Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a US Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam

Here we have yet another Vietnam memoir, this one with an interesting perspective. Joyce was what we called 'dual rated,' that is, a fixed wing and rotary wing qualified aviator, a fellow who flew both airplanes and helicopters. So his eyewitness account of the war in South Asia was a bit different from the start. Joyce didn't fly airplanes in Vietnam, but his background put him in a different position vis a vis the war. Interesting, given his ability to fly airplanes that he elected to fly helicopters, especially in a Cav unit. From my own experience flying helicopters in Vietnam, I was mighty glad not to be a Cav pilot. Those guys had it rough.In any case, Joyce's book is cram packed with anecdotal flying info, engaging, often terrifying accounts of close calls and enemy interaction. The writing is taut, the voice is consistent, and the author writes with a kind of panache that sets him apart from similar writers. His style has a kind of snark to it that makes the reader feel we're being given something in confidence.A flew minor glitches in the book that a good edit would have uncovered: the term 'autorotation' is one word, not two; Vung Tau & Cam Ranh are misspelled; lots of words run together (likethis); he refers to Warrant grade 5. Not sure when this reference was made, but that grade level came along very recently, around 1995 or so, I believe.Pucker Factor 10 is as good a rendition of what flying helicopters in Vietnam was really like. I recommend it to anyone who wants the real, gritty and unvarnished truth of that.Byron Edgington author of A Vietnam Anthem.  A Vietnam Anthem: What The War Gave Me

I read this book in less than a week, it was difficult to put down. I have read several books by Vietnam chopper pilots, and this is among the best.The style in which it is written, it is like the reader is being confided in; letting the reader in on the author’s inner feelings.Apart from thrilling accounts from dangerous missions, the helicopter flying, the living conditions in the Cav, the transfer from slicks to gunships was unorthodox (I’ll say no more).Two separate incidences described in the book will bring tears to your eyes.Thank you Sir, for your service and for writing this book. I am a few years younger than you, living in a Nato country. I didn’t have to go, I owe you and your peers for this.

Mr. Joyce is a gifted author who told a true, unflinching story of his experience in the Vietnam War. History books will never be able to capture the truth in the way that authors like Mr. Joyce have done. Thank you sir. And thank you for your service from a fellow veteran.

As a Vietnam Infantry veteran, I have always held the chopper pilots in the highest regard for always being there when needed. Without them, we would not have survived. I had jumped from choppers into hot LZ's, finding the deepest depression or fattest tree for protection before returning fire - pucker factor ten-thousand! These pilots were relentless and continued to ferry and land reinforcements with not much protection for themselves. They flew their machines through steady streams of gunfire, and yet,they continued as if they were invincible. Dust off's, ash and trash runs, troop deployments and evacuations and over-head support were all part of their everyday job.Mr Joyce does a wonderful job with this well-told story and offers the reader an in-depth look at the everyday life of these flying warriors, which isn't, by the way, a nine to five job. The book follows Mr. Joyce from the first day he volunteers to fly planes in college, through his fixed wing flight training and later reassignment to a helicopter squadron, and then during his tour in Vietnam. The author also has a fantastic sense of humor that sometimes catches you off-guard and will make you laugh out loud. After reading Pucker Factor 10, I have bumped up these pilots a couple of notches on my high esteem list. I also have a much better understanding of what these sky warriors had to endure in order to survive...sadly, many did not!Five stars and highly recommended!John Podlaski, authorCherries - A Vietnam War Novel

In a similar vein to Chickenhawk without the severe PTSD. Good to get the gunship vs slick perspective. A great read for student pilots especially Captain Joyce’s decisions back in the US after Vietnam.

I could not put this book down. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the author's experiences as a pilot in Vietnam, and his respectable decision to stop flying following his service in the war. This book contains one exceptionally remarkable section in which the author ties his experience to Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the facts about time which that theory offers. Real life examples which relate to complex scientific theories always provide interesting insight to the nature of humanity. All in all, this book serves as an interesting lesson about not only Vietnam, but also the implications war has on humanity.

Wow, I have never, given ever, a five start REVIEW.. Will be a long time for me to top this reading! I appreciate so much AMAZON for constantly keeping me updated on excellent reading! So, what can one say or add about a five star? I try not! Chuck

No doubt the title says it all

This is a good book in the vein of Chickenhawk and many of the places mentioned will be familiar with anyone who has read that great book. One thing that made this book even more interesting was his description of a crash he was involved in shortly after arriving in Vietnam. It was recorded on film in a documentary called The Anderson Platoon and it can be found on YouTube. So not only can you read the description, you can actually watch it! I really enjoyed it and it is worth a read.

Different times and a different war we see and hear about on today's news. The author describes all his flights and missions in detail along with the stresses of being under constant threat and being on call at anytime to take to the air.

Interesting to read about how someone went from school to being trained as a Huey pilot to fight in Vietnam.I read the book in one day as I could not put it down!

Great read, thought provoking.I couldnt put it down, for those of us who have never served, the book gives an insight into what it means to do your duty for your country.Honestly written, and a very readable style. Thanks Mr Joyce !

An excellent memoir from a Vietnam veteran.