LBJ'S Hired Gun: A Marine Corps Helicopter Gunner and the War in Vietnam

by John J. Gebhart

Many Vietnam memoirs have appeared in recent years, but not a single one has the humor, pathos, poignancy, and often sheer hilarity of John J. Gebhart’s riveting LBJ’S Hired Gun. As Gebhart tells it, he was a “smart-mouthed college boy” who joined the Marines to see the world and “dust a few black pajamas for Uncle Sam.” Two grueling tours of duty later (1965-1967) he returned home as a sergeant after surviving 240 combat missions (12 air medals) and being shot down twice. On his chest was the Navy Commendation Award (with the combat V).

LBJ’s Hired Gun launches with Gebhart’s grim recollection of the intense old-school brutality that was Marine Corps training on Parris Island before transitioning to his difficult journey for Southeast Asia aboard a troop transport with 2,000 other nameless grunts. These hardships offered but a glimpse of the suffering he and his comrades were about to endure. His candid account of life and death in Vietnam is written with a lively, infectious flair. But be no attempt has been made to sanitize this memoir with politically-correct language. Gebhart tells his story exactly as he and his comrades spoke in the 1960s. The result is a gripping, no-holds-barred memoir of his “misadventures in-country.” He spares no detail and no one in his effort to convey exactly what he and his comrades experienced in Vietnam.

Here is how the author describes “What was not to like about Vietnam? It was a tropical paradise filled with lush green forests and mountains, endless rice paddies, and beautiful beaches with clear green water. You get all the free ammunition you want, endless cold beer to drink, and boom-boom girls to party with. Who could ask for more? Of course, there were some minor problems like all the VCs and NVAs who wanted to kill us. Everyone counted the days they had left before rotating back to the land of the big PX. I was having such a great vacation I signed up for another 12-month tour. I spent twenty-four action-filled months dusting VCs and NVAs, rescuing reconnaissance teams, flying LZ prep missions, delivering mail to bases where you came in shooting and flew out the same way. Somewhere along the line they decided I should be decorated for killing the enemy.”

This is not just another book about Vietnam written by an officer. LBJ’s Hired Gun is the story of an enlisted man who lived on a dead-end street in West Philadelphia, intent on lifting your spirits and putting a smile on your face as you journey with him across the world and meet the people, explore the places, and relive the events that shaped Marine Corps history in Vietnam from September 1965 to September 1967.

There are many outstanding Vietnam memoirs. LBJ’s Hired Gun stands heads and shoulders above them all.

Genres: History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

John J. Gebhart grew up on a dead-end street in West Philadelphia and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School. In 1964, he quit St. Joseph College after his sophomore year to join the Marines, his childhood dream, and spent September 1965 to September 1967 in Vietnam. Returning to St. Joseph College in 1968, he graduated with a degree in business administration and started an employment service, which he still runs today. He also owns the Iron Triangle Paintball Club, where famous battles from Vietnam are fought in bamboo forests and muddy swamps. He was inducted into the Enlisted Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor on November 14, 2003, aboard the USS Yorktown docked at Patriots Point in Charlestown, South Carolina. He currently lives with his wife Betty and his German Shepherd Corporal Logan in Zionsville, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[John]

I didn't want to rate this too lowly (especially on Memorial Day). Gebhart's stories are very interesting, but mostly due to his hijinks and not due to any real understanding of what war in Vietnam was, except for his zany stories.

If you'd enjoy the "behind-the-scenes", non-historical take on the Vietnam war from a fella who truly did it and did it well, this is your book. If you want some better understanding of the cast of characters and historical events, look elsewhere.

[Josh]

LBJ’s Hired Gun
By: John J Gebhart

The book is an autobiographical memoir about his time serving in the a Vietnam War. It is comprised of many short stories from his four years serving. Starting with how he enlisted for the Marine Corps, to how he left Vietnam, and all the excitement in between. I thought this was a great book, and was very interesting. I liked the way he told the stories without a filter, showing what actually went on. The shorter stories and chapters makes it easy to read and anyways interesting.

[Scott]

A good read and a entertaining book on the Vietnam war. I say that loosely about the Vietnam war as the book details the hi jinks the author was involved in while serving in the war.

Other than that it was quite refreshing and relaxing read

[Tammy Crosby]

Loved this book as well as Spray and Pray ! My dad was mentioned often as Sgt Cross, great author just wished it was longer hated putting it down. Now that my dad had passed makes me cherish it more !

[Ted]

A thoroughly entertaining read even if half of the stories are pure BS.