By Ed Willer, 7/15/2004
Here are some of my favorite reads on the War in the Delta and related subjects. I would love to hear about some of yours:
1. "The Lovable One-Niner" by Minard Thompson. This is a complete history on the Bird Dog from design to today. Loaded with pictures and "war stories" and even has a 221st patch in the inside front cover. If you liked the Bird Dog, you'll love this one by American Captain Thompson.
2. "A Bright Shinning Lie" by Neil Sheehan.This may well be the definitive work on what Viet Nam was all about. Took the former correspondant 15 years to write it. It is the story of John Paul Vann a career Army Officer who later became the only "civilian general" in the war. He was nuts, but was a hero in some people's eyes (and certainly his own). It's long, but a page turner. It has won all sorts of awards.
2. "Sea Wolves: First Choice" by Daniel E. Kelly. Sea Wolves was the call sign for the Navy helicopter pilots who support the Seals in the Delta. Great "beach read." You'll see some familiar places and maybe names that you know.
3."Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas J. Cutler. This is a thriller about the Swift Boats in the Delta. You won't be able to put it down. Again, familiar names and places.
4. "Two Souls, Indivisible" by James S. Hirsch.This is the story of how Porter Halyburton and Fred Cherry survived 7 years as P.O.W.'s after being shot down over North Viet Nam in 1965. Porter was a class mate of mine and fellow R.O.T.C. cadet at Davidson College in North Carolina (Class of '63).
You can find these on line at Barnes and Noble (bn.com).
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