Arlen's Gun: A Novel of War in Vietnam - a Journey from Alienation to Brotherhood

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Arlen Washington, raised in a broken family on Baltimore's toughest streets, is encouraged by a more privileged friend to finish high school and join the Air Force to evade the Army draft during the Vietnam War. However, his assignment as a gunner on an AC-47 gunship takes him directly into the conflict. Unlike traditional warplanes, the AC-47's guns fire from the sides, allowing for precise support fire over battlefields. Arlen, a 19-year-old grappling with anger and alienation, struggles to connect with his crew, including the optimistic airman Timmy Otis. During a treacherous night amid monsoon season, their gunship is hit and crash-lands in a remote valley. With rescue helicopters grounded by weather, the nearest Army unit—a ragtag engineer team—attempts to reach them. The crew salvages three powerful miniguns from their downed aircraft, but the rescue comes at a steep cost to the engineers. Stranded with their rescuers, Arlen's desire to possess one of the miniguns drives him to advocate for their salvage. He proposes a way to mount a flexible model on a dump truck. As they face fierce battles during an enemy offensive, Arlen's anger begins to dissipate, revealing a sense of brotherhood and inner courage. His journey highlights the realities of combat in Vietnam and the compassion of American soldiers during that tumultuous era.