ALSO BY ERIC BLEHM FEARLESS THE ONLY THING WORTH DYING FOR THE LAST SEASON This story is dedicated to all those who served in the Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), and the pilots, crews, and maintenance personnel of the assault helicopter companies who supported their missions during the war in Vietnam. THE ANTIDOTE FOR FIFTY ENEMIES IS ONE FRIEND. –ARISTOTLE CONTENTS Cover Also by Eric Blehm Title Page Copyright Dedication Epigraph Key Military Personnel for the May 2 Mission Map Prologue Chapter 1: Street Kid from Cuero 2: “Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army!” 3: The Darkest White 4: Green Beret 5: The Secret War 6: Anatomy of a Mission 7: Welcome to Detachment B-56 8: Over the Fence 9: The Launch 10: As Bad As It Gets Photo Insert 1 11: Daniel Boone Tactical Emergency 12: If Someone Needs Help… 13: Last Chance 14: Deliverance Photo Insert 2 15: Mettle for Medal Epilogue Research and Acknowledgments KEY MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR THE MAY 2 MISSION Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56 Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Drake, Commander First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Launch Officer Captain Robin Tornow, U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC) PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56 RECON TEAM Sergeant First Class Leroy Wright, Team Leader Staff Sergeant Lloyd Mousseau, Assistant Team Leader Specialist 4 Brian O’Connor, Radioman Tuan, CIDG Interpreter Bao, CIDG Point Man Chien, CIDG Grenadier CIDG Rifleman CIDG Rifleman CIDG Rifleman CIDG Rifleman CIDG Ammo Bearer CIDG Ammo Bearer 214TH COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION (CAB), 12TH COMBAT AVIATION GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BRIGADE 240th Assault Helicopter Company Major Jesse James, Commander 2ND PLATOON GREYHOUND SLICKS AC = pilot/aircraft commander, left seat CP = copilot, right seat CC = crew chief/left-door gunner DG = right-door gunner BM = bellyman Command and Control (C&C) Major Jesse James, AC First Lieutenant Alan Yurman (leader of 2nd Platoon), CP Unknown, CC Unknown, DG First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Detachment B-56 Mission Launch Officer Special Forces Major (name unknown), Detachment B-56 Observer Greyhound One* (primary/lead) Warrant Officer Larry McKibben, AC Warrant Officer William Fernan, CP Specialist 4 Dan Christensen, CC Specialist 4 Nelson Fournier, DG Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, BM Greyhound Two (primary/wingman) Warrant Officer Jerry Ewing, AC First Lieutenant Bob Portman, CP Specialist 5 Paul Tagliaferri, CC Unknown, DG Greyhound Three (reserve/lead) Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP Specialist 4 Michael Craig, CC Unknown, DG Unknown, BM Greyhound Three (second crew) Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP Warrant Officer William Darling, CC Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Smith, DG Staff Sergeant Ron Sammons, BM Greyhound Four (reserve/wingman) Warrant Officer William Armstrong, AC Warrant Officer James Fussell, CP Specialist 4 Gary Land, CC Specialist 4 Robert Wessel, DG Specialist 5 James Calvey, BM 3RD PLATOON MAD DOG GUNSHIPS AC = aircraft commander/pilot, right seat/rockets CP = copilot, left seat/miniguns CC = crew chief/left-door gunner DG = right-door gunner Mad Dog One (first fire team/lead) Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Curry, AC Chief Warrant Officer 1 David Brown, CP Sergeant First Class Pete Jones, CC “Swisher,” DG
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