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

James Joyce

Aug 2016 · McFarland

About this ebook

"In 1963...there was no way I could have known, sitting in a classroom on that beautiful campus in Ohio, that by raising my hand I would be going to war in Vietnam and that I would see things, hear things and do things that most people cannot imagine."--James Joyce.

The author was drawn into the United States Army through ROTC, and went through training to fly helicopters in combat over Vietnam. His experiences are notable because he flew both Huey "Slicks" and Huey "Gunships": the former on defense as he flew troops into battle, and the latter on offense as he took the battle to the enemy. Through this book, the author relives his experiences flying and fighting, with special attention given to his and other pilots' day-to-day lives--such as the smoke bombing of Disneyland, the nickname given to a United States Army-sponsored compound for prostitution. Some of the pilots Joyce served with survived the war and went on to have careers with commercial airlines, and many were killed.

Ratings and reviews

I served in Vietnam as a Warrant Officer UH-1H helicopter pilot with the 57th Assault Helicopter Company. This is a great read really tells the story well. I read this book on Kindle. Buy it if you are interested in Vietnam.

A good book, not too long and seems like a real honest account. However the spell checker was obviously on holiday when the book was proof read.

Just a great Vietnam memoir from a talented writer. Gives more of the mental side of the war through a different perspective. Good read

About the author

James Joyce is the author of Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam and has written numerous articles for newspapers such as the Durango Herald and the Chicago Tribune. He is CEO of Green Mountain International, a global purveyor of polyurethane construction products, and lives in Waynesville, North Carolina.