This is the story of a farm boy who goes through flight school and then flies in an assault helicopter company in Vietnam, from newbie to grizzled veteran in one year. It is not just about the flying, but how we lived while there. Not all technical, because I had to rely on 55-year-old memories. I also had the help of the memories of three other pilots who were there with me.
My daughter wanted to know what I did while there. As I started writing it down, the idea for a book came to me. I owed this to my kids. Because when I first held them as newborns, I realized I no longer had time for the bad memories. It was a bad time for all of us. Having children and raising families pushed all of that aside. It is time to make swords into plowshares - the reason for "Baby Booms" after every war.
One Year, or the Rest of Your Life
November 23, 2025
About the author:
I flew helicopters offshore for oil companies for 20 years of my life. During that time, I was able to save enough money to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. I went to art school in France for five years. I learned to speak French and paint in the style of classical realism. I tried to make it as a portrait painter, to no avail. A new marriage and stepchildren forced me back to work. Heart problems and a pacemaker precluded a return to flying. I started driving a truck and ended up with my own trucks. I sold them, built a storage business and am now retired. I still paint; writing is a new endeavor.
Web site:
http://hlpeace.com
