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Headhunters: Stories from the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, in Vietnam 1965-1971
The author of "Brennan's War" and "Hunter-Killer Squadron" begins his superb series about the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry with the stories of twenty-eight veterans as told in their own words.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 3, 2018
My affection for "Apocalypse Now" peaked my interest in this novel. The text is different than most soldier's memoirs in that the stories are a collection of different men telling of their tours in Vietnam. Quite a departure from the Stephen Crane model. The novel lacks a pizzaz in style, there are only a couple of stories that are well written, most of the stories are transcripts from conversation, many of the stories are a hefty accumulation of dates, facts and material. The lack of polish makes too many of the stories jump around quickly, at times, it is hard to follow the action and the people in the scene.
The text includes pilots, grunts and doorgunners; the perspectives cover every combat job within the unit. The mixed perspective of the drafted and the career military men provide a complete view of the soldier in that era. The novel also includes a series of letters from one of the fallen men to his young wife back in the states, it is gripping. Another aspect of the storytelling that is different is the men are looking back twenty years, the text includes how their opinions have changed or been fortified over the years. One of the more impressive veins in the story spotlights the reunions at the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial in 1982. The healing effect the momument had upon veterans and the repressed feelings that were brought to the surface is great reading.
As in any Vietnam memoir, there are some wild stories. A door gunner, Jim Black, is shot down 13 times during his tour; ten of them happen with the commanding officer in the chopper with him. The story about the pilot's shooting pistols out of their windows at the enemy are crazy. The pilot who would land his helicopter and chase individual enemy soldiers on foot with his side arm is the one of the most insane things I've ever heard of, but it makes a wonderful story.
p.112 I don't think the American people are truly interested in the war. Only Vietnam veterans are really interested in the Vietnam War. This story is for them.
p.210 I will always miss him. I haven't be able to listen to 'Scarborough Fair' for seventeen years now. It's easier to turn it off or walk away than to explain why the song makes me want to cry.
p.257 That night I had a strange dream. The Grim Reaper was there with his sickle, and he was trying to force me into an old barn. I was holding him back with a torch. Then I threw the torch and the Reaper caught fire. I could see his chest and clothes and hood burning, then the rest of him. I watched as he burned up. Then I had my first peaceful sleep in many years. I've slept pretty well since then, but I'm still trying to understand why Paul died and I didn't.
p.289 It didn't upset me that much that he didn't have a head but it bothered me that I never knew the guy, didn't know where he came from.
The text includes pilots, grunts and doorgunners; the perspectives cover every combat job within the unit. The mixed perspective of the drafted and the career military men provide a complete view of the soldier in that era. The novel also includes a series of letters from one of the fallen men to his young wife back in the states, it is gripping. Another aspect of the storytelling that is different is the men are looking back twenty years, the text includes how their opinions have changed or been fortified over the years. One of the more impressive veins in the story spotlights the reunions at the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial in 1982. The healing effect the momument had upon veterans and the repressed feelings that were brought to the surface is great reading.
As in any Vietnam memoir, there are some wild stories. A door gunner, Jim Black, is shot down 13 times during his tour; ten of them happen with the commanding officer in the chopper with him. The story about the pilot's shooting pistols out of their windows at the enemy are crazy. The pilot who would land his helicopter and chase individual enemy soldiers on foot with his side arm is the one of the most insane things I've ever heard of, but it makes a wonderful story.
p.112 I don't think the American people are truly interested in the war. Only Vietnam veterans are really interested in the Vietnam War. This story is for them.
p.210 I will always miss him. I haven't be able to listen to 'Scarborough Fair' for seventeen years now. It's easier to turn it off or walk away than to explain why the song makes me want to cry.
p.257 That night I had a strange dream. The Grim Reaper was there with his sickle, and he was trying to force me into an old barn. I was holding him back with a torch. Then I threw the torch and the Reaper caught fire. I could see his chest and clothes and hood burning, then the rest of him. I watched as he burned up. Then I had my first peaceful sleep in many years. I've slept pretty well since then, but I'm still trying to understand why Paul died and I didn't.
p.289 It didn't upset me that much that he didn't have a head but it bothered me that I never knew the guy, didn't know where he came from.
March 12, 2016
Matthew Brennan has done an excellent job of collecting stories from those veterans he served with and others that served with the elite 1/9 Cav in Vietnam. Though many of the experiences are similiar each veteran brings his own perspective of their time in Vietnam and several discuss the issues Vietnam vets had upon returning home.
July 12, 2012
Fantastic book so far it is about the 1/9 air Cav in Vietnam the same unit my father served with.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews