God, Bombs, Sex & Nam: Based on the Diary of a 20-Year-Old Navy Enlisted Man during the Vietnam Air War 1967
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God, Bombs, Sex & Nam: Based on the Diary of a 20-Year-Old Navy Enlisted Man during the Vietnam Air War 1967
GOD, BOMBS, SEX & NAM (GBS&N) is a raw, unrepentant account of the Vietnam Air War. The 20-year-old author calls it as he sees it from the O-2 and flight-deck level of the Attack Carrier USS Oriskany. He spares no profanity to describe the U.S. Navy's implementation of President Johnson's OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER, a massive three year bombardment of North Vietnam that ultimately results in the demise of an estimated 100,000 civilians.
The fast-paced, death-dealing action is guaranteed to rivet the attention of any aviation war buff. All hands will enjoy an abundance of salty humor on-board the ship and in Asian ports of call, especially the notorious Olongapo City.
During the course of his squadron's eight-month tour, Photo Recon Tech MacLennon obediently participates in the unseen slaughter of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians - men, women and children. In his daily log, Mac tends to vacillate between militant and pacifist as he searches for a personal identify he can live with. It's a struggle not uncommon to young men then and today... a struggle that goes largely unnoticed in the heat of action but comes to the fore during his late-night discussions with an insightful Search & Rescue Pilot, LT Michael Goldberg.
In GBS&N, MacLennon's compassion for the victimized people of Southeast Asia offers insight to challenges faced by all people who struggle to survive in a world where distant political ideologues often determine their fate. Additionally, Mac's diary takes occasional flashbacks to his formative years in the 1950's and 60's.
Any well-rounded individual who enjoys a good read on significant military history and philosophical themes will want to add GOD, BOMBS, SEX & NAM to his or her personal library. Photo collages in the epilogue were created by the author from 20 individual photo stills; the front & back covers of the book are color composites of 5 individual photos.
NOTE: the text of the original release was revised for accuracy Feb 2014 after conferring with the squadron's three living pilots (now retired US Navy Commanders) and with the leading photo division Chief Petty Officer. All four were highly significant to this 1967 assignment. See credits on publisher page.
BE FOREWARNED: This book contains subject matter and language not recommended for easily-offended readers.