Flying Through the Years: A Trilogy of Short Tours and Collection of Stories [Hardcover]

Robert Lanzotti (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 080596195X | ISBN-13: 978-0805961959 | Publication Date: October 22, 2003

In Flying through the Years: A Trilogy of Short Tours and a Collection of Short Stories, Bob Lanzotti provides his memoirs as an Army helicopter pilot during three overseas tours, all conducted during the turbulent decade of the sixties. Each tour, one to Korea and two to Vietnam, contains at least a score of short stories. Lanzotti begins with his often humorous reflections as a fledgling new aviator in Korea. As the book progresses, so too does Lanzotti’s aviator experience level and job responsibilities, culminating with his command of the Crimson Tide, a Chinook unit within the 1st Cavalry Airmobile Division. His stories recurrently pay well earned homage to the achievements of the men he served and flew with during what he recalls as his greatest adventure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LTC Bob Lanzotti (Ret.) attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship from 1955-1960. He was commissioned in to the Regular Army in 1960 and retired as a lieutenant colonel twenty-five years later. Bob was an Airborne Ranger and Master Army Aviator. During his two tours in Vietnam he flew more than 1,000 hours of combat helicopter time and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Bronze Stars, and twenty-four Air Medals. Today, Bob is an elementary school teacher in Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta, where he lives with his wife, Vicki, and their golden retriever, Rocky.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. (October 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080596195X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805961959
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,422,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Flying High, April 5, 2005

By 

John Harriman "Delta" (Montana, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flying Through the Years: A Trilogy of Short Tours and Collection of Stories (Hardcover)

This book is a piece of the puzzle in trying to understand Vietnam. It's important that you read what the veterans have to say about their experiences, because you cannot rely on press accounts from the era nor on press flashbacks to Vietnam, which always highlight the negative. That is not to say that Lanzotti wrote a political treatise. No, it's an intensely personal story that captures the essence of the hard work and dedication of serving in uniform during a time of war.

The bonus is the collection of delightful stories that will give you chills in some places, laughs in others. I particularly liked the tale of losing the engine on an OH-13 helicopter (think M*A*S*H) on the Puget Sound coastline near Seattle and landing to a happy, funny ending on the beach.

But that one was for laughs. More important is the theme that carries every story, the idea that a band of brothers will fly hard, work hard, fight hard, laugh hard, and even sometimes die hard for a noble cause.

John Harriman, author of Delta Force

3.0 out of 5 stars Aviation, Army style., February 9, 2004

By 

H. S. LLEWELLYN "Correspondent/SABER" (Phila, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Through the Years: A Trilogy of Short Tours and Collection of Stories (Hardcover)

I found this book an enjoyable, light and easy read. FLYING THROUGH THE YEARS by LTC Bob LANZOTTI, 228th ASH Bn, is a chronological collection of short stories from three tours, one to Korea and two to Vietnam. The 'Crimson Tide' vet writes with a dash of humor blended well with recall and camaraderie that makes this book a quick read. FLYING THROUGH THE YEARS definitely gets a thumbs-up from me.

Hank Llewellyn, Correspondent/SABER,1st Cavalry Div. Assoc.