R. Grey Hoover's Blog, page 76
August 24, 2012
#ASMSG Rave Reviews for Kicker on Amazon
Amazon Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars “Excellent writing from a Kicker’s perspective” By Kathleen P. Rowland
Author R. Grey Hoover’s authentic story centers on a kicker. During WW II the CBI Theater was a huge expanse of land from Manchuria to India with extreme weather conditions. This nickname was given to aircrew members who literally laid on their backs and kicked supplies off an aircraft carrier to soldiers on front lines. Kickers also picked up supplies. As the hero lets the reader in on the dangerous experience, we learn and gain appreciation. Great story.
5.0 out of 5 stars “Excellent storytelling!” By A.D. Christian
R. Grey Hoover has combined both historical facts about the CBI theater during WWII and an excellent narrative to weave a story that is at once educational and entertaining. The reader will instantly become involved in the plot, and its accurate rendering of war history will leave you feeling like you lived it yourself. Definitely a must-read!
5.0 out of 5 stars “Excellent novel” ByTyaii
This novel was absolutely riveting! It gave me moments of laughter, tears, fascination, and fear. I really felt connected to the main character, and was enthralled with his story. I never realized some of the things our veterans saw and had to go through. This fact based novel is a must read for those who love a good story while learning about our history
5.0 out of 5 stars “What a Journey”By Diane (England)
This is a well written novel about Sam who had a burning desire to serve his country during WWII. While torn between going to support the war efforts and staying at home with his family, the pull to serve his country wins. As Sam travels across the world in dangerous times he is experiencing a huge learning curve where he acquires skills to do his job, as well as gaining an understanding of different cultures he benefits from an increased knowledge of geography and history. We get an insight into his journey as he travels from Natal to Casablanca to Tunis and on. The danger and bravery he shows is a testament to the efforts of so many soldiers who served during the war. This is an engaging book which demonstrates what people are prepared to risk for their countries. The book has elements love, humour, courage, bravery and friendship along the way. It would be easy to say so much more however, I think you should read this book for yourself. A highly recommended read.
5.0 out of 5 stars “Kicker” By Jim murray
KICKER is an impeccably written account of a little known war front during WWII with an entertaining story of the journey of a family struggling both at home and on the front lines of war. This book highlights a part of history that each of us should know more about. It was an incredible read and I couldn’t put it down, rushing to find out what happened next. A MUST READ for anyone interested in the human toll both at home and in the war zone of brave men who got little press. I highly recommend this book!
4.0 out of 5 stars “Heartfelt historical Story” By Ginny Bryce
Kicker, one who kicks the supplies from the plane to the soldiers in the CBI Theater during WWII. The exploits of the flyers over the “hump” during the war both thrills and chills. Author R. Gray Hoover tells the story with compassion, humor and a vast knowledge of history.
5.0 out of 5 stars “A Must Read!!”By Rita B.
“Kicker” – a historical novel written by Author R. Grey Hoover is a unique story dedicated to the memory of his heroic father and other veterans who fought in WW II. It’s filled with warfare, family life, love, compassion, and realism, mixed in with a bit of humor. The story features a list of characters who in the throes of a war are connected in more ways than one, and in their suffering discover their own identity and integrity. Highly recommended!!
5.0 out of 5 stars “Excellent read!” By A. Christian (England)
This is a superbly-written account of history: a part of the theater of war that is infrequently discussed. R. Grey Hoover has done an excellent job with both the storytelling: the reader will be drawn into the lives of the characters; and with history: he gives an impeccable account of the CBI theater during WWII. Its both entertaining and education, and I highly recommend it!
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting and Informative, 23 Aug 2012
By Leslie Ann Engle
R. Grey Hoover writes with conviction and honesty using all aspects of human emotion to tell an important WWII story. Follow Sam as his convictions tear him from his Pennsylvania family to fight in the CBI Theater an arena vital to the success of the Allies and yet little known today. Carefully researched and also grounded in family history, this period novel is a compelling and insightful read.
Buy Kicker Now
August 14, 2012
Kicker Press Release RT #ASMSG
Historical Novel Showcases the Bravery of Unsung Heroes in the Forgotten Front
Author R Grey Hoover brings to life the untold stories of his father who fought in the China, Burma and India Theatre
OSCEOLA MILLS, Penn. – Based on the actual experiences of American soldiers during World War II, KICKER features the lives of those who fought in the China, Burma and India Theatre, also known as CBI. Written by R Grey Hoover, this book showcases one of the most unheard of forces that fought in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces during the Second World War.
Compelling, insightful and moving, this book tells the story of a family caught in the throes of war. It pays tribute to the bravery of a family with a 165 year tradition of service to their country. It reenacts the understated heroism of valiant men who were sent off fourteen thousand miles from their homeland to battle all the harsh elements of nature and the life-threatening attacks of hostile enemy forces. In the hopes of reminiscing his father’s life in the military, Grey writes this historical novel to bring to light the significant efforts of war veterans whose struggles may not have been recognized by many.
Little is known about the CBI Theatre. This was even referred to as the Forgotten Front due mainly to the fact that the men who fought in this zone had received very little amount of supplies and support from the government. The soldiers did not have enough provisions and had limited supply of rations. A man named Sam Huber was a part of this group. In his son’s effort to bring to life his father’s accomplishments not only as a soldier, but also as a family man, Sam’s story is told in this powerful work that will inevitably stir readers.
KICKER inspires readers to appreciate and honor the courage, strength and endurance of war veterans who risked their lives and the welfare of their families in order to fight for the very freedom that is now being enjoyed by millions.
About the Author
R Grey Hoover is an Air Force veteran who was born and raised in the wooded hills of Pennsylvania where this historical novel begins and ends. The novel is based on the actual experiences of his father and other veterans in the CBI theater of World War II.
KICKER * by R Grey Hoover
Available at Amazon.com
August 2, 2012
#ASMSG RT Kicker – British/American Cooperation in WWII
Kicker is the story about American air supply in the China-Burma-India theater of WWII. Many of the supply flights were to soldiers of the United Kingdom. Here is an extract from the book dealing with such a flight:
Sam walked to the flight line and began looking for Corporal Hutton. From a distance, he spotted him standing beside a C47 with a truck backed up to the cargo door. As he approached, he wasn’t surprised to see Wimpy eating a candy bar while supervising the loading of the plane. Sam was surprised to see the cargo consisted of bamboo cages filled with live chickens.
“Hey, Wimpy, what’s with all the chickens?” Sam asked.
“Can you believe it, Sam? A whole plane load of drumsticks on the hoof, and it’s all going to the Brits at Imphal,” Wimpy answered. “There must be a thousand breasts and drumsticks on that plane. What I couldn’t do with just one crate of those tasty critters? I’d have fried chicken and roast chicken and eggs. Oh, fresh eggs—what I wouldn’t give for some fresh eggs? If I could only get my hands on at least one of those crates.”
“I don’t want to know about it if you do,” Sam said, shaking his head in amazement. “It looks like it’s going to be difficult securing all of these crates.”
“We’ll have to tie them down as best as we can because there are monsoon storms predicted for this flight,” Wimpy answered as he finished his candy bar and pulled another one from his pocket. “Care for a candy bar? I’ve got more in my pocket.”
“No, thanks, Wimpy. I think we better get busy securing these crates,” Sam said.
The two kickers climbed aboard the plane and were immediately accosted by the smell of hundreds of chickens and the din created by their cackling and crowing. The sun was beginning to heat the interior of the plane, making the smell even worse, and LT informed them he had to get the plane off the ground before the heat killed the chickens. In addition to the smell, noise, and heat, the fragile construction of the bamboo cages complicated the task of securing the load, but Sam and Wimpy soon had the job done and closed the cargo doors.
The engines were started and the plane began to taxi, but due to the closed doors, the heat inside the cargo bay continued to rise. Soon it became evident the chickens were beginning to feel the effects of the heat. Both men were sweating profusely by the time the C47 finally took off and climbed into cooler air aloft.
“I hope these chickens survive,” Wimpy said as he reached into his pocket for a candy bar. “I sure wouldn’t want to see all that good meat go to waste.”
“It starting to cool off now,” Sam said, “I think everything will be okay.”
“Aw damn!” Wimpy exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” Sam inquired.
“My candy bars melted,” Wimpy responded as he held out a fist full of melted chocolate. “What am I going to eat now?” he moaned as he licked the chocolate from his fingers.
Wimpy didn’t have time to contemplate his epicurean predicament, because the plane suddenly entered a monsoon thunderstorm. At first the turbulence was mild, but it soon intensified until the aircraft was being thrown wildly about the sky. They were caught in an updraft that lifted the C47 upward several thousand feet, and then just as quickly, they were plummeted downward. Neither Sam nor Wimpy could remain standing, and they grabbed for whatever handhold they could find. The plane continued its wild roller-coaster ride, and they could see the bamboo cages were not going to withstand the punishment much longer.
The first indication of trouble came when a sharp cracking sound erupted from somewhere within the mass of cages. Soon there were more ominous cracks, and as the turbulence continued unabated, the cages began to come apart. Sam and Wimpy could only watch in dismay as the entire load disintegrated in a pandemonium of squawking chickens, feathers, and smashed bamboo.
The terrified chickens, freed from their bamboo prisons, scattered throughout the pitching aircraft. Before anyone could react, several of the frightened birds found their way into the cockpit. The radio operator tried to close the cockpit door, but debris from the shattered cages jammed it open. Soon, several dozen more birds had entered the cockpit area. The pilot’s view through the windshield was blocked as the birds flew into it in their frenzied attempts to escape from the airplane. Visibility within the cockpit was further limited by feathers and chickens flying everywhere. The problem was further complicated when the frightened birds began to defecate everywhere. Before long, many of the instruments on the instrument panel were covered with chicken droppings, and to the total dismay of the harried pilots, they too became the targets of the birds bombardments.
The radio operator finally managed to close cockpit door and stop any further chickens from entering the cockpit area. LT and the copilot slid the side windows of the cockpit open and proceeded to toss the offending fowl into the open air outside. In the meantime, the C47 exited the thunderstorm and arrived a few hundred feet above the airstrip at Imphal. British and Indian soldiers at the airstrip were amazed to witness the aircraft as it flew by with a plume of feathers trailing behind. They were further amazed when dead chickens dropped out of the sky and landed at their feet.
“I say, the Yanks seem to have come up with a novel way of delivering supplies,” said an observing British Major.
“Quite so, and they’ve saved us the trouble of killing and plucking the buggers,” responded a fellow officer.
