North Texas Military Biography and Memoir - 1: Rattler One-Seven

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Rattler One-Seven immerses readers in the Vietnam War through the perspective of an inexperienced pilot evolving into a seasoned combat veteran. In 1970, Chuck Gross, a nineteen-year-old Army helicopter pilot fresh from flight school, joined the 71st Assault Helicopter Company, flying UH-1 Huey helicopters throughout his tour. He documented his experiences shortly after the war, drawing from notes and letters home to capture his mindset during this tumultuous time. Gross flew Special Operations for the MACV-SOG, inserting secret teams into Laos, despite official policies denying U.S. presence there. He also took part in Lam Son 719, a flawed ARVN campaign aimed at disrupting the Ho Chi Minh Trail with U.S. helicopter support. This marked the largest airmobile operation of the war, where young pilots and gunners faced seasoned North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners without adequate intelligence or planning. The campaign resulted in over one hundred helicopter losses and significant damage to more than six hundred aircraft. Gross himself was shot down and left in the field during one operation. This account will resonate with those interested in the Vietnam War and all armed forces, particularly aviators who have served their country.