MWSA Book Review

Red Bird Down

Author:  Bruce E. Carlson

Publisher:  Red Bird Publishers

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Author Bruce Carlson has written a real action packed novel about the air cavalry and aero-scouts in Vietnam.  It will take you across the skies and the mountains and the rivers of Nam as you are transported back to the Vietnam helicopter wars of late 60’s.  It brings you all those colorful aviation characters that feel and sound like real people.  In fact, the entire book’s story line is based loosely on Bruce’s old outfit and his own tour of duty.  So it has that realistic sense of place and time that only a pilot could have written.

In the story, you see this idealistic young officer who has visions of changing the world and helping the South Vietnamese people get a democratic government arrive in-country.  In short order, his real education begins to reshape his outlook on the war and the country he is sent to help.  In time, he becomes a hardened veteran whose goal is get everyone back safely and alive if possible.

The reader will find that this story is well told and full of action.  Bruce who is now an ordained minister has crafted a masterpiece of literature for military genre books. Well worth picking up and reading.

MWSA's 2004 Silver Medal Award for War Novel