Customer Reviews

Wings of the Eagle

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the best books on Viet Nam that I have read. The first person account from a young and inexperienced helicopter pilot was captivating and the book was hard to put down. The author's ability to capture his fears and concerns while vividly describing the missions he flew is unsurpassed. I especially enjoyed the author's perception of his fellow warriors and his ability to bring every thing together. I felt like I was there. A great read!

Of all the first account (non-fiction) books I've read about Viet Nam, this has to be one of the best. I've read this three or four times and have enjoyed it every time. It is well written and really communicates the shear terror, humor, friendships, fealt by those who served in VN. I wish I had been there with these people.

I also highly reccomend the books by the Lurps he flew: Linderer, Chambers, Burford (?), and others.

I've read literally dozens of Vietnam I-was-there type books and this is one of the top five or so. A descriptive writer who gives a good insight into the world of vertical flying. A real must for anyone interested in the day to day operations of the LRRPs and Rangers.

_Wings of the Eagle_ is a well written book, telling the story of the author's year as a Huey pilot in VietNam, writing about his missions, friends, and feelings in-country. I highly reccomend this book, and also the books by Gary Linderer, one of which is _Eyes of the Eagle_. It shows the infantry perspective of the same LRP unit Mr. Grant was involved in. Extremely funny, highly readable. Wish it were longer.

Wings of the Eagle is a great book that you cannot put down. I have read many Vietnam era books, about two dozen and this was my first about a helicopter pilot. The writing is pretty linear; pilot arrives in Vietnam; meets his new company; becomes a green peter-pilot to a heroic WO in his tour and then comes home. What separates this book from a lot of the others is W.T. Grants focus and description of the characters, the area, and the battles seen from a helicopter pilot's perspective. Another thing Grant does extremely well is dialogue. The interaction with LRRP's on the ground and fellow pilots back at base is very realistic, giving the book a great feel.

The book was amazing but the only reason I did not give it a 5 out of 5 was the fact that the story line was predictable and linear. An astute reader could easily guess what was to happen next. Besides this minor criticism, I think the book is great and would suggest it to everyone looking to read a book about helicopters and the pilots that flew them. I also would suggest it readers that are interested in the Vietnam War and Vietnam era books. Wings of the Eagle gives you a great new perspective on the pilots who flew Huey's in Vietnam. The book gives a face to these enigmatic soldiers. For the people that are interested in Vietnam but want a book that is unique, creative and distinct I would turn away from this book try Tim O'Brien or John Del Vecchio, both have interesting writing styles that are worth checking out.

Grant's book gives insight on the suppport role he played during the conflict. He and the Kingsmen were life-savers for those in trouble. I recommend that the works of Larry Chambers and Gary Linderer be read along with Grant's book. Their lives and stories are linked together. Reading each, shows the same actual events and how they are viewed by different people

I have read this book three times within the past year, and each time it is as fresh as the first time.

Mr.Grant takes us with him as a 20 year old Huey pilot to the jungles of Vietnam, not knowing what to expect, leaving and missing a new wife back in "The World." The narrative makes us feel as if we are right beside him, experiencing every hot extraction, every party, and every silly regulation the Army can dish out. Grant has an uncanny ability to remember the war through the eyes of a 20 year old, even though decades have passed since the incidents occured. A perfect companion to the books written by LRPS of the 101st--Gary Linderer, John Burford, Larry Chambers, Reynel Martinez and Kenn Miller.

Having know "WT" for much too long as a fellow Pilot or "pile it" this book is for real, it doesn't start out with "There I was", "Once upon a time" or "No ... " like most War Stories, we commonly tell at the "O" Club. He tells it for real, not embellished nor glorified, but as it was. Still WAITING for his next follow up, more comical book covering the Military Hipocracy, which he threatened to dedicate a whole chapter to "UGLY MAN", all because of a lil 'ole practical joke played on him the last time we met, in a Military exercise down Virginia just prior to "Desert Storm" (NOTE: "WT" is one of the Mad Men of practial jokes). Good luck Willbur, and get the lead out, we need your follow up book!

This book is an incredible story that has everything. It was like sitting down and listening to a great war hero tell about his experiences and war stories from back in the day. I simply could not put the book down, it kept my interest throughout. This is not ficion which appeals to me because this actually happened, and those people really exist. I would love to have met the people that were spoken of in this book. I read it for the first time while I was on a one year tour of S. Korea in '94. I was a crewmember for the OV-1D Mohawk, so this type of book was right up my ally. In fact I liked the book so much that I told all of my friends about it and they all wanted to borrow the book. I have never seen the book since the day I lent it out. The author really did a great job.

W.T. Grant captured my attention from the first page to the last. The details give you all the information your brain requires to actually be there yourself. Grant comes of age - from being a young man of slightly arrogant demeanor to a full blown hero in a flight helmet. His touching references to his life and wife, Jackie, back home make the book human and personal. As anyone who has read this book will tell you, the turmoil and sadness grip you, the laughter has you rolling. A must read.