Choppers Up!

About the Book

Choppers Up! is a story of war and its futility, the young lives wasted and the devastation of landscapes and families. Warrant Officer Timothy D. Dundee is a very young helicopter pilot in an assault company in the US Army during the Vietnam War. His encounters give a graphic account of day-to-day life in combat. In his Army unit there is action, love, sex and simple military humor typical of that found in the jungles of Vietnam with men trying to do a job against impossible odds.

The parallel story of Vietnamese activist Dinh Chau and his sister Nguyen provides a fascinating contrast, showing life on the other side. It also highlights the conflict among the country's people and the uncertainity of their nation.

The Saigon River Massacre changes Timothy's perception of the "honorable" war. The order is given to destroy a Sampan (steamship) loaded with civilian women and children. The haunting memory of children in his gun sight changes Timothy's whole outlook on life. Clandestine "Spook" missions, in Cambodia add to Timothy's discomfort and loathing of this "unwinable" war in Vietnam.

About the Author

S W Henry has lived through or participated in four massacres, the first one in the Philippine Islands as a lad of five years. The second one occured in Shanghai as a lad of ten. The third one occured in Korea when he was overrun by Chinese hoards and had to fight his way out to safety. The last and most tragic massacre he witnessed was in Vietnam when the US military destroyed a cruise ship filled with innocent women and children on the Saigon River.

He was a general's flying aid for two years and was also convicted by a US Army General Courts Marital for conspiracy.

Flying fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in the military for twenty years, he experienced eight complete engine failures in helicopters, forcing him to land in a river, a rose garden and on top of a tall pine tree. This last emergency occurred with a three star general on board.

He also participated in many air sea rescues and life saving flights in helicopters. The first was in 1957 off the coast of California in a raging storm at night, in a Sikorsky helicopter.

As the commanding officer (CO) of the helicopter Unit that rescues hundreds of drowning Korean children and families during the typhoon that struck Korea in 1965, he received the Golden Key to the city, making him an honorary citizen of Korea.

Last, but not least, while the CO of a Helicopter Assault Company in the 1st Infantry Division, (Big Red One) in Vietnam he flew the Aussies in and out of the jungle until they received their own transportation.

Also during this time period he was a Bordello Operator. Right outside the company perimeter on the outskirts of Phu Loi was the prettiest little hotel called Sherwood Forest, where the prettiest, French perfumed postitutes, dressed in Au Dais, plied their trade. In order to keep his men from becoming infected with VD, he had to either close them down or make it safe for his men to indulge. He chose the latter. Having a doctor assigned to the company the doctor utilized his skills to inspect and clear up any VD he found. The doctor complained at first but when he saw how pretty the girls were he fulfilled his task with enthusiasm. The big brass were never the wiser.

His flying career and adventures continued after his retirement from the military and saw him log over 10,000 flying hours. An as yet unpublished autobiography details his exploits.

Through his experiences in Vietnam, S W Henry was inspired to write Choppers Up!, a compelling story of a young helicopter pilot's wartime encounters.