This book is really two related books combined. The first is the history of the Ravens, one of the most spellbinding and spine-tingling stories you will ever read. The second is a brief history of the wars in Laos, including the US involvement. Always a poorer cousin to the Vietnam action, the Laotian campaign is an unfamiliar, and uncomfortable, tale to most Americans.

=== The Good Stuff ===

* The Ravens were a hard-drinking, hard-driving group of airborne controllers, stationed in Laos. They had little or no respect for authority or official Air Force procedures, risked death almost hourly, and broke every rule for flight safety, allowable pilot hours, and most other regulations. Christopher Robbins captures these men perfectly, and gives the reader a genuine view of their lives and challenges.

* As good as the Raven's tales are, the history of Laos is slightly better. Like most Americans, I can barely find the country on the map, and knew little about the war waged there. Robbins provides a very complete summary of the war in Laos, and provides a nice overview of the people of Laos. I have to admit that I had never quite understood the level of warfare in Laos, or the amount of resources the US committed.

* Robbins manages to relate some of the "lighter" sides of the war. It is hard not to laugh at a plan to coat the Ho Chi Minh trail in Calgon soap so that it would be too slick to use. And who can resist laughing as a junior officer in Laos tells a senior officer what he can do with his rules...secure in the knowledge that no senior officer will ever actually come to Laos. The book is full of nice touches like this, which greatly increased my enjoyment.

=== The Not-So-Good Stuff ===

* The last sections of the book went downhill. While most of the book was reasonably well researched and supported, the last chapters were based more on opinion, supposition and mostly questionable sources. While the author no doubt had strong opinions about how Vietnam veterans were treated, and has several legitimate points, his diatribe takes away from the factual and well-researched remainder of the book.

* The war in Laos does not exactly capture America at its best. In fact, we pretty much made a bigger mess of it than the French, which isn't easy to do. Unfortunately the book is quite honest about the subject, and it makes for some uncomfortable reading. Worse, it comes right after some truly "John Wayne" caliber stories about American bravery and gallantry.

=== Summary ===

I enjoyed reading the book, and found it quite informative, especially the history of US involvement in Laos. I had read a fair amount about action in Vietnam, but this was new material to me. The stories of the Ravens in action are incredible, and held my interest throughout. I'd highly recommend the book for anyone who wishes to be knowledgeable about the US/Vietnam war.

I enjoyed the book, partially because it confirms my opinions about how the war was mismanaged by our civilian leaders in Washington and the top military leaders who "went along to get along", with more concern about their careers than the people they commanded. I learned a great deal about the war in Laos. I never realized just how intense it was. I personally would have preferred more "cockpit time" and less Laotian history, but that aside I was impressed with the research necessary to produce such a detailed and well written book.

Spectacular book

I've been plowing through a lot of Vietnam-era books, trying to understand the US troops' perspective. This was an amazing journey though little-known Laos and the operations there. It's a great offset to the movie "Air America" which was clearly for entertainment and not reflective of the reality. This extremely rich in content story really brought a personal view to the secret war being waged in Laos and brings forth a huge respect for the Ravens and the literally thankless job they did in that country. I knew there were a lot of Hmong in many places around the country, but I never knew the history and where they came from and why. This book was hugely helpful in understanding the details of Laos and is one of the many stories that must be told about this era of our country's existence. It would not have been nearly so good without the historical perspectives interleaved throughout, it brought a great dimension to the read I was too young to have served during this period, but I am deeply grateful for the men who served in this manner, without recognition. It's amazing how engaged they were with the Laotians and the Meo, truly fighting their fight alongside patriots from that country. This truly is one of the best books I've read that relates events during the Vietnam war.

This was much more book than I had anticipated. I was a young multitour Army pilot flying the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk in over 500 combat missions, nearly all of them in Laos, the only Army unit flying exclusively in Laos and North Vietnam. But there with us, in the daytime anyway, were the FACs and down and dirty taking hours of combat time often under fire.

While the fast-movers would sweep in, drop a bomb on something they could never possibly see, the FACs were down there in the fight for hours. What great folks.

Could I have skipped over the fact that the Air Force (the guys with real beds and food), lost a staggering 339 O-1, O-2 & OV-10 FAC aircraft in the war with 231 lost in combat?! Staggering numbers reflecting how down and close they were compared to the fast-movers.

More so this book has great detail that even from my two years, much of it flying out of Udorn in the Plain of Jars in the CIA's (no so) Secret War in North Laos, did not get close too. The author weaves together not only the details of his events, his people, his theater of operations, but does a great job of the big picture of the war in Laos that was spread over several decades.

And lastly, like so many great book from the years or our generation, is the underlying sense of loss, loss of life, opportunity, the terrible outcome for the Hmong people not only in Laos but also, and maybe as bad, as refugees.

Having been a rather front line type of combat pilot, I much appreciated his frequent references to the REMFs and how all that came out. Actually, I had to quickly Google REMF to be sure! Nice job guys! Nice job.

WAR STORIES - From an Army Pilot Flying in the CIA's Secret War in Laos (myTroubledSkies)

I read this book some time ago in paperback and had certain memories about what happened to Raven pilots in Laos. For some reason it seemed a little different for me this time around using a Kindle. It seemed a little slow at first talking about the CIA etc.

I liked the book and became interested in and continued to read similar writings. I few a De-militarized L-19 (O-1) privately that a friend owned and I could relate to much of people's interest in flying those planes. However, I can't imagine flying around with the windows opened without ear protection as they did in combat. I did it once and I think I still have ringing in my ears with some hearing loss. Those guys flew the planes and were able to hear ground fire and other things while flying... that I find impressive. These guys were real and they all have stories that should be told. I glad this book was written.. By the way, I really enjoyed reading another book written by Christopher Robbins "Air America". It was one of the first aviation war related book that I ever read (it has been a few years now).

Wow. This book was sealed, appears brand new, AND it has the PERSONAL inscriptions (in real ink, real handwriting) from EIGHT Ravens members, addressed "To: Jim"!!!

I am wondering if "Jim" is the real "Christopher Robbins," which I am guessing is a pen name. What a TREASURE.

I have tried to find a phone number for this bookstore to let them know how much I appreciate being given this book, and to inquire as to the cover signatures.

WHAT A GREAT AMAZON BOOK SELLER!

I also understand that the book itself is phenomenal, and would like to leave a review for the actual book when I've finished reading it.

This book lifts the lid off things governments do and want to stay hidden until those who are responsible are off the radar.

It also clearly indicates the damaged done to those who become implicated by those in authority.

After those responsible are finished with these people what happens?

Not very much if anything.

This book is and attempt to say the things we do not want to hear and shows how corrupt we are as a people on this earth.

This book is a fair view of the life of those who have been damaged by governments on both sides.

It is a good read and demonstrates both deeper and lighter moment of life in the front line in the air.

The historical presentation is very good and captures the culture and feelings of the people of Laos.

Great book. Kind of incredible but credible.

Where are those guys these days??

A factual account of the secret war in Laos. Containing many previously unknown facts about both the war and the individuals who were part of it, this makes for fascinating reading. A bitter-sweet mixture of facts and hilarious tales of these larger than life characters, this is a 'can 't put down' sort of book.

Excellent book covering a little known subject. Well-written, more like a thriller than a history book.

Exactly as described

Interesting read on a secret war.

Those pilot all deserve our respect for what they have gone through.

Also Hmong deserve alot of respect as not only a fighting force. But also as the humble people they were.