Guts 'N Gunships

What It Was Really Like to Fly Combat Helicopters in Vietnam

De: Mark Garrison

Narrado por: Eric Martin

In the summer of 1967, Mark Garrison had dropped out of college at Southern Illinois University just before entering his third year. He had run out of money and had to work for a while. These were the days before the lottery and the draft soon came calling. In order to somewhat control his own future, he enlisted in the US Army's helicopter flight school program. Little did he know that this adventure would be the most profound experience of his life.

Garrison flew hundreds of missions for the 119th AHC, stationed in the Central Highlands at Camp Holloway in Pleiku, Vietnam. He was awarded 25 Air Medals, four campaign Bronze Stars, and The Distinguished Flying Cross, among numerous other awards. His narrative takes you through the whole process, from basic training, flight school, flying combat in Vietnam, and his return to the United States. His description includes many incidents in combat flight, including being hit by rocket propelled grenades and being on fire in the air, over hundreds if not thousands of enemy troops. But this is not all. He elaborates on the daily lives, emotions, and nuances of the pilots and what they considered their mission to be.

Guts 'N Gunships is a must listen if you are to have a realistic understanding of what flying helicopters in Vietnam combat was all about.

©2015 mark v garrison (P)2015 mark v garrison

Fascinating

This is a memoir of a helicopter pilot from the Vietnam War. Garrison tells what it takes to be a helicopter pilot in combat. Garrison covers the time from his enlistment, boot camp, helicopter school to his combat missions in Vietnam. The author goes into detail about combat action and also includes wartime humor, and the loss of friends.

The book is well written. I noted that the author flew hundreds of mission for the 119th AHC, stationed in the Central Highlands at Camp Holloway in Pleiku, Vietnam. He was awarded twenty-five air medals, four campaign medals, four Bonze Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross among the list of medals. Garrison’s extensive combat experience comes through in the book. I found it interesting that after his war service ended Garrison decided to become a chiropractor. Seems he was following in his father’s footsteps. Eric Martin does a good job narrating the book.

Brought back old memories!

I was a helicopter pilot in my youth flying Dustoff or medevac helicopters in VietNam so I was very anxious to hear about Mark Garrison's adventures. I was not disappointed. I learned things that I did not know about gunships. I had deja vu moments listening to his tales. This is a good solid collection of tales and memories. I highly recommend that you read it. You won't regret it.

I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Meant alot to me

What a great book. This one meant alot to me as my father flew Huey's in Vietnam as well. Lost him 13 years ago and he never really talked much about what he experienced. Wish I asked him more. I have his pictures on 35mm slides but this book painted a picture of what he went through. Thank you for sharing a piece of your life with us listeners. Highly recommend

Well done.

A light story from an angle that differs from other books on the topic.
I enjoyed it.

Great insight!

Although this is a bygone era, the sacrifice should never be forgotten.
The sacrifice not only belongs to those who lost their lives on the battlefield.

A very well-balanced aviation war memoir

Any additional comments?

This is just an excellent story telling of one Huey pilot's tour in Vietnam. It has the right mix of story telling and details for the pilot/aviation enthusiast. It seems honest and sincere and I will probably listen to this one again.

The best written account I have ever heard

An absolutely wonderful memoir (report?). I too was drafted for Vietnam in the spring of 1968. However I did not go because of an undiagnosed heart condition which surprised the hell out of me; which I still have but has not killed me yet.
I had a friend who flew gunships for the Marines came home and taught flight for life pilots. Frank (not his real name) didn’t learn what Mark finally did and sadly passed away several years ago. He was a loving but sometimes difficult husband to his wife but a great friend and we all miss him.

Mr Garrison, Thank You for sharing your story!

Outstanding book that anyone can follow along with as the saying goes What comes from the heart goes to the heart ". Mark Garrisons story really hits you and this book truly conveys the perspective of a US Army Aviator & Young officer dealing with the ups and downs of serving in the Army and the camaraderie and loyalty that is formed between brothers in arms that veterans like myself cherish. Mr Garrison thank you for showing us a few chapters of your life. T.N

Brought back memories

Where does Guts 'N Gunships rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is one of the best books of this type I have listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guts 'N Gunships?

The time when his ship was almost destroyed on mission

What about Eric Martin’s performance did you like?

Eric is without a doubt a master narrator. His voice was always clear and understandable. He put real feeling into those moments when fear and panic had to have been driving emotions though the roof.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

My unbelievable year

Any additional comments?

I was given this book in expectation of a review. I was skeptical at first because memoirs are normally dull and dry. I found that this book brought back memories of my own military active duty during the Vietnam era. Though I was not in the Army I did serve during the same time frame.

I found the book to be extremely well written and the time line well laid out. It expressed the fears and the anxieties of men who go in harms ways. It also captured the ways men deal with them to maintain their sanity.

There was a "gallows humor" that pervaded the whole adventure. And unless one has experienced the 1960s in their awesome highs and lows they would not understand the way the military was treated in light of today.

As I listened to this book I could fully relate the Mark's fears and his coping. It brought light to an aspect of the war that I personally had not experienced and brought me to a better appreciation for their sacrifices and pain.

A regular guy tells danger-filled story well

So much war history is told by academics or policy makers who weren't at any risk. They have an axe to grind and an agenda. Mark Garrison was just a draftee who couldn't afford to stay in college. He flew hundreds of missions in Vietnam and amazingly​ didn't get shot even though his helicopter was​ shot up many times.

Garrison also managed to put himself at risk many times off the battlefield with such antics as falling asleep in a whore house (at night VC would hunt for GIs in Pleiku) and throwing a baseball in a very large swarm of bees.

A good story and gives a sense of how soldiers saw the war in Vietnam.