To the Limit

Publisher's Summary

From June 1967 to June 1968, Tom Johnson accumulated an astonishing 1,600 flying hours piloting the UH-1 "Iroquois" - better known as the "Huey" - as part of the famous First Air Cavalry Division. His battalion was one of the most decorated units of the Vietnam War, and helped redefine modern warfare. 

Johnson's riveting memoir takes us into key battles and rescue missions, including those for Hue and Khe Sanh. In harrowing detail, he tells of being shot down in the battle of A Shau Valley, of surviving enemy attacks during the Tet Offensive, and of a death-defying nighttime river rescue, in which only the bare feet of soldiers hanging off the Huey's skids kept the helicopter from plunging under water. From dangerous missions to narrow escapes, Johnson's memoir vividly captures the adrenaline rush and the horror of war, and takes you on a ride you'll never forget.

©2006 Potomac Books, Inc. (P)2018 Tantor

Very Well Written

I really enjoyed this book. The author goes into great detail on flying helicopters on a mission I found it very interesting to know everything that is going on when coming into a landing zone under fire. I found this detail very interesting and really enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Huey pilot's perspective of the 67-68 Vietnam war.

Very interesting diary of a chopper pilot's year tour with the First Air Cav. Shows how a tour over there during that war would ALWAYS have the neverending heat and humidity and "that smell" of "The Nam". How your life would vary from relaxed partying with buddies getting drunk at the club to the sheer gut wrenching fear of having your helicopter shot at at night, grossly overloaded with troops you are delivering to battle and knowing that there would be no place to safely land in the triple canopy jungle below and survive, to watching a friend (who you have grown to love as a brother) die in a tangle of bodies, fire, twisting rotors, and flying tracers as his helicopter crashed... all in the matter of hours. And having to endure this for reasons for America being there you aren't really sure of but you still volunteered and took your 19-23 year old self over there despite your schoolmates and even family members protesting and demonstrating the war back home. Everyone that went over there came back...changed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

One of the worse books around

The narration and story were difficult to follow. The use of a poor stereotype accent is embarrassing to hear.

Spot on!

I liked this account very much...I could relate easily to his recollections of being a Warrant Officer candidate, Fort Wolters, Fort Rucker, and His explanations of the mechanics of helicopter flight were totally accurate (having experienced such things myself!). Being a warrant officer pilot took perseverance and guts and they were the true backbone of U.S. Army aviation. Thank you for your service!

Get This Book!!

incredible!!! listened non stop.. Gripping from start to finish. this is a must read for all

excellent

this book is one of the more realistic accounts of helicopter Warfare during Vietnam. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommended

A Book That Builds On You

I was telling someone about half-way through my listen that this book was straight-up porn for helicopter pilots. I expected crazy battles and hot LZ's, but there wasn't a lot of that in here. A lot of it was about life in Vietnam the relationships Mr. Johnson had. That said, the way it was told just grows on you. Almost to the point where you feel like you were a cousin or a good friend of the author's. There are some truly nail-biting moments in the book, and the recall the author had was truly tremendous (though there was a moment he referred to Creighton Abrams as "Creighton Adams," but I can overlook that). The book ends so abruptly (following the most interesting tale of the book), that all I immediately started researching more about the author and found almost literally nothing. When I discovered he had passed away not long after publication (or somewhere thereabout; it was a very cursory search), I felt like I wanted to give his widow a call and express my sincere condolences.

Overall, a very interesting book that I devoured. I complained at times, but in the end, it was absolutely worth the purchase. Chickenhawk, it ain't, but that's just alright.

Excellent detail

Rich in procedural detail. The kind of book historians will be grateful to have long after vets are gone. The story itself is compelling and the descriptions vivid. You feel like you are a passenger in the Huey.

War is hell to fight with one hands tried.

Great story and sacrifice of these huey pilots. Risk their lives to win the unwinable.

Like flying the Huey yourself

Normally I do not write a review but this book deserves it. The author places you right in the helicopter seat of the Huey and the narrator puts you in Vietnam. This audiobook was amazing!

Thought provoking read

Riveting from start to finish.Not sensational but reflective and thoughtful .I would ld thoroughly recommend this story

Well worth a credit

Good book and story became more interesting as the book went on. Recommend to fellow war book veterans who enjoy first hand accounts.

Great listen

Very well narrated great action and lots of good detail. Would recommend for anyone interested in the Vietnam war and what the helicopter pilots went through