Nobody completely escapes the effects of Vietnam...

There was more than one enemy in Vietnam.

There was Charlie who wanted to punch your helicopter full of holes with with his AK-47 and bring you and the aircraft crashing down to the ground, down to your death. There were the monsoons that threatened to wash you, your buddies and your gear off in a deadly cascade that would seem to end in the South China Sea. There was your own malfunctioning equipment, like the faulty flare that went off inside your helicopter, knocking you out and almost setting your aircraft and its crew on fire.

EMPTY TUBES AND BACK SEAT MEMORIES is the fascinating and true tale of Russ Warriner's year and a half tour in Vietnam serving as Crew Chief and Door Gunner on a M3 Rocket System equipped Huey in the U.S. Army Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA).

It is a fascinating chronicle of day by day activity of a young soldier who comes from a conventional life in a small in Massachusetts, but who wants to serve his country and ends up doing so and being awarded a Purple Heart, more than a dozen Air Medals, and three Army Commendation medals for his heroism in battle.

It is a story of unconventional life in a controversial war.

As Russell Warriner says: "Each time one of us tells any of our stories, we are sure to catch incoming..... therefore I have my helmet on, even though it is full of holes already."

The permanent physical injuries from this war will be apparent, but Russ shows us in his vivid narrative why the mental injuries can go unnoticed for year.

After serving in Vietnam during the period of the TET Offensive, Russell Warriner was inspired to write a newspaper column for his unit, 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery, 1st Calvary Division Air Mobile, and he started a veterans Blue Max ARA Association. Helping the ARA Association he started by finding ARA Alumni from any ARA unit, helping to organize reunions and running his web site for the ARA, www.aerial-rocket-artillery.org are now Russ' passions.

Another BOOK by a Vietnam Veteran that you may enjoy, is Missions of Fire and Mercy William (Bill) Peterson

Or This book by NG Brown Blue Max Missions and Memories