Description
Book Synopsis“A comprehensively researched historic document on one year’s activities for the 9th Cav and the 1st Cavalry Division, worthy of gracing their unit libraries. That the book simultaneously succeeds on the individual soldier level makes it a standout for any reader with an interest in the airmobile aspect of the Vietnam War.” -
Vietnam MagazineThe Gunner and the Grunt is written in the voices of two soldiers who fought in the same battles as members of the same recon unit but from different angles. Michael Kelley, the “Gunner,” was flying in an armed helicopter above the jungle providing suppressive fire support, while Peter Burbank, the “Grunt,” was down in the jungle on foot patrol involved in fire fights with Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army troops.
The book follows these two Boston boys from army training through deployment to the war zone and the shock of first combat missions, to helicopter air assault “Search and Destroy” operations from the Cambodian border to the sands of the South China Sea.
Table of ContentsPrologue: The Lost Gunship Chapter One: High School Warriors Chapter Two: Basic Combat Training, Mike Chapter Three: Helicopter School, Mike Chapter Four: Flying Shawnee Bananas, Mike Chapter Five: Guns and Rabbits, Pete Chapter Six: airborne Infantry, Pete Chapter Seven: Going to War, Mike Chapter Eight: Aero Rifle Blues Platoon,Pete Chapter Nine: Aero Weapons Red Platoon, Mike Chapter Ten: The Bong son Campaign, Mike Chapter Eleven: The Crow's Foot Battle, Mike Chapter Twelve: Aero Scout White Platoon, Mike Chapter Thirteen: Charlie Alpha Combat assault, Pete Chapter Fourteen: Hot Rod pilot, Mike Chapter Fifteen: In Memory of our Commander Epilogue: Mike Epilogue: Pete List of Major Campaigns List of Weapons of War 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Commanders 1965-1966 Air Cavalry units in Vietnam Photo Credits Selected Bibliography
