Unlike No Other

A Memoir of the Unlikely, Yet Successful Career of a United States Marine Corps Aviator (Book Two)

By: Robert Wemheuer

Narrated by: Kent Lutt

Robert Wemheuer details many important events in his impressive career in a two-book memoir Unlike No Other. His main focus is to honor the unsung heroes with whom he served as well as to call out some not-so-good characters. The Marines, sailors, and civilians who helped him learn and grow from his missteps that helped him develop his leadership skills are his primary emphasis. His description of the career-building steps necessary to move from a simple civilian life to that of a company grade Marine Corps officer and naval aviator are told in a straightforward, unvarnished, and concise manner. He also describes his combat experiences flying the CH-53 helicopter during his three tours of duty in Vietnam, again focusing on the Marines who supported his efforts both in and out of the cockpit.

Robert looks at his career from a very interesting perspective. In our early years, he was one of the youngest superstars in our squadron, and you could always depend on him for anything.

Robert, nicknamed Bull, was in some really hot combat. In just one mission, his Marine H-53 squadron was supporting a large army unit in the Lam Son 719 battle in Laos in which the army lost 106 helicopters. Bull rescued under heavy, heavy fire two legendary Marine squadron mates (Charlie Pitman and Mike Wasco) who had been shot down. You could always depend on Robert, and he had many more hot missions.

Unlike No Other also describes the life of a Marine field grade officer as he ascends to higher ranks and greater responsibilities. It highlights the problems and potential political risks involved in navigating the military and civilian bureaucratic systems.

©2022 Robert Wemheuer (P)2025 Robert Wemheuer

Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading Li

I’d love for this book to make the United States Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List because Wemheuer has written a primer on how to succeed as one moves from one command to another. Rather than platitudes, he uses stories to describe how he actually assessed the situation and made the appropriate changes. In addition, he takes readers inside Marine Corps helicopter combat operations from Vietnam to the 1970s and 1980s Cold War. Book two delivered as much as book one. Great narration by Kent Lutt. (Darren Sapp, Author of Fire on the Flight Deck and Aaron Bank and the Early Days of US Army Special Forces.) Note: I was provided an advanced listener copy.

Well-written, full of leadership insights

Part 2 of Col. Wemheur's memoir shifts from the battlefield to his experience moving up the ranks in command where he has to deal with politics and managing people at scale. As someone who is unfamiliar with military culture, I really appreciated getting an in-depth look into what leadership (and politics) look like within the military. I highly recommend this two-part memoir to anyone, military or no—it's full of meaningful, applicable life lessons.