Black Cat 2-1: The True Story of a Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and His Crew

In the Vietnam War, 2,197 helicopter pilots and 2,717 crew members were killed. Black Cat 2-1 is the story of one pilot who made it home and the valiant men he served with who risked their lives for the troops on the ground. Bob Ford invites readers into the Huey helicopters he flew on more than 1,000 missions when he and his men dared to protect and rescue. For those whose voices were silenced in that faraway place or who have never told their stories, he creates a tribute that reads like a thriller, captures the humor of men at war, and resounds with respect for those who served with honor. Black Cat 2-1 is a #1 non-fiction bestseller and Oklahoma Book Award finalist. ''This memoir is hard to beat.'' Air & Space/Smithsonian; ''Capably written.'' Publishers Weekly; ''Refreshing . . . evocative descriptions of combat flying. '' The VVA Veteran; ''. . . fills a gap in the genre of Vietnam literature.'' Foreword Reviews; ''They came in at 2:00 a.m. without any warning. The screaming roar from the rockets propellant was deafening, and all my senses froze as I tried to figure out what was happening. When the rockets came over our hooches on their way to our helicopters 150 meters north of our living quarters, they were no higher than one hundred feet above us. . . . At that instant, a rocket struck in the middle of the compound. . . . I was suddenly floating eight feet in the air looking down at some guy on a bunk.''