MWSA Book Review

THUNDERHAWKS, the video documentary

Compiler:  Brian Wizard

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – MWSA Review Board

This is not a reproduction.  It is a composite of actual scenes of combat in the deadly theater of operations in Viet Nam.  The viewer flies along with the crew as it “takes out” enemy positions, inserts troops into an LZ, and performs support fire above those troops and returns to extract the fighting men.

Brian Wizard was a door gunner handling “Bertha,” the 50 caliber machine gun during 1969 for a long ten month tour of duty.  The “slicks” and “gun ships” were a vivid part of his daily life.  This is the “actual thing” of war from inside a helicopter.  As they approach an “A.O.” or “area of operation,” you feel the high of entering a Hot Spot landing zone.

The crews had powerful weapons and support, yet all the odds of survival are constantly tested on every trip.  They perform their assigned tasks, go back to base, close down for three hours to rest, refuel, reload ammo and prepare to return to the action scene.  They are constantly putting themselves at high risk.  At the end of the day they land, repair and prepare for tomorrow, another day to face the decreasing odds.

You are along for the ride when Brian Wizard leans out of the Huey to grab a Viet Nam flag off of its flagpole.  Dangerous yet exhilarating stuff.  They go right “in the enemy’s face!”  You experience everything but for the danger, the fatigue and heavy hand of gravity.

After the hair rising copter ride, sing along with Brian’s favorite battle zone song: “I don’t want permission to kill!”