Dustoff : The Memoir of an Army Aviator

Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: One of the best accounts of military life during the wars that I have read. Our war heros are few and far between anymore. An excellent reminder of what men and women went through to defend our nation's interests.

Rating:
Summary: Forthright
Review: This book is a memoir from Mike's perspective and probably penned by his hand in lieu of a ghost writer--for which he is to be commended. Mike earned the awards and recognition he received and probably some more that were lost in the bowels of an inefficent administrative system present in Vietnam. I was in the 45th Med Co (AA) during the same time frame as Mike was in the 82d (HA). My only reservation in having read his book is the repeated inferences of the marginal flying skills of his fellow aviators. An aviation unit was comprised of aviators with a varying number of flight hours and combat experience. I knew many of the people referenced in the book and felt their contributions and capabilities as fellow Dustoff pilots were understated. The pilot's of the 45th Med Co (AA) seemed to be held in low esteem by Mike which is unfortunate in that our crews logged as much flight time as his folks did and our killed in action ratio was higher. At the same time, I thought he did an excellent job in not denegrating the leadership of the 45th Med Co (AA) any further than he did especially since leadership in that company at the time was sorely lacking. Mike's book tells how it was to fly combat mission as a Dustoff pilot during that era and his insights are appreciated. I have shared this book with my young adult children so they might better understand that period of time. If there was a little less of I'm better than you conveyed in the book (obviously my interpretation), this would have been a five star rating. Buy the book, you will enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: A Story about a true Hero.
Review: This book is about a true American Hero. Starting before World War 2, this book covers the life and career of one of the bravest men I have ever read about. This is a man who not only risked his life time and time again to selflessly save the wounded in Vietnam, but did not expect any special gratitude or treatment for it. This is a well written and engrossing tale about a man who served more than any man would be expected to, but signed up for two tours of Vietnam as a emergency evacuation pilot. Although I know it doesn't count for much, I hope Mr. Novosel reads this review to realize how much respect I have for him, and the men who served with him.