Appearance
The War Above the Trees
excellent book. very detailed and historically accurate. i know because i was there. i was a platoon sgt with Co A/3rd/12th which made first CA into LZ Swinger on 3/1/69 and was wounded along with my RTO. On 3/9/69 I was again wounded seriously and spent the next 1 and 1/2 yrs in various Army and VA Hosps. I've discussed this book with my original RTO who made it to 3/27/69 until he was seriously wounded and evac'd out. This book should have made into a movie, altho it would have been very difficult to produce. would have liked to speak to Ron Carey, the author-he really did his homework and put his life on the line every day of the 45 day operation.
The War Above the Trees
I was on the ground as a rifleman during this mission, often looking up in awe of these choppers coming to our aid. I have spent a great deal of time researching "Operation Wayne Grey" and Ron's book still filled in lots of blanks for me. He tells what it was like to get into some of those tiny LZ's we had created and how hard it was to keep up with the many demands put on the aircraft and crews. I want to thank Ron for telling his story and for all he did back in the Plei Trap Valley.
The War Above the Trees
As mentioned above this book is not fiction but fact. I was a member of Delta Company 3/8th 4th Infantry Division during the battle for Hill 947 aka Operation Wayne gray.The book is outstading and I wish that I could have thank Ron for writting it in person. We did communicate when he released it as he signed my copy for me. Recently forgot exactly wehn Ron passed away. There are no words that can be said of what he did for us flying above the jungle canopy those days resupplying us as round after round was fired at his choper. He will never be forgotten as he now joins those who lost their lives back then. Rest in peace Ron.For those history buffs and those who enjoy a real book about real people and events I highly recomment Ron's book
The War Above the Trees
Highly recommended. As a grunt in the Americal and 101 Abn, I was always jealous of the guys in the Hueys. I still am, but now have a better appreciation on what they did and the dangers of the job. I liked the diary format that the author used to tell his story. A good read. Buy it.
The War Above the Trees
I am puzzled by the reviews that comment positively on the writing style. I am not bothered by a diary format, but to me the book is extremely wooden. I was not engaged by any of the characters.This may also be picky but it relates to the writing style issue. The author continually gives an acronym, eg. "HQ" or any of the many others used by the military, then follows it by the full term, eg. headquarters. The convention is to do it the other way. Full name first then use the acronym thereafter. For me this became more and more irritating as time went by. I suppose because it kept interfering with the flow of the book.Furthermore, he would put such words as "grunt" in quotes and then gives an explanation that this refers to foot soldiers. He does this repeatedly about very basic words that I have trouble believing anyone reading the book would not already know. Again, interfering with the flow of the story.It appears that for some of the people who were in Vietnam during the war, it gives them an appreciation for the courage of the pilots and the many dangers they faced, but I want much more than a remembrance of past events. I want something that puts events in some sort of context and gives meaning, positive or negative or whatever.I imagine it gives a factual account of the events he experienced, but I could find no passion to engage me and no characters that I cared about.
The War Above the Trees
Me being a gunner in Vietnam too it is the real thing don't miss this