One-way or Round Trip: Women Flight Attendants and Troops During the Vietnam War

by John Culea, Patti Culea, George Gewehr

For nine years, bravado, fear, patriotism, uncertainty and adventure were on hundreds of flights to the Vietnam War. On those planes were troops going to combat and with them were flight attendants, nearly all women who were the last memory of home. The women became their friends and were like mothers, sisters, confidants and sometimes just one glimpse would later bring written marriage proposals.For more than 60,000 military personnel, their trip was one-way but for troops who survived the war and got their round trip, they were changed forever. The first to see the difference were the flight attendants.This is the true story of those women and the troops who opened themselves with heartfelt emotion. Former TV news anchor and Navy Vietnam War veteran John Culea whose wife Patti was a flight attendant for Flying Tiger Line and Airlift International during the Vietnam War brings the reader into the cabin, on the ground and into the souls of men and women for a revealing story of Americana. Sometimes tragic, often hilarious but always compelling, with more than 400 photographs the book was written in hopes of bringing recognition to women who deserve an honored place in our nation’s history.

535 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2019

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look into the lives of women flight attendants who flew in and out of Vietnam during the war. Many insights into the business and emotions of the women who sent so many young men off to a terrible war. A nice overview with many perspectives from firsthand sources. Makes me want to read more about the war and why it was so terrible for the soldiers.