Story by Tom Feigel; written by Larry Weill.
Guilford, CT: Stackpole Books, 2024.
ISBN 978-0-8117-7566-3. Maps. Photographs. Notes. Index.
Pp. 276. $29.95.
Tom Feigel and Larry Weill do a commendable job of documenting the lives of the aircrews of the UH-1 Huey helicopter, the workhorse of the Vietnam War. Crew chief, door gunner, aircraft mechanic, and air crew member were among the nomenclature of jobs and positions of the men who kept helicopters flying. Fire watch on startup, loading, maintenance, navigation, manning weapons, observer, and overseeing fueling and re-armament operations were some of the many duties performed by the crew. Super Slick details the skills, relationships, camaraderie, and sense of loss and grief in the young men’s daily fight for survival. The versatile Hueys were used in supply roles, medevac, intelligence and reconnaissance, and offensive and defensive operations. This book is a compelling account of the heavy burden thrust upon these young soldiers responsible for the lives of passengers, crew, cargo, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of military aircraft.
Feigel paints a picture of a young man’s call to duty and the mental, physical, and emotional adjustments during his six-week transformation from civilian to soldier. His chosen Military Occupational Specialty of aviation takes him from basic training to Advanced Individual Training, where, due to enlistment term commitment, he selected a support role rather than the required four years for a pilot. He highlights his training at Fort Eustis, where his civilian mechanical skills and fixed-wing flight instruction provide a segue into Army helicopters. As the students learn their required skills and form friendships and bonds, they become aware of their impending deployment to Vietnam. Feigel shares the ubiquitous fears of his fate upon graduation, heading to an unknown land thousands of miles away and rife with danger for helicopter crews.
Now in-country, Feigel speaks of adjusting to this new land, the environment, friends made, and learning the skills of his new position. He also alludes to his broadening role, transitioning from hangar maintenance to flying combat missions as a crew chief. The danger of the helicopter’s support role is vividly portrayed with near misses, the peril of being shot down, and the risk of capture. Feigel and his co-author, Larry Weil, also put into words the feelings and visceral emotions of a soldier’s first kill, an inevitable event in a combat situation. A young man taking a human life, quite often within his first year of service, tests his morals and beliefs. Going against his upbringing and values, it becomes a stain on a person’s heart and soul. This story demonstrates that the actions of war cannot be scripted or planned.
Feigel continues to elaborate on the perils of helicopter crew members in Vietnam. One hazardous duty was spraying Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used to deprive the enemy of cover by stripping trees and vegetation down to a skeletal landscape. He also highlights the challenges associated with night flying in a combat zone, the necessity of lighting the ground below, and painting yourself as a bright target. As personnel on the ground are illuminated, split-second decisions must be made before firing, ensuring they are hostile and not friendly. The stress and hardships borne on the crewmembers took a toll, both physically and mentally.
This unique book is for anyone who has ever had the honor and privilege of flying as a crewmember of an Army helicopter, as well as students of Vietnam War history. This well-crafted book concludes on a positive note, with some much-needed light on a dark and difficult war. The helicopter at the center of this story, Warrior 2-1 Super Slick, was located, professionally restored, and put on display as a testament to the tenacity and resilience of these brave young men. Surviving air crew members, as well as a Navy SEAL whose life was saved by this ship, were reunited for an emotional reunion and celebration of their survival.
James William Brady
Port Orange, Florida
