The Fence [Paperback]

Bill Morales (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2001

Shattered by a broken relationship, Ray Vaquero impulsively volunteers to fly combat with an elite Special Operations combat unit who's mission is to hunt enemy convoys over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Filled with uncertainty and self-doubt, Vaquero embarks on a journey of self discovery, cultural identity and closure with his past. But in the midst of the rages of war, Ray Vaquero finds that he has abandoned himself...across The Fence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

An intriguing look into the world of Special Operations and AC-130 Gunships during the Vietnam war. Armed with two 40-mm Bofors, twin 20-mm Gatling Guns, and a 105 Howitzer, and a sensor suite that gave it the ability to hear and see its quarry in the dark, these flying arsenals were better known as, Spectre."

About the Author

Bill Morale's novel, The Fence, resulted from his experiences in the Barrio and the War in Vietnam. In 1972 he volunteered to fly combat with the 16th Special Operations Squadron in Ubon, Thailand. He flew more than a hundred missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and 15 Air Medals for combat missions in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Showcase Press (May 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595178200
• ISBN-13: 978-0595178209
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It begins with an outstanding cover!, May 5, 2002

By 

Melinda Ross (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fence (Paperback)

It's a terrific and easy book to read!! What a breath of fresh air!
I appreciate the author's thorough descriptions of the events and locations. The reader is not required to have any military experience to enjoy this book. The details given allow you the benefit of the author's first-hand experiences.
Although I have enjoyed many of Clancy's works, I found this book much easier to read than Clancy's 'Cold War'.
I hope there are more to come from this author.
Did I mention that I really enjoyed this book?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book from a fellow Spectre!, November 6, 2001

By 

Patrick Cook (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fence (Paperback)

I loved it! As a retired 22yr Special Operations Aerial Gunner with over 4000hrs flight time (mostly in Spectre gunships), I agree with Gen Hugh Cox, It was a perfect mix of aircrew stories/life, Vietnam era life, and Hispanic heritage. Bill really did a great job of balancing it all. I recognized some of the real-life counterparts of the fictional characters and felt like I flew side-by-side with Ray Vaquero throughout the novel. I really like the perspective of the ground teams Bill wrote of near the finale. Readers will get a "feel" of some of our missions and how we played as hard as we fought. Congrats, Bill on a great book! If you ain't Spectre...Yoooohooo -PJ Cook (Spectre from 78-99)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ordinary Men...Unconditional Valor, May 6, 2002

By 

Willie Tousett (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fence (Paperback)

"The Fence" is a poignant account of courage and valor of ordinary men who volunteered to be in harms way; about brave deeds and selfless sacrifice for country and the special airmen who stepped forward and answered the call. "The Fence" is not literature or even a GREAT story. BUT, it's clearly a story that needed to be told; of the "deeds of great courage in the darkness, never seen or recorded." Truly, "The Fence" is a must read for those who want to have the experience, and discern what it was like to fly Special Ops in Southeast Asia.