a warrior. He faced down the enemy time after time and survived. His book makes facinating reading for thoes like to read about men who could have a gunfight every day.

Cleared Hot!: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary by Col. Bob Stoffey is an accurate account of a Vietnam pilot during his terms of service in the Vietnam Conflict. Stoffey writes an account of his ordinary missions and his not so ordinary experiences. The book is laced with heroic stories of Stoffey flying his OV-10 forward air support plane and "Dog" helicopter against the "Gooners." In the OH-10 he organizes strikes and marks targets as well as gets in the action with his centerline gattling gun and rockets, which he's deadly accurate with. In the "Dog" Stoffey delivers much needed supplies to Marine "Grunts" under heavy fire. He gets in fast while his .50 cal. gunners clear the way, drop their cargo, and get out. The action just isn't in the air. There are accounts of rocket attacks and gunfire on the base, (near every night) as well as raids by Gooners with satchel bombs.
If you're interested in war books, this is one for you. Stoffey's style is technical and precise, using a lot of military abbreviations and terms, which adds to its authenticity. Cleared Hot!: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary is written as you would expect a pilot of the time to speak. He has that edge about him that defines a great pilot and a hero. This book is worth buying. As well as a good read, it gives you a history lesson with a real sense of the danger involved.

Seeing "We Were Soldiers" with Mel Gibson immediately reminded me of another powerful and true story during the Vietnam conflict - "Cleared Hot". I enjoyed Col.Stoffey's account of his 440 combat missions in its original hardbound edition, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to know what it feels like to be in the cockpit and taking hostile fire when there's no turning back. I found the book both educational and a delight to read. I've read it twice.

Book Review by Maryanne Raphael, Writers World CLEARED HOT! The Diary of a Marine Combat Pilot in VIetnam is a personal narriative showing what the war in Vietnam was really like for one marine. Col. Stoffey holds nothing back. He shares his personal feelings, his opinions, his experiences and insights. The powerful descriptions, vivid details, and realistic dialog take the reader into the heart of the jungle exposing the tragedy and heroism that is war. This intense diary does for Vietnam what SAVING PRIVATE RYAN does for World War II. Author Bob Stoffey served three combat tours during "America's longest and most frustrating war," the one that forced every American to examine his or her soul. Here now is our chance to listen to someone who was there and has the couragge and ability to share his trip to hell and back. By Maryanne Raphael, Writers World

After reading Col. Stoffey's account of his lengthy involvement in Vietnam you arrive at the conclusion that that this man and many like him would have won the war if given the opportunity. Every day that they were "in country," unsung acts of heroism occurred that the general public never had access to until now. Col. Stoffey's book gives new perspectives on our early and late involvement in Vietnam from the persepctive of a Marine aviator. It's battle descriptions are gripping. You can't put it down until you've finished it, and then you're sorry that its over. Well done!

A riveting "in the cockpit" presentation of the dangers, personal frustrations, and day to day life or death of combat support helicopter pilots and, perhaps lesser known to the public, the unsung role of Forward Air Controllers (FAC) in low and slow lightly armed observation aircraft, themselves receiving ground fire, guiding high flying jets to target enemies only a few hundred feet in front of friendly ground troops.

Col. Stoffey's ability to recreate in print the radio conversations between FAC and ground or air units gives the reader a feel of "you are there".

This is one of the best books on Vietnam EVER. Im only in 8th grade but I've been in the helos he flies and sat in an OV-10 and he couldn't be more descriptive about the birds he flies. I would reccomend this book to any war buff, historian, know it all, or just plain reader!

One of the better Vietnam War books. Well-written, interesting, enjoyable, and never self-promoting. Comes across as the Real Deal.

This book is a first person account of Col. Bob Stoffey's experiences in Vietnam. He tells about 2 of his 3 tours of duty in Vietnam. It truly depicts the nitty gritty details of flying choppers and light aircraft into combat. Anyone who enjoys reading about aviation or even military history would like this book

great account from the helicoptors point of view. Little difficult getting into as in the beginning there were just too many numbers of different squadrons too absorb. Once I got throught this the read was thoroughly enjoyable.