History Book

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We are old school where you have to mail us a paper order form and payment.

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If you have questions about ordering the book, send me an email and I will try to resolve your issue or questions.

email: John Hastings

What are they saying about our book.

Tom Werzyn, is a book reviewer for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).

The 161st the Assault Helicopter Company is a legendary outfit that played a pivotal role in the Vietnam War. Garland R. Lively and John H. Hastings’ Our Helicopter War is a splendid book assembled by a dedicated group of members and friends of the 161^st.

Click here to view the review on the VVA website.

_________________

Chester Wayne “Chuck” Carlock

Author of “Firebirds” the Summit Publishing Group, Arlington, Texas, 1995, “Rattlers and Firebirds, Combat Action with an Assault Helicopter Company,” Chuck Carlock and Ron Seabolt.

Garland Lively and his colleagues have written a great book that has some of the best helicopter war stories I have read! It is one of the best accounts of how men respond to combat. Garland has an instinctive talent for illuminating combat action so the reader feels he is actually present for the action. This book is better than any movie about the Vietnam war.

Garland was able to blend his colleagues’ war stories with a detailed historical account of his unit’s actions in Vietnam. The author is to be congratulated on a superb historical work and I give it an unequivocal thumbs up.

Garland is the guy that talked me into becoming a helicopter pilot. Around thirty years after the war I met Garland and the first thing I said to him was, “Show me the bullet hole” where he was shot in the arm.

_________________

Marc Liebman, a VHPA Life Member, is a retired Navy Captain and Naval Aviator who flew combat search and rescue missions during the Vietnam War. He is also the author of five published novals with more coming.

As a historian, I love these books and wish more units would take the time to create books such as this one. As a reviewer, it is a hard book to review because so many voices tell so many tales. There’s no plot, because Our Helicopter War is a diary of the 161^st Assault Helicopter Company and the units that supported it during the Vietnam War. The story begins in 1965 when the unit was formed based on General Westmoreland’s request for 13 new “air mobile” companies and ends in 1968. In between, Garland, along with other researchers have provided insights and explain campaigns in which the unit participated. This fascinating history is brought to life by intertwining comments from some of the members of the 161^st. If you flew helicopters in Vietnam, this should be motivation to get your unit to produce a similar book. If you were a member of the 161^st, Bravo Zulu, that’s Navy speak for a job well done. What is even better is that all the proceeds go back to the 161AHC Association LLC. To get your copy of the book, which will not be sold in bookstores, contact John Hastings via the unit’s website.

INTRODUCTION

The Vietnam War has been sometimes referred to as “The Helicopter War.” This is the story of “Our Helicopter War.” It is an account of the young men who served in the 161st Assault Helicopter Company during the conflict in Vietnam. While the focus is on the air crews, they could not possibly have accomplished their mission without the support personnel of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company and its supporting detachments, the 406th Transportation Detachment, the 449th Signal Detachment, and the 434th Medical Detachment. It is also a detailed account of the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion and, the 174th Assault Helicopter Company, the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, and the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company. Operations conducted by all the companies were closely entwined, and it appears to be near impossible to address the history of one, without mention of the others.

This effort began years ago when one of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company crew chiefs, John Harold Hastings, established a website. John contacted former members of the 161st and requested that they post their stories and photographs. The website was a tremendous success, and soon there were numerous personal accounts posted, as well as hundreds of photographs.

Another crew chief, Leslie “Les” Hines, Americal Division Historian, began extensive research on Task Force Oregon and the Americal Division, headquartered at the Chu Lai Combat Base. Les accumulated a wealth of official documentation, maps, etc., and made them available to interested individuals.

Like many others, I had previously contributed several articles and photographs to John Hastings’ website. John and I had discussed the feasibility of compiling all his various articles into a manuscript, but neither of us ever seemed to find the time or motivation to get started. In the fall of 2018, my best friend, Les Crowl, a Vietnam Marine Veteran from VFW Post 2148 in Waco, Texas, died suddenly. Les’ death was all the motivation I needed to begin this effort, while some of us were still alive.

After contacting John Hastings, he provided me all the first-hand accounts he had on his website. John had a roster of former members, and we established an email list, to broadcast our intentions to all members. The response was overwhelming, as a deluge of new stories began flooding in, John’s list of members expanded rapidly, as the word spread around the internet. We managed to establish contact with individuals I had not seen or heard of in over fifty years. When Les Hines was notified, he began to provide us with official documentation and maps. I contacted my good friend and colleague, Katherine “Kate” Hambright, from the Hill County, Texas Historical Commission, and requested her assistance in locating additional documentation and to conduct the editing process. We then commenced the process of compiling all the first-hand accounts, supported by Les Hines’ and Kate’s documentation.

Although I, Garland Lively, am listed as such, there is no author of this document. It was written by the members of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, affiliated units, and Special Forces MACV SOG personnel. It was written by these individuals for their fellow members of these organizations. I merely served as the “Chief Scribe.”

We were all just a bunch of twenty something kids (mostly WO1s and SP4s) and knew little or nothing about the grand plans of the military forces we supported. As someone stated, we merely hauled stuff or people from here to there. For this manuscript, we devoted a great deal of effort to reviewing official documentation to define the environment that our first-hand accounts were based upon. Les Hines and Kate Hambright both deserve a great deal of credit for obtaining the official documentation. I am extremely grateful for their major contributions. I cannot possibly credit all who contributed to this group effort. In our narrative, I tried to credit everyone as best I could.

It was soon discovered that we were seriously hindered by the passage of over fifty years since the actual events occurred. We could all agree that a major event occurred, but details were often obscured by our failing memories. Being the self-appointed “Chief Scribe,” and frequently lacking proper documentation, I sometimes had to select what I considered to be the best version of several alternatives.

An extraordinary effort was spent on our three chapters about our aviation support of MACV SOG Operations. These operations certainly left a permanent impression upon our souls and was well worth every minute expended upon it. Fortunately, David Sebright, and several other members of the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, assisted us in defining their support of MACV SOG Missions. We could not have possibly completed this segment without the support of former Special Forces members Harlan E. “Rip” Van Winkle, Stephen T. “Tim” Kirk, and Robert C. “Bob” Green, of MACV SOG. Our three MACV SOG chapters are primarily their story.

Early on a decision was made to self-publish our manuscript rather than submit it to an established publishing company. Other published authors strongly recommended that we establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to publish and distribute our book. Former Pelican pilot, Mark How provided pro bono legal assistance from Mark’s Dallas, Texas, based law firm (How Frels & Duke), to John Hastings. With Mark legal assistance, John established 161AHC Association, LLC, as a Texas Limited Liability Company.

Although I am listed as such, there is no author of this document. It was written by the members of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, affiliated units, and Special Forces MACV SOG personnel. It was written by these individuals for their fellow members of these organizations. I merely served as the “Chief Scribe.” John Hastings was designated as co-author for his constant support. He worked tirelessly to conduct a final edit and format our manuscript for publication.

I cannot possibly credit all who contributed to this group effort. In our narrative, I tried to credit everyone as best I could. Thus, the story of “Our Helicopter War” has evolved. It would certainly never be accepted as a proper historical document. It was never intended to be. It was written as a labor of love by helicopter crew members, for helicopter crew members.

How to get our Book Sorry, we are not setup to accept online orders or payments. We are old school where you have to mail us a paper order form and payment. Special Pricing $10 off, FREE Shipping If you have questions about ordering the book, send me an email and I will try to resolve your issue or questions. email: John Hastings What are they saying about our book. Tom Werzyn, is a book reviewer for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). The 161st the Assault Helicopter Company is a legendary outfit that played a pivotal role in the Vietnam War. Garland R. Lively and John H. Hastings’ Our Helicopter War is a splendid book assembled by a dedicated group of members and friends of the 161^st. Click here to view the review on the VVA website. _________________ Chester Wayne “Chuck” Carlock Author of “Firebirds” the Summit Publishing Group, Arlington, Texas, 1995, “Rattlers and Firebirds, Combat Action with an Assault Helicopter Company,” Chuck Carlock and Ron Seabolt. Garland Lively and his colleagues have written a great book that has some of the best helicopter war stories I have read! It is one of the best accounts of how men respond to combat. Garland has an instinctive talent for illuminating combat action so the reader feels he is actually present for the action. This book is better than any movie about the Vietnam war. Garland was able to blend his colleagues’ war stories with a detailed historical account of his unit’s actions in Vietnam. The author is to be congratulated on a superb historical work and I give it an unequivocal thumbs up. Garland is the guy that talked me into becoming a helicopter pilot. Around thirty years after the war I met Garland and the first thing I said to him was, “Show me the bullet hole” where he was shot in the arm. _________________ Marc Liebman, a VHPA Life Member, is a retired Navy Captain and Naval Aviator who flew combat search and rescue missions during the Vietnam War. He is also the author of five published novals with more coming. As a historian, I love these books and wish more units would take the time to create books such as this one. As a reviewer, it is a hard book to review because so many voices tell so many tales. There’s no plot, because Our Helicopter War is a diary of the 161^st Assault Helicopter Company and the units that supported it during the Vietnam War. The story begins in 1965 when the unit was formed based on General Westmoreland’s request for 13 new “air mobile” companies and ends in 1968. In between, Garland, along with other researchers have provided insights and explain campaigns in which the unit participated. This fascinating history is brought to life by intertwining comments from some of the members of the 161^st. If you flew helicopters in Vietnam, this should be motivation to get your unit to produce a similar book. If you were a member of the 161^st, Bravo Zulu, that’s Navy speak for a job well done. What is even better is that all the proceeds go back to the 161AHC Association LLC. To get your copy of the book, which will not be sold in bookstores, contact John Hastings via the unit’s website.	INTRODUCTION The Vietnam War has been sometimes referred to as “The Helicopter War.” This is the story of “Our Helicopter War.” It is an account of the young men who served in the 161st Assault Helicopter Company during the conflict in Vietnam. While the focus is on the air crews, they could not possibly have accomplished their mission without the support personnel of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company and its supporting detachments, the 406th Transportation Detachment, the 449th Signal Detachment, and the 434th Medical Detachment. It is also a detailed account of the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion and, the 174th Assault Helicopter Company, the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, and the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company. Operations conducted by all the companies were closely entwined, and it appears to be near impossible to address the history of one, without mention of the others. This effort began years ago when one of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company crew chiefs, John Harold Hastings, established a website. John contacted former members of the 161st and requested that they post their stories and photographs. The website was a tremendous success, and soon there were numerous personal accounts posted, as well as hundreds of photographs. Another crew chief, Leslie “Les” Hines, Americal Division Historian, began extensive research on Task Force Oregon and the Americal Division, headquartered at the Chu Lai Combat Base. Les accumulated a wealth of official documentation, maps, etc., and made them available to interested individuals. Like many others, I had previously contributed several articles and photographs to John Hastings’ website. John and I had discussed the feasibility of compiling all his various articles into a manuscript, but neither of us ever seemed to find the time or motivation to get started. In the fall of 2018, my best friend, Les Crowl, a Vietnam Marine Veteran from VFW Post 2148 in Waco, Texas, died suddenly. Les’ death was all the motivation I needed to begin this effort, while some of us were still alive. After contacting John Hastings, he provided me all the first-hand accounts he had on his website. John had a roster of former members, and we established an email list, to broadcast our intentions to all members. The response was overwhelming, as a deluge of new stories began flooding in, John’s list of members expanded rapidly, as the word spread around the internet. We managed to establish contact with individuals I had not seen or heard of in over fifty years. When Les Hines was notified, he began to provide us with official documentation and maps. I contacted my good friend and colleague, Katherine “Kate” Hambright, from the Hill County, Texas Historical Commission, and requested her assistance in locating additional documentation and to conduct the editing process. We then commenced the process of compiling all the first-hand accounts, supported by Les Hines’ and Kate’s documentation. Although I, Garland Lively, am listed as such, there is no author of this document. It was written by the members of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, affiliated units, and Special Forces MACV SOG personnel. It was written by these individuals for their fellow members of these organizations. I merely served as the “Chief Scribe.” We were all just a bunch of twenty something kids (mostly WO1s and SP4s) and knew little or nothing about the grand plans of the military forces we supported. As someone stated, we merely hauled stuff or people from here to there. For this manuscript, we devoted a great deal of effort to reviewing official documentation to define the environment that our first-hand accounts were based upon. Les Hines and Kate Hambright both deserve a great deal of credit for obtaining the official documentation. I am extremely grateful for their major contributions. I cannot possibly credit all who contributed to this group effort. In our narrative, I tried to credit everyone as best I could. It was soon discovered that we were seriously hindered by the passage of over fifty years since the actual events occurred. We could all agree that a major event occurred, but details were often obscured by our failing memories. Being the self-appointed “Chief Scribe,” and frequently lacking proper documentation, I sometimes had to select what I considered to be the best version of several alternatives. An extraordinary effort was spent on our three chapters about our aviation support of MACV SOG Operations. These operations certainly left a permanent impression upon our souls and was well worth every minute expended upon it. Fortunately, David Sebright, and several other members of the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, assisted us in defining their support of MACV SOG Missions. We could not have possibly completed this segment without the support of former Special Forces members Harlan E. “Rip” Van Winkle, Stephen T. “Tim” Kirk, and Robert C. “Bob” Green, of MACV SOG. Our three MACV SOG chapters are primarily their story. Early on a decision was made to self-publish our manuscript rather than submit it to an established publishing company. Other published authors strongly recommended that we establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to publish and distribute our book. Former Pelican pilot, Mark How provided pro bono legal assistance from Mark’s Dallas, Texas, based law firm (How Frels & Duke), to John Hastings. With Mark legal assistance, John established 161AHC Association, LLC, as a Texas Limited Liability Company. Although I am listed as such, there is no author of this document. It was written by the members of the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, affiliated units, and Special Forces MACV SOG personnel. It was written by these individuals for their fellow members of these organizations. I merely served as the “Chief Scribe.” John Hastings was designated as co-author for his constant support. He worked tirelessly to conduct a final edit and format our manuscript for publication. I cannot possibly credit all who contributed to this group effort. In our narrative, I tried to credit everyone as best I could. Thus, the story of “Our Helicopter War” has evolved. It would certainly never be accepted as a proper historical document. It was never intended to be. It was written as a labor of love by helicopter crew members, for helicopter crew members.