Customer Reviews

Rescue Under Fire: The Story of DUST OFF in Vietnam (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read Rescue Under Fire several times and heartily recommend it as an overview of the history of Dustoff (aeromedical evacuation) in Vietnam. I served two tours as a Dustoff pilot and the book contained a great deal of historical information that I had never known and wouldn't have ever learned without John Cook's well researched book. I've given copies of the book to my father and both of my sons so that they can better understand what I did in Vietnam. Perhaps even more incredible than the missions under fire, which were performed over and over on a daily basis, is the effort that the early Dustoff pilots and commanders had to go through just to provide the kind of support that eventually became the standard by which present aeromedical evacuation procedures are measured. Far too frequently the egos of high level commanders stood in the way of dedicated Dustoff crews simply trying to do their job and to get the equipment and support necessary to do so. Two Dustoff pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor, but that doesn't even begin to recognize the job that was done by each and every Dustoff crew. I'm proud to have been a part of it and I thank John Cook for telling our story so eloquently.

As an ex Dust Off pilot ('DustOff 11' Sept '68- Sept '69) I found a very rich and properly researched story, well told. The accounts and details of the early days of Dust Off in Viet Nam gave me pieces of the history that, even as a Dust Off pilot I had not known. The story is told without political bias and gives a slant to the war that few ever got to know. The media was, and still is so full of negatives about the Viet Nam War that what this bit of sunshine on the good and sometimes challening work we did is a delight. It reads smoothly and will help our friends and family understand why we feel good about our personal corner of the war. My one critique is that about the period I know (67-68) the author drops from a well detailed story to generalities. The first 6 years are well told. The second half of the war is condensed pretty harshly. While I'd love to see a sequel on the second half, overall it's by far the best writing I've seen about what we did. Thanks Col.Cook.

As the son a Major Charles Kelly, I am gratified that there is a least one mainstream book that tells the story of the Dustoff pilots. It is sad that their story does not have the widespread recongition it deserves. I have access to hundreds of personal documents and have spoken with many of the men that flew with my father and as far as I can tell this book is very, very authentic and relies on fact not fiction as some articles have done. Not only that, but it is very well written and written from the heart. Thank you John Cook from the entire Kelly family......

This book gave a well written account of the pilots and crews who flew DUSTOFF missions in vietnam. As a DUSTOFF pilot I found the book very accurate in it's presentation of our job and the conditions we flew under. Very few (even among those who served in Vietnam) recognized our call sign, DUSTOFF. After all these years our story is finally being told. You will read tales that few of us are comfortable telling. After reading this book my mother told me she finally understands some of what I went though in Nam. As I read this book at times it was like I was back in Nam. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Military history, or any one seeking a book with lots of adventure. It tells of a very positive part of Vietnam that ALL Americans can be proud of. Thank You John Cook, you have told my family things I couldn't tell them.

Do recommendations work? You bet! I admit that this is not the type of book I would normally read. However, what impressed me was the recommendations of the two pilots below. The way I figured it, if they thought John Cook had done a great job, and they were there, then maybe it was worth the effort. I'm here to tell you, they were right! Having grown up after the Vietnam war, I was always confused about what really happened there. All I ever heard was how the Americans were the bad guys and the Viet Cong were the good guys. John Cook blows all that away. There were real good guys in Vietnam and they flew the evacualtion missions. Now, for the first time, I understand. Cook's style is very easy to live with. He actually takes the reader along for the ride. The part I liked best was the end. He actually took the trouble to list the names of all those brave men who died saving the lives of the wounded. He didn't have to do this but he did. That got to me. Now, when I think of Vietnam, I'll remember Rescue Under Fire. Thank you, John Cook, and thank all of you who flew these missions.

Without question, Rescuse Under Fire is the best piece of writing I've read on Vietnam, and I've read a lot. John Cook is a natural story teller and his style takes you along with him. This business of rescuing Americans is a part of the war that has not been told, at least not with this degree of detail and realism. Clearly, Cook did an enormous amount of research to make this story flow as smoothly as it does. He makes the DUST OFF crews come alive and he makes you feel all the emotions they felt. Absolutely first rate!!!

I just finished reading Rescue Under Fire, and without question this is the finest book I have read on the Vietnam War. John Cook puts the reader on the battlefield, under fire, rescuing the wounded. Once I started reading this book, I found it impossible to put it down. When I finished, I spent the next two hours simply staring out the window, wondering where we found these men that flew these missions. Then I realised that what Cook had told me was true--America has always had men of this caliber. Ordinary men who perform extraordinary feats when the need arises. So, my message to Colonel Cook is simply this--Thank you, sir, for telling this story. Those of us who never went to Vietnam did not know. Now we do and we are eternally grateful to you for telling this story. Today, I ordered your other book on Vietnam, The Advisor. I know I will not be dissapointed.

Aside from the obvious misspellings, grammatical errors, and sloppy editing, John Cook presents the story of Dustoff (Dustoff should be one word) quite well. The main body of the 45th Medical Company AA arrived in Vietnam on 13 July 1967 from Fort Bragg,NC. With 24 UH-1H helicopters, it added a tremendous presence to Dustoff efforts in Vietnam serving III and IV Corps areas which included the lower half of South Vietnam. As mentioned, Col Cook devoted only a few paragraphs to a Dustoff unit which probably accounted for a majority of evacuated casualties during the '67 to '68 time frame and perhaps later years as well. Hopefully he'll write a sequel which will shed some credit on the busiest and most dangerous Dustoff years.

For those unfamiliar, Dustoff units did not employ door gunners while the 1st Air Cavalry Division's "medevac" helicopters did. There is one misleading picture in the book which might lead readers to think otherwise.

Night and weather missions were often the most harrowing. Our unit SOP (standardized operating procedures) called for the requirement to have gunship coverage when going into hot LZ's (landing zones) in contact with the enemy. Most often, particularly at night and in weather, getting gunship coverage was impossible and following the Dustoff credo, we went with or without gunships, usually without.

Speaking on behalf of Dustoff crews, those of us who survived our Vietnam duty are proud to have served in such a meaningful job and thank Col Cook for bringing to light the story of Dustoff and those who made it happen.

Do recommendations work? You bet! I admit that this is not the type of book I would normally read. However, what impressed me was the recommendations of the two pilots below. The way I figured it, if they thought John Cook had done a great job, and they were there, then maybe it was worth the effort. I'm here to tell you, they were right! Having grown up after the Vietnam war, I was always confused about what really happened there. All I ever heard was how the Americans were the bad guys and the Viet Cong were the good guys. John Cook blows all that away. There were real good guys in Vietnam and they flew the evacualtion missions. Now, for the first time, I understand. Cook's style is very easy to live with. He actually takes the reader along for the ride. The part I liked best was the end. He actually took the trouble to list the names of all those brave men who died saving the lives of the wounded. He didn't have to do this but he did. That got to me. Now, when I think of Vietnam, I'll remember Rescue Under Fire. Thank you, John Cook, and thank all of you who flew these missions.

Do recommendations matter? You bet. After reading what the two pilots said below, the way I figured it was, they had to know what they were talking about. So, I read Rescue Under Fire. Once I started, I could not put it down. John Cook made the Vietnam war make sense, something no one else had ever done for me. He tells one hell of a story and he does not let up. He takes the reader on a fantastic ride and, at the end, you wind up staring out the window for a long time. One word of caution--if you are not willing to deal with what Cook has to say, don't read this book. If you are a bleeding heart liberal, he will shatter all your myths and leave you in a bloody heap. However, if you can deal with the truth of what Vietnam was all about, then I suggest you read this book. Cook tells the story of the real heros of Vietnam, the men who flew the evacuation mission, under fire. The part that got me was the end, where he lists the names of all the men who died performing this dangerous mission. He didn't have to do this, but he did. If you only read one book about Vietnam, make it this one.