Customer Reviews

Rattler One-Seven (North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Rattler One Seven is a rare view into the mind, heart, and emotions of one boy's journey into manhood through the firestorm of the Vietnam Conflict from Special Secret Operations to the little known but bloodiest operation of the entire war, Lamson 719. Chuck Gross relives the days and events that tested every fiber of his being as a young idealistic American assault helicopter pilot. His story is personal and candid. He shares exactly what he thought and felt as he transitioned from a midwestern high school graduate into a seasoned Senior Aircraft Commander in three short but unforgettable years. The facts and events that he relates in his "memoir" are, to the best of my knowledge and recollection accurate, and at times painfully so. I know this because I also served as a helicopter Aircraft Commander in his unit. My call sign was Rattler 12 (One Two)
The author brings the reader into the 71st Assault Helicopter Company of the infamous Americal Devision from his arrival through his departure and finally to his return to an ambivalent nation. To those of us who served with Chuck in 1970 -1971 this book is, in many ways, our story too. He includes the good and the bad as he pulls no punches in airing some of our dirty laundry along with the unembellished acts of heroism that characterized our unit's daily operation.
This book will appeal to the seasoned veteran and the history buff as well as the novice reader just being introduced to the Vietnam War. It is clearly and carefully written and includes many mundane facts that, to my knowledge, are not recorded in the rest of Vietnam War history but were so much a part of the culture shock of the "Vietnam experience"

Sometimes I read a good book that interests me, then on a very rare occasion, I pick up a great book that captures my fullest attention; such was the candid memoir from Huey helicopter pilot Chuck Gross. He has authored an historic book for the ages. One that takes us through the firestorms of some very "hot LZs" and pulls us directly into the action, as if we were getting a pilot's eye-view of the Vietnam War. The writing is vivid and painfully accurate at times. "Rattler One-Seven" is truly the best helicopter story by a pilot coming out of the Vietnam War.

Chuck allows us to fly along with him and his unit, the Rattlers, where we get to meet their gunners, crew-chiefs and other pilots. Take it from someone who has been there and done that -- this is very close to having the real experience yourself from the safety of your sofa. The book is a good insider look at the world of Assault Helicopter units in Nam.

Book Cover is an award winning art piece by Vietnam Veteran artist Joe Kline

The book also was a 2004 Distinguished Medal winner from the The Military Writer's Society of America

I give this book my personal recomemendation! It is a FIVE STAR BOOK but if I were able to give it more stars I would do so!!!!!

As a veteran of this war and someone who has
spent time in the back of Huey's. I found this a
very good read. But the good thing about this
book is that its written so well that has appeal
across a wide range of exerience and interests.
The author doesn't use lingo without explaining
it, so you don't have to have been there to under-
stand.
A good read. Thanks Mr Gross and Welcome Home!

If you have ever wanted to know what it was like to be a helicopter pilot during the most significant war in our history where helicopters were used, this is a MUST READ. Not only do you sit in the seat with the pilots and the gunners, but you will FEEL the war exactly as a 19 year old pilot experienced it: saving soldiers lives in the field, risking everything for the wounded, and ultimately having a front row seat to the greatest helicopter assault ever used in warefare--Lam Son 719. Find out why the soldiers in the field called these "Rattlers" the bravest soldiers in the war. You won't find this in any history books! It is one of the most unique books I have ever read.

Allen Schemmel
Hendersonville, TN

Gross wrote an easy to read book that educates the reader about flying choppers in Vietnam and how the perspective of the war from a pilot's view differs from ground soldiers. But, I didn't feel his writing style to be emotionally engaging. The text had a few typos - some grammatical errors too. The language is rather plain for my taste.
Not a bad story, and I do not intend to make any inference or judgement about the Vietnam war or the service Gross bravely gave his country. I am plainly reviewing the literature of it, not the history of it.

It almost felt like I flew with the author, Chuck Gross. I,too,flew slicks in Vietnam. I arrived in June 1971 just as the author left. I flew out of Chu Lai as did Rattler 17. My call sign was Minuteman 17. His narrative brought back many memories, good and bad. Over the years I have heard stories of Lam Son 719 from pilots who flew in that conflict, but I never realized the magnitude and horror they survived. He does a great job explaining the intricacies of how a helicopter works and the techniques of flying in combat.

This was a very good representation of a "normal" life for a year in Viet Nam for a Huey jock. Most of it was truck driving, then an exciting week or so had you melting in your socks. But upon looking back that week or a few days is hard to believe. Brings back lots of feelings.

I recently purchased a book entitled Rattler One-Seven written by Chuck Gross. Once I started to read this unbelievable account of this helicopter pilots involvment in the VietNam war I could not put it down. What these young pilots went through to insert and extract and suport rescue missions to bring back our ground troops during this confrontation is almost more than a mind can absorb. Chuck Gross was a young warrant officer (19 yrs old) from Minnesota. His in depth writing will take you to a time in history that many of us have forgotten. The daily fear of lossing ones own life, being caputured and the stories of friends and comrades who did not make it home is riveting to say the least. His writing is so in depth I gurantee you will ride that Huey with him and his crew, and you will share the tears, heartache and jubilation just as he did during his year of service. If you remember anything about Nam and the protests regarding this war you owe it to yourself to read this pilots account of what hell must really be like, and applaud these brave young men for doing the job that they were told to do. Whether you agreed with the war or not is not the issue, but what these soldiers did at our governments request of them. I hope you can reflect as I did when you read Chuck Gross's account. You will hold a special place in your memory for all of these brave men. Bill Turck, St Cloud MN

As a former Vietnam helicopter pilot, I lived a similar life in "Nam" so I know the story was factual and well written. The author was single minded in getting home alive and keeping those flying with him as safe as he could make it for them. I enjoyed his professionalism in flying and striving to be the best in a bad situation. The combat assualts were great and I was "in the cockpit with him" as he described the action. Good reading for vet and non-vet alike as to what it was like to be in a true airmobile war.

Rattler One Seven gives insight into Chuck Gross's journey into manhood through the Vietnam Conflict from Special Secret Operations to the little known but bloodiest operation of the entire war, Lamson 719. Chuck Gross relives the days and events of everyday life as an helicopter pilot in Viet-Nam. His story is personal and candid. He shares his thoughts and feelings as he transitioned from a midwestern high school graduate into a seasoned Senior Aircraft Commander in three short years. The book lets you feel the daily grind of combat and life as a chopper pilot. The Viet-Nam history buff will enjoy reading the book. Gross does not sensationalize his service. The book also shows how his enlistment and becoming a helicopter pilot ultimately lead to an aviation carrier and becoming a pilot for American Airlines.