Customer Reviews

Low Level Hell

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excellent book about some of the dedicated aviators that supported us infantrymen in the Big Red One in Vietnam. As a LRRP in Co.F/52nd Inf. (LRP), 1st Inf. Division in 1968, I always felt that we had tremendous helicopter support. Our LRP company originated as a part of 1st Sq./4th Cavalry, and they regarded us and watched over us from above like brothers. We often called upon the Cobra gunships of D Troop (Air), 1st Sq./4th Cav, call sign: Darkhorse, and they never let us down. Mills book provides us with a cockpit view of their hunter-killer team missions, as opposed to the direct gun-ship support role in which we generally saw Darkhorse. But the 'guns blazing' tactics were obviously the same for the scout ship pilots as they always were for the gunship pilots/co-pilots. Very interesting reading, and the place names brought back many exciting memories of those days over 30 years ago, when we ourselves operated around Phu Loi, Lai Khe , An Loc, the Iron Triangle, Catchers Mitt, and other locations he mentions. Knowing that Darkhorse pilots like Mills always 'had our back', was a reassuring feeling. Could not possibly express enough gratitude to such pilots and crews for the way they supported us. An excellent addition to any Vietnam library.

Mills' book tells it like it was! I should know, I'm Joe Crockett, his first crewchief mentioned in Chapter Four. I find Hugh Mills' to be a great pilot, and great man, and a great author. This isn't an easy story to tell, but Hugh manages to allow even the novice to the Vietnam War, a chance to ride in the cockpit of a Hughes OH-6A "Loach"! It had been 28 years since Hugh and I flew missions together and reading "Low Level Hell" took me back to a time, rich in experience. I highly reccomend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in Army Aviation and the Vietnam War!

If you visit the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama, one of the first things you will see is Mr. Mills's Loach displayed outside the museum. A good choice, because Low Level Hell is a superb account of the bravery and skill of U.S. Army helicopter pilots in Vietnam. I read the book as a Second Lieutenant undergoing flight training at Fort Rucker, and it helped me make up my mind to become an Aeroscout. You will simply not believe some of the things these pilots did to accomplish their missions. Entertaining and informative.

Thank you for this book.
I couldn't put it down, but when I got toward the end I started to slow down; I didn't want it to end. I hope your considering another book. Perhaps about your time a cobra pilot.
I was in vietnam in 67, and that experience helped me thoroughly enjoy this book. But that's not to say you have to be a veteran to appreciate this book.
Everyone of the amazingly brave exploits of the scout pilots. I wish there were more books on this subject, especially by someone so qualified to tell the story.
I wish I could write to Colonel Mills to let him how much I enjoyed this book.

I have read Low Level Hell on a couple of occasions, mainly during times that I really miss those exciting, less complicated days. The book really does detail those days with Darkhorse as they really were. What seems funny today was not that funny at the time. This book highlights our first tour with Darkhorse as a scout pilots. Approximately 8 months after returning home from our first tour, we both volunteered to return to Vietnam. We both found stateside life to tame and not really to our liking. We both returned to Darkhorse as scout pilots and survived another year flying scouts. (...) By the way, Hugh and I both live in Kansas City, Mo and see each other regularly.

Rod Willis, Darkhorse 17, 16 & 13.

I have never before been able to tolerate a media account of the Viet-Nam conflict. No other publication I have been subjected to has allowed that I might have an opinion of my own of the politics and values they wish to sway to thier line of thinking. I read until my knees were numb on several occasions and still couldn't put this book down. LTC. Mills has written a chilling account of the day to day operations and the brave men who were willing to accept the challange of possibly making the conflict one day shorter. These men who were daily forced to compromise human values yet maintain integrity and dignity as soldiers. This non-political and un-biased account is a real behind the scenes look into the esperit de corp that causes a group of individuals to become one important part of a team, and how the priority of a team becomes a reality. Darkhorse 16, thanks for a written account that lets us be again proud of our service in Viet-Nam.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Low Level Hell" by Hugh L. Mills. From July, 1968 to July, 1969 I was with the Big Red One assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Bn., 16th Infantry. Mills book brought back many memories - both good and bad. It was particularly meaningful for me since A-2/16 worked all over the Division's TAOR and the names of the villages and towns Mills wrote about were familiar to me. I have often remarked that the BRO's air support was exceptional and reading "Low Level Hell" reminded me of that once again. It also gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the role of the hunter / killer teams and how they were a major factor in minimizing casualties. To quote from the book "First Infantry Division in Vietnam" at page 126: "As the year 1968 was about to pass into history, the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry reviewed the year with a profound sense of pride. Much was accomplished but they were not content to rest upon past laurels. The year 1969 was met with the same loyalty, skill and determination which made the 1st Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry the most respected and feared unit of the 1st Infantry Division." - I know from reading "Low Level Hell" that Hugh Mills and the rest of Troop D (air) significantly contributed to the loyalty, skill and determination that earned the reputation that has become legendary.

I think "Low Level Hell" would make an excellent movie. There's lots of action sequences: The chemistry between Hugh Mills and Rod Willis would play well not to mention the camaraderie among Troop D (air) at Phu Loi. I hope it will be playing some day soon at a theatre near me - And, I will keep my eye out for another Mills book chronicling his and Willis' second tour with "Darkhorse" and, if we're lucky, a third one all about his days as a Cobra pilot with the 101st.

I have read every book written on Army aviation in Vietnam and Low Level Hell is, no question, the best book written. I am an active duty Army aviator and consider Hugh Mills to be one of my heroes. This is a must read for anybody interested in Army aviation in Vietnam. I've read the book 5 times!

Helicopter ops in Vietnam consisted of dust-offs, which carried out the wounded, gunships, which blew the [heck] out of the enemy, slicks, which hauled troops, and scouts. Scouts flew "loaches", open cockpit OH58's at tree-top level, locating hidden trails, bunkers, in general, trying to start a fight and provoke the enemy into revealing their location. Most scout pilots didn't last six months. A few made it back. Two have written books about being a scout. This is the best of the two. See also "Hunter Killer Squadron"

I just finished reading Hugh L. Mills "Low Level Hell": I thoroughly enjoyed it. From July, 1968 to July 1969 I was in the Big Red One assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Bn., 16th Infantry. Mills book brought back many memories; both good and bad. It was particularly meaningful to me since A-2/16 worked all over the Division's TAOR and the names of the villages and towns Mills wrote about were familar to me. I have often remarked that the BRO's air support was exceptional and reading "Low Level Hell" reminded me of that once again. It also gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the role of the hunter killer teams and how they were a major factor in minimizing casualties. To quote from the book "First Infantry Division in Vietnam" at page 126: "As the year 1968 was about to pass into history, the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalary reviewed the year with a profound sense of pride. Much was accomplished, but they were not content to rest upon past laurels. The year 1969 was met with the same loyalty, skill and determination which has made the 1st Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry the most respected and feared unit of the 1st Infantry Division." - I know from reading "Low Level Hell" that Hugh Mills and the rest of Troop D (air) significantly contributed to the loyalty, skill and determination that earned the reputation that has become legendary.

I think "Low Level Hell" would make an excellent movie. There's lots of action sequences: The chemistry between Hugh Mills and Rod Willis would play well not to mention the comraderie among Troop D (air) at Phu Loi. I hope it will be playing some day soon at a theatre near me - And, I will keep my eye out for another Mills book chronicling his and Willis' second tour with "Darkhorse" and, if we're lucky, a third one all about his days as a Cobra pilot with the 101st.