The Freedom Shield: The 191st Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam

by John D. Falcon

Overview

A Vietnam War helicopter pilot shares arresting accounts of flying troops into hot LZs and medevacking the wounded under fire.
 
The Freedom Shield brings together stories of veterans of the 191st Assault Helicopter Company, who were tasked with carrying troops into battle, attacking enemy positions, and evacuating the wounded in their UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopters. The unit was assembled from a hodgepodge of hand-me-down aircraft, used equipment, and overlooked personnel—its appearance belied the invaluable work the crews of the 191st would undertake during the Vietnam War. This narrative of the Company, told through collected stories of veterans, defines a breed of soldier newly minted in Vietnam: the combat assault-helicopter crewman.
 
The 191st pilots, crews, and support personnel vividly share the details of what it was like to be at war and forced to rely on your fellow crewmembers for your own survival. Their accounts of helicopter combat at the height of the Vietnam conflict accurately recreate the sights and sounds of the battlefields, the fear and horror of watching close friends torn to pieces, and their feelings on returning to base. Their message is infinitely clear: “The price of freedom is painful.”
 
Praise for The Freedom Shield
 
“The story of the 191st Assault Helicopter Company’s combat actions in Vietnam is one of heroism and dedication to duty. It is a vivid picture of young American soldiers full of P and V and the “want to” needed to get the job done with bullets flying in all directions. An adrenaline rush is the order of the day. Read this book to gain new respect and admiration for the Vietnam-era veterans who fought in this unpopular war—they were truly magnificent!” —Brigadier General John C. “Doc” Bahnsen, author of American Warrior: A Combat Memoir of Vietnam
 
“An amazing story of perseverance and will. The author accurately chronicles how the 191st Assault Helicopter Company was assembled, during the haste of the Vietnam buildup, with secondhand equipment and filler personnel to become a crown jewel among aviation units in battle. A true testament of American mettle that we all still admire and envy.” —Col. Alan B. Renshaw

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612008615
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	345
Sales rank:	627,222
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Major John D. Falcon achieved field-grade rank in the US Army and retired as a major stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. He commanded Army units in several different countries, including the United States, and served as a Vietnam War helicopter pilot,flying over five hundred combat missions. Enjoying his retirement alongside his high school sweetheart and wife, Irma, he remains near their son, Christopher, and daughter, Monica, on a farm in South Georgia. He considers his tour of duty with the 191st Assault Helicopter Company the most memorable assignment of his Army career.