Jesse Mcleod

McLeod uses his experiences as a helicopter mechanic, door gunner and crew chief in Vietnam to tell us what it was like to serve in that ugly war. While based on his experiences, this is a novel. The protagonist, Jim Maclaughlin is a 20 year old man from Ohio who is a very gifted and careful mechanic who all pilots want as their crew chief. There is an officer who makes his life miserable but all men especially those that must fly recognize his fearlessness and mechanical talents.

He is also noted for his unconventional ways of solving problems and making the aircraft safer for him and his men even when it goes against army regulations. Thus he is frequently on the edge of being disciplined.

There are many humourous moments as well as the horrific that one reads about in Vietnam memoirs.… (meer)