Chickenhawk

By: Robert Mason

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 14 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

With more than half a million copies sold, Robert Mason's Chickenhawk is one of the best-selling books ever written about the Vietnam War. Critically acclaimed for its unflinching detail, the book has been hailed by The New York Times as "a hypnotic narrative" and by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as "very simply the best book so far out of Vietnam."

Fascinated with flying from a young age, Mason earned his private pilot's license even before graduating high school. He enlisted in the army in 1964 and endured an extremely challenging "weeding out" process in an effort to fly helicopters. Sent to Vietnam, he survived more than 1,000 air combat missions despite the violence and brutality exploding all around him. This completely honest account of one soldier's traumatic experiences provides a perspective often neglected in print and film - that of the helicopter pilot. Through L. J. Ganser's powerful narration, the shattering story of men who lived and flew in constant peril is vividly retold.

©1983 Robert C. Mason (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

A boring book that manages to keep you on the edge of your seat

Pros:
describes how a helicopter operates and how to fly it in exquisite detail

The unique tricks of the trade that the pilots learned in Vietnam

The graphic detail of the authors experiences in Vietnam

His distain for how the military operates and the Vietnam war in general

Cons:
The author comes off as whiny (probably because he never wanted to fly in combat in the first place)

The book is repetitive, continuously flying combat assaults over and over and over (unfortunately exactly like real army life)

The book is actually kind of boring, yet somehow it keeps your interest and sparks your intrigue, constantly having you waiting on the edge of your seat for what's going to happen next just to be mildly disappointed because it's just another combat assault.

Mind blowing and so very human.

This book have me an understanding of war like I never knew before. Thank you, Robert Mason, for your bravery and honesty.

On a par with Helmut for My Pillow

An excellent insight into the Vietnam war without all the the morose self coagulation an politicalBS common to most memoirs of the event.

A true classic

Amazing story. I have read it a couple of times. Gripping, honest. Very well done.

Hard to put down

I first read Chickenhawk when I was 15. It impacted me greatly then, and now again as an adult. What a story! Very good performance too, which really adds life to it. It is a book set in the Vietnam War, but it is not a war book. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

A very fine story of why Americans are great....

Not the politicians, mind you, but average Americans. Young guys out of ordinary American who rise to become true warriors and heroes. I don't know where the ability to achieve such things comes from but maybe it is the passed down heritage of our Founding Fathers.....God and my country, apple pie and mom.
This book put tears in my eyes. I remember.
JL Pitts, Former 1LT, US Army, Vietnam 1968-69

Good book. Especially if you remember 'Nam 😱

A good book for those of us that never went.

I registered for the draft. Number 162.
The prior year they took past that number into the military.
But the war there was winding down.
I wasn't drafted.
Thank God . . .

I feel like a could fly a huey

This is a wondeerful book for anyone who is interested in helicopters and Vietnam. The narrator is wonderful and a joy to listen to. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Wow shocking book

I was shocked at what really goes on. Happy, sad, pathetic, brave, unappreciated. All words that came to me.

Yet One More Witness to the Vietnam Cluster F***

Turn out I was in country the same time Mr. Mason was, as an Army Fixed Wing pilot in III Corps. I have listened to several Vietnam memoirs and this may be the best of them all. Totally honest and not mincing words or making excuses. I only stopped listening for some restless bouts of sleep. Well done! As a bonus, the narrator sounded very much like my all time favorite, the late Edward Herrmann. I didn't bring home near the baggage Mr. Mason did, and I wish for him quiet, peaceful years ahead. I highly recommend this as the best account of the helicopter war in Southeast Asia.