Taking Fire!: Memoir of an Aerial Scout in Vietnam

by David L. Porter

Overview

As a first lieutenant in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army pilot David Porter was section leader in an Aerial Scout platoon in Vietnam. Their mission was to conduct reconnaissance in OH-6 aircraft (a.k.a. Light Observation Helicopter or "Loach") near the Cambodian border. Finding and engaging the enemy at low altitude in coordination with an AH-1 Cobra gunship circling above, these units developed a remarkable method of fighting the Viet Cong: Hunter-Killer Operations.

The tactic had great local success but died with the war. Few today are aware of the hazards these pilots faced during times of intense combat. Porter's vivid memoir recounts the internal workings of a legendary air cavalry troop, in-the-cockpit combat actions, and the men who were key players on this perilous battleground.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476639086
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	182
Sales rank:	557,056
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Colonel David L. Porter retired after twenty-seven years in Combat Arms. In addition to Vietnam, he served multiple tours as a cavalryman on the German border, and commanded a cavalry squadron during the collapse of “the wall” in early 1990. He served in multiple combat divisions, Armor School, and various staff positions, including the Pentagon. In retirement, he became the Director of Admissions at Colorado Technical University and is currently a government contractor training America’s soldiers. He lives in Jackson, Tennessee.
Colonel David L. Porter retired after twenty-seven years in Combat Arms. In addition to Vietnam, he served multiple tours as a cavalryman on the German border, and commanded a cavalry squadron during the collapse of "the wall" in early 1990. He served in multiple combat divisions, Armor School, and various staff positions, including the Pentagon. In retirement, he became the Director of Admissions at Colorado Technical University and is currently a government contractor training America's soldiers. He lives in Jackson, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Major General Richard Davis, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Preface
Prologue
 1. In the Beginning
 2. To Vietnam
 3. The Quan Loi Military Complex
 4. Hooch City
 5. The Enemy
 6. Indian Country
 7. “Find the Bastards and Pile On”
 8. ­Hunter-Killer Team Operations
 9. The Characters
10. Starting with the Blues
11. To the Scouts
12. Life as a Scout: Now It Begins
13. “Find and report enemy locations and dispositions”
14. The Dink Build Underway
15. The Bad Days of February
16. Life After the Scouts
Epilogue
Glossary
Appendix
Index

Editorial Reviews

The stories are well written and allow readers not familiar with the Air Cav to get a look and feel of what it was like….Well written and a good read.”—Combat Helicopter Pilots Association

From the Publisher