Customer Reviews

THICK LUCK: The Search for POWs & MIAs

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Combs writes a journal of his work with the Joint Task Force Full Accounting (JTF-FA), Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and Central Identification Laboratory - Hawaii (CILHI) in finding and retrieving the bodies of men who have been lost in the jungles and mountains of Cambodia and Laos. His book "Thick Luck: The Search for America's POWs & MIAs" chronicles some hazardous and tedious work done by a small by hardy group of people trying to bring our missing veterans back home again. The book mainly focuses on efforts to locate crash sites and find the remains.

The author who takes great risks to his own physical being including a piece of bamboo that lodged in his eye and countless slips, trips and falls, paints for us what it is like to be a part of his team. You will find yourself riveted to his story as he takes us on fourteen expeditions into Southeast Asia as they travel and search for whatever evidence they can find. It entails having to deal with lots of politics and red tape, lots of time and much personal sacrifice. Combs presents his book like a journey and the reader has little trouble following along as part of his team.

This book is a must read for anyone involved in MIA/POW issues or who wants to learn about these recovery teams. The author certainly enriches us with lots of facts but I particularly enjoyed his information on recovery of "Earthquake McGoon" James B. McGovern who was lost in Laos in 1954 while helping the French.

The book shows the great amount of work that goes into this recovery effort and the dedication of those who have taken on this task. These are honorable men and women and the author gives us that insider view of what really goes on these teams. The book is both educational and entertaining as well. Add this book to your list of must buy and read books!

The MWSA gives this book its top rating of FIVE STARS!

Thick Luck is a fascinating true adventure of the quest to find our missing soldiers lost in the Vietnam War in Laos and Cambodia. The US government has made a tremendous commitment to find them and this is the story of the men and women who risk their lives in hostile environment to do it. A rare view into the culture of the Laotian people. Heartening accounts of the families responses when given news of their loved ones.Excellent.

After attending annual meetings in Washington, D.C. every June to meet with JPAC officials like David Combs I was so gratified to read his book of the true accounts concerning recovery efforts. I am a 100% disabled veteran and sister of a marine missing for 38 years in the jungles of Vietnam and this book has answered so many questions. David has allowed me to go with him on these field activities and witness exactly what goes into finding our missing loved ones and I am so grateful. Those of us who still wait for answers had no idea of the dangers and sacrifice that goes into the search for our loved ones. I couldn't be more proud of all of these brave men and women. My thanks to all of them.

I thought Tough Luck was a very interesting book. As I read the book, it was like going back in time with Dave Combs and his team as they looked for clues to provide answers to questions for the surviving family members and the US Military. The book included mystery, suspense, danger, humor, disappointment, and sadness. This book is good for those who are interested in military history and for those who are interested in learning more about the human side of MIA issues.

I have the pleasure of working with Dave in Baghdad, Iraq and I can testify that in addition to having written two FANTASTIC books, that are entertaining and riveting, they have the advantage of having been written by a guy who is the REAL DEAL. If you have an interest in military history, the Rangers, POW/MIAs, or just looking for a crackerjack story, buy these books!

As a Vietnam combat veteran and author I have only respect and admiration for those like David Combs who went into the former warzones and, quite often, still deadly places in search of those left behind. Given the amount of aging boobytraps and other explosives, not to mention, dangerous insects and snakes, that plague the areas, the search for those listed as Missing in Action, is more than just a walk in the woods.
For those friends we lost as 'M-I-A', the war will never be over until we get some sort of resolution, some sesne of closure instead of the doubt and guilt of those we couldn't bring back. With the standard and creed that we don't leave our fallen comrades behind, those who we couldn't rescue and bring back, remains a hard lesson learned.
Combs deserves our admiration and respect. Five stars and a heart felt thanks.

I appreciated the book for the amount of detail and background behind each of the MIA Searches that the author undertook. It was good to read about the positive reaction of relatives of the missing once they had been found and sad to read of the false trails that had to be painstakingly followed. The author's descriptions of the battlegrounds and topographical features added value to this fascinating book. I devoured in it two sessions.