Without Parachutes: How I Survived 1,000 Attack Helicopter Combat Missions In Vietnam [Hardcover]

Jerry W. Childers Colonel US Army (Ret) (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2005

This book straps the reader into the cockpit with an attack helicopter pioneer as he recalls three years of Vietnam combat and a quarter century of flying Army aircraft. He arrived in Vietnam in 1964 and volunteered to join the world's first attack helicopter company. The Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company (UTT) had deployed to Vietnam in 1962. It came equipped with the U.S. Army's brand new UH-1 Huey, a helicopter originally designed as an aerial ambulance. The crews, not happy with a passive combat role, began experimenting with ways to strap guns on their aircraft and attack the enemy. Through a deadly process of trial and error the pilots pushed their machines to the edge. Mistakes were made, crews were lost and lessons were learned. These lessons evolved into combat tactics and became fondly known as the 12 Cardinal Rules of Attack Helicopter Combat. Upon joining the unit the author learned about the rules. He studied them and on his first day in combat, developed his own 13th rule. Over his ensuing three years in Vietnam, the rules, especially the 13th, helped him survive over one thousand combat missions. This book provides the reader with a cockpit level view of dozens of those missions and describes several additional near disaster situations encountered by the author during over 25 years flying Army Aircraft. The author is successful in striking a balance between the grim realities of combat and the often humorous aspects of life among a group of high spirited aviators who fly into the jaws of death daily without a parachute on their back. He suggests that the 13 rules, although developed during a different war and at a different time, are applicable to armed helicopter combat operations in the 21st Century. The book contains about 200 pages and is nicely illustrated with 50 photographs.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Colonel (Retired) Jerry W. Childers was instrumental in pioneering UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter combat tactics. He spent three years in Vietnam spanning the period 1964-1973. Between tours he was a production test pilot at the Bell Helicopter Plant and a fixed wing instructor pilot. He subsequently served at all staff levels in the Army including a tour with the Director of Plans and Operations in the Pentagon. He commanded the 18th Corps Aviation Company in Vietnam, the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion in Hawaii and the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division in California. He attended every level of Army schooling including the Army War College. He served for almost two years as Chief Of Staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and capped his career as the Director of Operations and Plans for the U.S. Army in the Pacific. His combat awards include the Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (three awards), Bronze Star Medal (three awards), Air Medal (forty seven awards), Purple Heart Medal and several Vietnamese awards for valor. After retiring from the Army he taught accounting and business administration courses at Hawaii Pacific University and other colleges. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (December 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420882597
• ISBN-13: 978-1420882599
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,952,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading But Not The Best, September 10, 2010

By 

Roslyn M. Santay "Roz" (Gettysburg, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Without Parachutes: How I Survived 1,000 Attack Helicopter Combat Missions In Vietnam (Paperback)

I buy this genre of book for my husband who flew helicopters in Vietnam. While he enjoyed this book, he felt it was more of an autobiography of the author than an accout of the war itself. He did recommend it to his friends who also flew helicopters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things they never told us, April 14, 2011

By 

David G. Timpany "daddydave" (rural tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without Parachutes: How I Survived 1,000 Attack Helicopter Combat Missions In Vietnam (Paperback)

We never know how we will react when faced with unthinkable danger,
reading this book gave me a realist look into the war behind the
headlines..Jerry told his story with true understanding of what a
impossible war we were in .. if you have ever wondered what our
wonderful guys and gals are facing everyday in our new wars.. this
book will make you stop and think.. Much to my disappointment he
didn't tell much of the funny stuff that happened. (then again.. war
isn't much fun). Maybe he will write a sequel:) ..Anyway..
get the book, read it..I know you will never look at war the same .. ML

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without Parachutes, April 12, 2011

By 

Jim F. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without Parachutes: How I Survived 1,000 Attack Helicopter Combat Missions In Vietnam (Paperback)

A leading edge book on the evolution of the armed helicopter in combat by a man who flew the missions and actually developed the tactics for armed helicopters. A book about true heroes who served their county and did their duty while creating and developing techniques where none existed before.Three tours in Vietnam and surviving to write this book is somthing to read about!