This book is aimed at sharing information about a population of men who engaged in military service to their country with duties involving aviation. The era that this book addresses is one during which there was considerable racial turmoil in America. So, these were stalwart men who entered into a professional career field where they were not readily embraced. The field that these brave men entered was one that was dominated by white males. It is the story about the U.S. military’s 600 m.o.l. – Black helicopter pilots who experienced combat duty in Vietnam, some making the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives, and who certainly have a place in U. S. history. It is also a story of the uncommon fortitude, perseverance, and triumph of black men who were often compelled to fight multiple battles against multiple enemies simultaneously (the enemy overseas and racial discrimination at home). The 600 m.o.l. is perhaps one of the greatest stories that was never told, at least up to now.

It is the story about the U.S. military's 600 m.o.l. - Black helicopter pilots who experienced combat duty in Vietnam, some making the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives, and who certainly have a place in U. S. history.

"My aircraft was compelled to land at an airfield near Cambodia. Even though it looked like a safe area to land, we were unaware at the time that the Viet Cong (VC) actually controlled the airfield. Since our aviation unit was in support of Vietnamese troops, it was not unusual for there to be Vietnamese soldiers on the airfield. Therefore, when some troops on the ground motioned to us to land on the runway, we complied. However, as we landed and started to taxi the aircraft to the side of the runway, we noticed that the soldiers were armed with AK47s (Russian-made rifles used by the Viet Cong) and not M16s (American-issued rifles), realizing that we were completely surrounded by the enemy..."--Warrant Officer Gilbert Foote"When we landed at that hospital, chaos erupted. I saw the orderlies run out and stop a few yards away from the aircraft. My crew chief said, "Sir, we got a problem." He said that the Korean accompanying the wounded guy had locked and loaded his BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), a .30 caliber semiauto to full auto rifle, and had put his back against the helicopter's firewall and was making it clear he was not going to allow the wounded guy he was with to be taken off the aircraft."--Captain Arnold H. Sampson Jr.

“This moving memoir about the gritty life of a military helicopter pilot fills a gap in the genre of Vietnam literature.”—Foreword Reviews In the Vietnam War, 2,197 helicopter pilots and 2,717 crew members were killed. Black Cat 2-1 is the story of one pilot who made it home and the valiant men he served with who risked their lives for the troops on the ground. Bob Ford invites readers into the Huey helicopters he flew on more than 1,000 missions when he and his men dared to protect and rescue. For those whose voices were silenced in that faraway place or who have never told their stories, he creates a tribute that reads like a thriller, captures the humor of men at war, and resounds with respect for those who served with honor. An Oklahoma Book Award Finalist “Bob Ford’s account of his year in the command seat of his ship of salvation is a priceless contribution to the literary canon of that war.”—David A. Maurer, Special Forces veteran, author of The Dying Place “[Ford] brings to life his story so the reader can experience what it may have been like—and how the troops felt at the time. With moments that feel like they were written for a movie, Black Cat 2-1 will take you in the air over Vietnam and through some of the hardest missions you could expect.”—Week99er “This memoir is hard to beat.”—Air & Space/Smithsonian “Capably written.”—Publishers Weekly “Refreshing . . . evocative descriptions of combat flying.”—The VVA Veteran

In 1968, twenty-one-year-old Fred McCarthy transitioned from the monastic life of a seminary student to that of a U.S. Army helicopter gunship commander in Vietnam. Despite preparation from a family tradition of decorated combat service, a strong sense of patriotism, a love for aviation, and a desire for adventure, he got far more than he bargained for. Written after 50 years of reflection, reading, and study, this memoir tells both a universal story about war, adventure, and perseverance and, also shares the intensely personal experience of the Vietnam War and its legacy for those who fought in it. McCarthy describes many of his missions, reflects on the nature of being a combat helicopter pilot, and processes the experience through his poetry, letters home, and reflective analysis.

Polytechnic University, the second oldest private engineering and science institution in the United States, has for over 150 years provided the academic crucible and talent to advance the principles and frontiers of engineering and technology which have improved the lives of the vast majority of the world's inhabitants. Its students and professors have been honored for groundbreaking discoveries in numerous areas, including microwave technology, aeronautics, barcode technology, polymer science, and telecommunications. Noted author Jeffrey L. Rodengen details the rich and colorful history of this distinguished institution, ranked in the top 10 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities by The Princeton Review. Foreword by Wm. A. Wulf, PhD, president of the National Academy of Engineering.