The Last Ghostrider [Paperback]

Frank Mosco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2009

A hilarious yet tragic book of war. THE LAST GHOSTRIDER follows the haphazard life and times of Army enlisted man Vincent Fusco during the years 1968 to '71 as he somehow manages to wade through the often incoherent reasoning and random events of military life and war. From his humorouis stateside antics to the strange reality and unforgetable heroic characters of the chopper war in the central highlands of Vietnam. An American G.I.'s saga that is of interest not only because of its revealing story but in the frank, humorous, and candid style in which it's told.

Product Details

• Paperback: 546 pages
• Publisher: Quillquest Books (February 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940075091
• ISBN-13: 978-0940075092
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,407,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

~ As portrayed by the principal character in his novel,THE LAST GHOSTRIDER, Frank Mosco was in fact the last Ghostrider of record when the famed 189th Assault Helicopter Company was deactivated in Vietnam in March of 1971. A few years after his discharge from the regular Army, Frank enlisted and served as a member of the very first National Guard Special Forces unit. Though that popular novel was of military life and war he is not restricted to that genre of literature and enjoys writing other material such as suspense, adventure, and humor. This is demonstrated by his previous books and especially his newest release where he combines humor, social satire, and adventure in a wild ride of a novel titled SEARCHING FOR JIMMY BUFFETT.

He began collecting awards for writing while still in high school, then again as a journalist in college where he majored in Broadcast Management & Media. He went on to produce material for all forms of media as a reporter, columnist, producer, director, and photographer as well as media and communications work for the Federal Government. His writing coupled with his business management and retail experience led him to form his own advertising & promotions agency where his work netted two Addy Award nominations for overall multimedia campaigns and another for print media. Preferring the life of an independent however, he eventually returned to freelance writing and photography.

Frank is a native of Annapolis, Maryland, and after many years on the beaches of Florida which influenced a number of his books, he now resides and writes near the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia where he produces mostly fictional novels of which he says, "...can be just as strange as reality but far more convenient and definitely more fun."As for his post war life he says, "I've always lived with one foot in the ocean and one in the clouds, all the while hoping like hell that the pelicans in between have good vision."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise for The Last Ghostrider, June 30, 2009

By 

Read Moore "Pub Man" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE LAST GHOSTRIDER (Hardcover)

The author wanted his book to be reviewed by combat vets and here are some of the results. You can't go wrong with this book and below are some good reasons why. This is one novel you can't put down. I'm convinced "The Last Ghostrider" will soon become a Vietnam War classic.

"When I thought it couldn't get any funnier it did and I laughed till I cried, then it hit me like a freight train with the reality of the war, reminding me we are just kids in uniform putting our lives on the line. This is a soldier's book expressed through a soldier's eyes, not a career officer's self serving after action report."

~ Sgt. John Maynard
442nd Infantry, U.S. Army

"...The Last Ghostrider, while a fictionalized account of Sgt Fusco's personal view of his life in the Army and the war he chose to participate in, is set in real places and recounts real events that actually happened. As a result it is a very compelling journey, riveting in its ability to grasp the reader's attention and hold it, making him wonder what is the next adventure our Remington Raider will encounter. Fusco encounters a myriad of situations that will make the reader feel the emotion and intensity of the situation, visualize the hazardous terrain of II Corps, and understand those emotions that can only be experienced by the individual soldier in combat. The Last Ghostrider accurately captures the esprit of the unit, their commitment to mission and their fellow Ghostriders."

~ Capt. John Salonich, (Ghostrider 19)
U.S. Army, Ret.

"Reading this book was an honest and humorous journey from civilian life to the Army and the Vietnam War from the perspective of a middle class American Caucasion male who was trying to do the right thing at the wrong time, just like me."

~ Capt. Daniel White, (Ghostrider 26)
U.S. Army, Ret.

"...a tantalizing depiction of a soldier's journey through his war within a war. Sgt Fusco's experiences in Vietnam are illustrated in a way that the reader feels as if they are standing in his shadow, walking and fighting as he walks and fights. Because of this you become inspired to continue reading to gain exclusive access to The Last Ghostrider's mind, loaded with vivid memories and thrilling emotions. Sgt Fusco's ability to stay "grounded" throughout his `ride' is what allows any reader to relate to him, be drawn to his experiences, and most of all his survival. ...not much has changed in the Military in the last 38 years, except the faces! (Reading The Last Ghostrider) ...is like having your finger on the trigger of a revolver loaded with memories and emotions! A Soldier's war... buried within a country's war..."

~ Sgt. Michael Greenwood Jr.
10th Mountain, U.S. Army

"It's a book that's both crazy fun and frightening. Full of surprises that change directions about as fast as you can read. One minute you're laughing and the next minute you're experiencing the fear of combat. It grabs your interest through its humor and characters, then shoots you into the dark real world of the Vietnam War and its affects on a soldier's soul. As a former combat soldier I can completely relate to The Last Ghostrider."

~ Sgt. Dustin Lee Elder
1st Infantry, U.S. Army

"Ghostrider possesses an uncanny insight into the soul of young soldiers, revealing their innocence, susceptibility, and lethality. It takes you there and holds you, forcing you to remember what you love and hate about war. It's not your usual war novel."

~ Sgt. Jeffrey Montemayor
1st Infantry, U.S. Army

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars most outstanding!!, April 27, 2009

By 

Becky S. Holley "beckysue" (maggie valley,nc.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Ghostrider (Paperback)

one of the most compelling stories I have read in a long time!! some of the wording was so true!! and believeable!! so outstanding!! so far I have read all of frank moscos books and have enjoyed every one of them!!thanks frank for being such a outstanding author!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars PRAISE FOR THE LAST GHOSTRIDR, February 16, 2009

By 

Read Moore "Pub Man" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Ghostrider (Paperback)

The author wanted his book to be reviewed by combat vets and this was the result. You can't go wrong with this book and below are some good reasons why. "The Last Ghostrider" will soon become a Vietnam War classic.

"When I thought it couldn't get any funnier it did and I laughed till I cried, then it hit me like a freight train with the reality of the war, reminding me we are just kids in uniform putting our lives on the line. This is a soldier's book expressed through a soldier's eyes, not a career officer's self serving after action report."

~ Sgt. John Maynard
442nd Infantry, U.S. Army

"...The Last Ghostrider, while a fictionalized account of Sgt Fusco's personal view of his life in the Army and the war he chose to participate in, is set in real places and recounts real events that actually happened. As a result it is a very compelling journey, riveting in its ability to grasp the reader's attention and hold it, making him wonder what is the next adventure our Remington Raider will encounter. Fusco encounters a myriad of situations that will make the reader feel the emotion and intensity of the situation, visualize the hazardous terrain of II Corps, and understand those emotions that can only be experienced by the individual soldier in combat. The Last Ghostrider accurately captures the esprit of the unit, their commitment to mission and their fellow Ghostriders."

~ Capt. John Salonich, (Ghostrider 19)
U.S. Army, Ret.

"Reading this book was an honest and humorous journey from civilian life to the Army and the Vietnam War from the perspective of a middle class American Caucasion male who was trying to do the right thing at the wrong time, just like me."

~ Capt. Daniel White, (Ghostrider 26)
U.S. Army, Ret.

"...a tantalizing depiction of a soldier's journey through his war within a war. Sgt Fusco's experiences in Vietnam are illustrated in a way that the reader feels as if they are standing in his shadow, walking and fighting as he walks and fights. Because of this you become inspired to continue reading to gain exclusive access to The Last Ghostrider's mind, loaded with vivid memories and thrilling emotions. Sgt Fusco's ability to stay "grounded" throughout his `ride' is what allows any reader to relate to him, be drawn to his experiences, and most of all his survival. ...not much has changed in the Military in the last 38 years, except the faces! (Reading The Last Ghostrider) ...is like having your finger on the trigger of a revolver loaded with memories and emotions! A Soldier's war... buried within a country's war..."

~ Sgt. Michael Greenwood Jr.
10th Mountain, U.S. Army

"It's a book that's both crazy fun and frightening. Full of surprises that change directions about as fast as you can read. One minute you're laughing and the next minute you're experiencing the fear of combat. It grabs your interest through its humor and characters, then shoots you into the dark real world of the Vietnam War and its affects on a soldier's soul. As a former combat soldier I can completely relate to The Last Ghostrider."

~ Sgt. Dustin Lee Elder
1st Infantry, U.S. Army

"Ghostrider possesses an uncanny insight into the soul of young soldiers, revealing their innocence, susceptibility, and lethality. It takes you there and holds you, forcing you to remember what you love and hate about war. It's not your usual war novel."

~ Sgt. Jeffrey Montemayor
1st Infantry, U.S. Army