Honor Denied: The Truth about Air America and the CIA

by Allen Cates

Air America flight crews, hired as civilians, but castigated as mercenaries, malcontents, and psychopaths, operated military aircraft and performed yeoman service for twenty-five years until the war in Southeast Asia ended on a rooftop in downtown Saigon. They have never been recognized for their sacrifices. Author and former Air America pilot Allen Cates cuts through the myths and subterfuge surrounding this elite stealth Air Force used by the United States to fight a secret war in "Honor Denied." The culmination of Cates's years as a pilot and his in-depth research into Air America's murky past, this intense study follows his escape from rural, small-town America to the US Marines, as well as his time as an officer and pilot flying combat operations in Vietnam and rescue missions for Air America. Peppering the narrative with vivid personal details, Cates describes the background and purpose of this unique organization and then discloses the startling casualties-both those killed in action and those wounded and injured with permanent disability. He shines the light on their cause, long hidden from the general public, and reveals how these brave men and women were denied recognition and benefits by those who knew the truth, including the US President, secretaries of state and defense, and even the director of the CIA. Proud, yet never boastful, "Honor Denied" tells a story that needs to be told-and heard.

Genres: History, War, Military Fiction

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2011

Reviews

[Kevin Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly short book that achieves what the author set out to do. He gives a fairly honest account of what his experiences were, and why he's fighting for the veterans of air America. It's not often that people can see themselves with that kind of clarity as he did about his youth. He also paints a fair amount of details around the machines that were used as part of the S & R effort.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much. I found the last few chapters to be a little hard to get through, but it is well worth the read. I hope more books on Air America and the people that worked for them come out.

[Jeff Wombold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enlightening book about what exactly Air Americaq did in Vietnam. Later in the book it puissed me off how the government just ignored the heros from this group.

[Buford W Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we know!

I spent two tours as an Army pilot in Vietnam. I encountered Air America Pilots on several occasions and we thought of them as CIA operatives. I was always curious as to their real mission in Vietnam. Thanks Allen, now I Know . I feel that you CIA\ Air America pilots should have received more recognition and also retirement benefits.

[Marie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLLANT, and worth the read. Lived the life, from the sidelines.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story with details on how Air America got so populated with H-34's in Laos.