Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam

As a Vietnam Infantry veteran, I have always held the chopper pilots in the highest regard for always being there when needed. Without them, we would not have survived. I had jumped from choppers into hot LZ's, finding the deepest depression or fattest tree for protection before returning fire - pucker factor ten-thousand! These pilots were relentless and continued to ferry and land reinforcements with not much protection for themselves. They flew their machines through steady streams of gunfire, and yet,they continued as if they were invincible. Dust off's, ash and trash runs, troop deployments and evacuations and over-head support were all part of their everyday job.

Mr Joyce does a wonderful job with this well-told story and offers the reader an in-depth look at the everyday life of these flying warriors, which isn't, by the way, a nine to five job. The book follows Mr. Joyce from the first day he volunteers to fly planes in college, through his fixed wing flight training and later reassignment to a helicopter squadron, and then during his tour in Vietnam. The author also has a fantastic sense of humor that sometimes catches you off-guard and will make you laugh out loud. After reading Pucker Factor 10, I have bumped up these pilots a couple of notches on my high esteem list. I also have a much better understanding of what these sky warriors had to endure in order to survive...sadly, many did not!

Five stars and highly recommended!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel