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Taking Fire: The True Story of a Decorated Chopper Pilot
Nicknamed "Mini-Man" for his diminutive stature, a mere five-foot-three and 125 pounds in his flight boots, chopper pilot Ron Alexander proved to be a giant in the eyes of the men he rescued from the jungles and paddies of Vietnam. With an unswerving concern for every American soldier trapped by enemy fire, and a fearlessness that became legendary, Ron Alexander earned enough official praise to become the second most decorated helicopter pilot of the Vietnam era. Yet, for Ron, the real reward came from plucking his fellow soldiers from harm's way, giving them another chance to get home alive.In Taking Fire, Alexander and acclaimed military writer Charles Sasser transport you right into the cramped cockpit of a Huey on patrol, offering a bird's eye view of the Vietnam conflict. Packed with riveting action and gritty "you-are-there" dialogue, this outstanding book celebrates the everyday heroism of the chopper pilots of Vietnam.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 5, 2014
This is mostly made up stories by Alexander and Sasser with some liberal "borrowing" from "Chickenhawk" by Bob Mason. Check Wikipedia for details. Inaccuracies abound - both hostorical and technical. How do I know? I was one of Alexander's Aircraft Commanders when he got there and was still in the unit 6 months after he left.
April 25, 2020
Great leader and pilot in the most famous Air Cavalry Troop.
I didn't get to Apache Troop until November 1970, but I can attest to the accuracy of Ron's very complete explanation of Air Cavalry work in the "helicopter war." The fact that we knew our government, our people no longer politically supported continuing the attrition warfare we were winning didn't mitigate our effectiveness. We were fighting to give our Vietnamese allies the best chance possible to survive and to bring as many of our soldiers home in one piece. Time didn't agree with our military method, proven through many wars, of counting enemy casualties. NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap, however, very strongly agreed with our ten to one count. They were just willing to sustain that horrible attrition a few years more.
Ron and many of us gather every couple of years and reminis. We were never embarrassed in battle and we got most of us back home. All of us were soldiers for a year, and young.
I didn't get to Apache Troop until November 1970, but I can attest to the accuracy of Ron's very complete explanation of Air Cavalry work in the "helicopter war." The fact that we knew our government, our people no longer politically supported continuing the attrition warfare we were winning didn't mitigate our effectiveness. We were fighting to give our Vietnamese allies the best chance possible to survive and to bring as many of our soldiers home in one piece. Time didn't agree with our military method, proven through many wars, of counting enemy casualties. NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap, however, very strongly agreed with our ten to one count. They were just willing to sustain that horrible attrition a few years more.
Ron and many of us gather every couple of years and reminis. We were never embarrassed in battle and we got most of us back home. All of us were soldiers for a year, and young.
September 5, 2017
This book was an eye opener and a story of a man who never shirked his duty or asked his men to do something he would not do. It is hard if not impossible to believe his aircraft was never hit but I believe what was written of Captain Mini Man. It is a love story as well and funny because of the banter between he and his wife. He loved his me, loved him men hated the war and did his duty and then some. Some men are true heros and he is one of them and the book is a fun read. What did he get for the hooch when he left, wood floors, a desk, fan, radio, TV and safety......I cannot remember if he told us.
June 15, 2025
Awesome Read
This was an Awesome read! You get the story in front of you just like it was you living it yourself. Well written and shows to e authors true love for what he did over there.
This was an Awesome read! You get the story in front of you just like it was you living it yourself. Well written and shows to e authors true love for what he did over there.
April 16, 2018
Excellent reading
It kept me up all night. I read it in one setting. This is definitely better then most other books.
It kept me up all night. I read it in one setting. This is definitely better then most other books.
July 6, 2019
The good, the bad and the ugly from the right hand seat of a slick. A good read and a factual account of a true warrior.
August 24, 2024
great book
Great book from start to finish, the stories and actions these guys faced were overwhelming and with serious fear and heroism
Highly recommend this book
Great book from start to finish, the stories and actions these guys faced were overwhelming and with serious fear and heroism
Highly recommend this book
August 25, 2024
Outstanding reading !
This book is for real without all the politics. Day to day life in VN!! Could not put it down
This book is for real without all the politics. Day to day life in VN!! Could not put it down
March 19, 2025
Very good book, considering how dated, the material is.
June 9, 2022
The short, blunt, evermore honest author of this book which is blunt and honest about his service year as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. An almost happy-go-lucky attitude, necessary for survival in the bureaucracy is violently interrupted by the rage and terror of war, described so well that my verified blood pressure went up to unhealthy levels. A macabre sense of humor as always in wars tries to mitigate the horrors and the ineptitude. I love this man's "voice" as he tells his story, which is way more than worth the time to attend to him.
May 26, 2018
COURAGE UNSURPASSED
Author Ron Alexander captured the very essence of the courage needed to fly choppers in Vietnam.
Can we imagine what it felt like to approach a hot LZ, knowing it's now the turn of your aircraft to land in that hell of explosions, tracers and burning choppers? This book takes you there, firmly strapped into the pilot's seat - there's no leaving - you have to carry on and finish the job. Today and tomorrow and the day after that. IF you are still here. I have seen a medvac chopper hovering 50 feet, taking a wall of ground fire from the VC, whilst the crew chief calmly leaned out of the doorway to make sure the casualty was secure in his harness before operating the winch to lift him. We could hear the hits the aircraft was taking, regardless of the large red cross on the fuselage. No chopper pilot was permitted to buy a drink if any of us were around.
Author Ron Alexander captured the very essence of the courage needed to fly choppers in Vietnam.
Can we imagine what it felt like to approach a hot LZ, knowing it's now the turn of your aircraft to land in that hell of explosions, tracers and burning choppers? This book takes you there, firmly strapped into the pilot's seat - there's no leaving - you have to carry on and finish the job. Today and tomorrow and the day after that. IF you are still here. I have seen a medvac chopper hovering 50 feet, taking a wall of ground fire from the VC, whilst the crew chief calmly leaned out of the doorway to make sure the casualty was secure in his harness before operating the winch to lift him. We could hear the hits the aircraft was taking, regardless of the large red cross on the fuselage. No chopper pilot was permitted to buy a drink if any of us were around.
July 22, 2012
This was a paperback that I picked up a couple of years ago and read.
If you have ever been curious as to what a Chopper Pilot and crews did in the Vietnam war, then this is a good book for you.
It gave a chilling and glorious, compelling insight to what they did and how they did it.
The main character of the book is an actual person. Its his life and his adventures. Not only is he the most decorated chopper pilot. But, there is one "act" in the book that will leave you with the knowledge that he was the MOST dedicated and caring Pilot to the men on the ground.
310 pages. Several Pictures. A great read.
If you have ever been curious as to what a Chopper Pilot and crews did in the Vietnam war, then this is a good book for you.
It gave a chilling and glorious, compelling insight to what they did and how they did it.
The main character of the book is an actual person. Its his life and his adventures. Not only is he the most decorated chopper pilot. But, there is one "act" in the book that will leave you with the knowledge that he was the MOST dedicated and caring Pilot to the men on the ground.
310 pages. Several Pictures. A great read.
January 28, 2021
Helicopter War
I learned the capabilities of chopper Warcraft. An important part of the Vietnam war. Through these lessons the US gained knowledge of a new type of warfare that was effective and affective. Although US Armed Forces are slow to establish new methodologies, once the positive results are seen the methodologies are rapidly adopted.
This history was well written and well organized. The life of a chopper pilot in Vietnam was often short, but the value of mobility in warfare was made obvious by the author.
Highly recommend reading for Vietnam was enthusiasts.
I learned the capabilities of chopper Warcraft. An important part of the Vietnam war. Through these lessons the US gained knowledge of a new type of warfare that was effective and affective. Although US Armed Forces are slow to establish new methodologies, once the positive results are seen the methodologies are rapidly adopted.
This history was well written and well organized. The life of a chopper pilot in Vietnam was often short, but the value of mobility in warfare was made obvious by the author.
Highly recommend reading for Vietnam was enthusiasts.
September 20, 2015
Excellent. I never heard of this guy, but a real hero. Fast read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews