Rattler One-Seven: A Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's War Story

North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series

By: Chuck Gross

Narrated by: Gerry Burke

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. At the age of twenty, Chuck Gross spent his 1970-71 tour with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company flying UH-1 Huey helicopters. He inserted special operations teams into Laos and participated in Lam Son 719, a misbegotten attempt to assault and cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, during which his helicopter was shot down and he was stranded in the field.

Soon after the war he wrote down his adventures, while his memory was still fresh with the events. Rattler One-Seven (his call sign) is written as Gross experienced it, using these notes along with letters written home to accurately preserve the mindset he had while in Vietnam.

©2004 Chuck Gross (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Exciting reading! Chuck Gross vividly tells the dramatic account of being a combat helicopter pilot in such a way that you feel you are there. Rattler One-Seven is a compelling memoir of what it was like to fly combat helicopters in Vietnam. It is a must-read for all military and aviation enthusiasts." (Chuck Carlock, author of Firebirds)

"Gross' memoir is worth reading. His stories should find an audience among serious collectors of books about Vietnam." ( Military History of the West)

"Chuck Gross' book tells exactly what it was like to fly a Huey slick in combat in the Vietnam War. The only things missing are the smells of gunpowder and the incredible noise as he takes the reader on combat assaults into hot landing zones." (James Joyce, author of Pucker Factor 10)

Remarkably ballanced soldiers story of Vietnam

impeccably read, 5 ☆ performed with a feeling of truth story of Vietnam.

Rare treasure - go ahead and buy it!!!

Great first hand story

I enjoyed the entire audio book. Content was good and narrator was excellent. I recommend this book.

Great listen

I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the writing style and the way the author told his story

Great book

very good book about the Vietnam War from a huey helo pilot that was there at the tail end of the war

He kept his humanity

I've listened to so many memoirs of Vietnam. This is one of my favorites. It is full of action and Chuck and his crew showed their courage. But even at the tender ages of 19, 20, he never lost his humanity. I was an MP lieutenant and I know what difference a unit commander can make. Chuck had good ones and bad ones and from a human perspective he tells us about the 71st AHC under each.
The narrator is good. He mispronounced and few words like "Hue" but that was a small distraction.
If you are looking for a rah rah blood and guts story, you will not enjoy this book. If you are looking for a human story told by a brave young man, you will enjoy this.

Good and factual story

I enjoyed this book as it brings out things in a personal way. Let's you see how a young man sees war.

Excellent!

Narrator was excellent. Story is concise and on point. Bravery is one word description for our military.

Good book

I enjoyed this book. Gave a good look at what was going on in the war.

Great True Story

Found the book to be well authored.
Thank you for a great very detailed
Account of your time in the service.
I believe every word.

Combat Veteran

I arrived in Da Nang almost to the day that Chuck did. I was a Marine KC-130 pilot. I had already heard about the crazy WO’s who flew like there was tomorrow. I never got closer than 7000 ft with a lot of assigned flare missions but I could hear most of the fight from my perch turning night into day. Call sign Basket Ball. Except for miss pronunciation of some of the places in the arena the entire book was well done and brought back a lot of memories. Thanks for that. We should call the guys like Chuck Combat Veterans. The rest of us