Dear Friends,

“Red Bird Down” is a new Novel written by Bruce Carlson about the struggle of being a Scout pilot in Vietnam. It is not a “War Novel.” Rather, it is a novel about young men in an unpopular war!! In the same breath, “Red Bird Publications” is a new publishing endeavor interested in publishing quality work concerning Vietnam and other subjects. Below are some initial comments from some of the first readers of “Red Bird Down.”
“RED BIRD DOWN” is the first novel by Bruce Carlson and is based loosely on his experiences in Vietnam, so states the back cover text. No it is not! Bruce has not wrought a work of fiction based on his experiences in Vietnam. Bruce has woven a tale, from a unique point of view, that can be read by any helicopter pilot or crewman. The "adventure" of the book's protagonist, young Kevin Paul Johnson, the philosophical "Everyman" of that war, is the overall story of all helicopter pilots and crews in that war. Within these tension filled pages, Bruce has managed to incorporate the experiences of all of us, our unspoken fears, our inner rage, our personal confusion, and our inner strength. Bruce has told OUR story through his eyes. He has expressed OUR emotion through the character of young Kevin.

Bruce has put the helicopter warrior experience into perspective; historical, personal, emotional, and spiritual. His conversations with "Pastor Bill" reflect the dichotomy of the war and the manner by which closest friends can be and were divided by the unshared experience, Kevin in Vietnam and Pastor Bill in the States.

Unable to really put it down, except to reflect and evaluate, the book moved me to laughter and to tears, to rememberance of both the glad and the suppressed. It was a catharsis. I would recommend its reading to anyone who wishes to understand what it was that drove us, a unique group of people and aviators, to do what had to be done, regardless. I recommend it to ALL pilots and crewmen, scout, gun, or slick as well as anyone who is interested in the lives of the boys who served in Vietnam.

Bob Skiba Helicopter Pilot, RVN 1967-1968
117th Assault Helicopter Company

My second book is a non fiction book Written by well known Author Keith W Nolan. Here is what is known about this book released this week.

Ripcord was the last big battle between the US Army and NVA The Battle for Firebase Ripcord began on March 12, 1970, when the 101st Airborne Division launched the first of the three assaults that it took to open the position in the jungle-covered mountains northeast of the A Shau Valley.

Following an enemy siege of the isolated firebase, the battle ended on July 23, 1970 when the 101st conducted a dramatic helicopter evacuation of Ripcord. Once evacuated, Ripcord was bombed out of existence by B-52s.

Fought during the American withdrawal from Vietnam, the Battle for Firebase Ripcord turned out to be the last multi-battalion, high-casualty engagement between infantry units of the U.S. Army and North Vietnamese Army.

Firebase Ripcord was to have served as a stepping stone for a bold offensive the 101st had planned to destroy NVA supply bases in the mountains overlooking the A Shau Valley. By taking the fight to Ripcord before the 101st could launch its offensive, the NVA were able not only to disrupt the planned offensive, but to inflict heavy casualties on the rifle companies operating around Ripcord.

Enemy mortarmen also inflicted heavy casualties among the artillery batteries positioned atop the firebase, and enemy antiaircraft crews played havoc with medevac and resupply helicopters.

The situation became so precarious that the 101st banned all reporters, civilian and military alike, from visiting Ripcord. Likewise, the 101st refrained from mentioning Ripcord in its in-country publications, effectively censoring the biggest single battle of 1970 and an engagement even more costly to the division than the infamous Hamburger Hill action of 1969.

The memories of the battle were intense, however, among those who survived it, and thanks to their written and oral testimony (augmented by unit after-action reports from the National Archives), the story of Firebase Ripcord can finally be told. This book documents the ferocity of half-blind, nose-to-nose encounters between the NVA and the Screaming Eagles in the heavily-jungled valleys and hills around Ripcord, as well as the terror and hardships endured by those artillerymen and support troops on the firebase itself who were subjected to relentless fire from 60 mm, 82mm, and 120mm mortars.

The book also explores the political pressures brought to bear on the senior officers in the 101st, who could not afford to take more Hamburger Hill-style casualties during the era of Withdrawal and Vietnamization.

The result was that the enemy came to dominate the battle, eventually bringing such pressure to bear that the 101st had little choice but to bail out rather than reinforce the friendly units on and around Ripcord.

Thanks to politics and the bravery of the NVA, the Battle for Firebase Ripcord was a fiasco. Such a comment does not diminish the sterling leadership displayed by the squad leaders, platoon leaders, and company commanders of the 101st at Ripcord, nor the great heroism of the draftee grunts who did their best though none could fathom why they were not being supported by the full weight of combat power available up the chain of command.

Over a 100 U.S. troops were killed during the four-month battle, and nearly a 1000 wounded. Dozens of valor awards were earned, including two Distinguished Service Crosses. The Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to LTC Andre C. Lucas, CO, 2-506th Infantry, the unit that originally opened Ripcord and held it until being lifted out by Huey slicks even as the NVA assaulted up the slopes of the mountaintop firebase.

Comments about RIPCORD have been offered by several distinguished historians, including Stephen E. Ambrose: "Keith Nolan's research, his comprehension of the political as well as the military actions, his careful concern for those who were there, and, most of all, his writing, are superb. Indeed, I've never read a better account of a battle, and I've never been prouder of the American fighting man, nor more scornful of his political and high-ranking military leaders. To those who want to know what it was like to be a grunt in Vietnam, I recommend RIPCORD without stint or reservation.

"From LTG Harold G. Moore, USA, Ret.(co-author of WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE. . . AND YOUNG) : "A compelling book, and ultimately an edifying one which illustrates the valor of the American soldier during the withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Vietnam.

"From John Del Vecchio (author of THE 13th VALLEY): "With RIPCORD, Keith Nolan has added another significant battle history to his impressive list of works on the Vietnam War.