During 1966–1967, author John Steinbeck was in Vietnam. He wrote a series of dispatches to Newsday which have recently been published as a book, Steinbeck In Vietnam: Dispatches From the War, edited by Thomas E. Barden. University of Virginia Press, 224 pp., $29.95.
On 7 January 1967, Steinbeck was at Pleiku, where he flew aboard a UH-1 Huey helicopter with D Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry. He wrote the following about the helicopter pilots:
“I wish I could tell you about these pilots. They make me sick with envy. They ride their vehicles the way a man controls a fine, well-trained quarter horse. They weave along stream beds, rise like swallows to clear trees, they turn and twist and dip like swifts in the evening. I watch their hands and feet on the controls, the delicacy of the coordination reminds me of the sure and seeming slow hands of (Pablo) Casals on the cello. They are truly musicians’ hands and they play their controls like music and they dance them like ballerinas and they make me jealous because I want so much to do it. Remember your child night dream of perfect flight free and wonderful? It’s like that, and sadly I know I never can. My hands are too old and forgetful to take orders from the command center, which speaks of updrafts and side winds, of drift and shift, or ground fire indicated by a tiny puff or flash, or a hit and all these commands must be obeyed by the musicians hands instantly and automatically. I must take my longing out in admiration and the joy of seeing it. Sorry about that leak of ecstasy, Alicia, but I had to get it out or burst.”
© 2014, Bryan R. Swopes
Words that make me proud of myself! I never seemed to have self confidence but look back now and just giggle and smile!
Me, too! 🙂
Such a humbling quote. Thanks for sharing Bryan
Beautifully written. You see and feel what he’s feeling through his words of such a tragic and sad war. Thank you Bryan and to all those that served. ?
Thank you, Joan.
Hello Bryan,
I just ordered this book. Loved the quote. As an Army helicopter crew chief I can personally attest to the helicopter pilots finesse and why to this day I love these incredible machines. Yesterday’s TDiA about MOH General Brady was icing on the cake.
Here’s a quote that my company’s chopper pilots had in their ready room:
‘To fly is heavenly, to hover devine’
As a rated rotary wing pilot yourself Bryan I know you’ll like this as much as I do.
Keep up the fantastic work on this blog!
Thank you, Chris. You made my day. 🙂
Flying military helicopters is the most legal fun you can have in an aircraft.
I remember the feelings of what Mr. Steinbeck so eloquently describes, however, he did not realize that out of every hour, the 10 minutes of scheer panic and terror.
Made me cry. Was married to an Aussie Helicopter Pilot who flew with the 135th EMU’s in Vietnam. He now sails around Australia on his motor sailer….he’s happy! I’m so damn proud of this man!! A Silver Star recipient too!! Thank you all for your service!!
An awesome post, thank you! As a Captain once described it to me- Flying a Helo is like having a roller coaster without a track. When I asked him what the procedure was if we had mechanical trouble (we were flying over pretty rough terrain at near night) his reply was: Well, you turn on the light. If you don’t like what’s down there you turn off the light.” Summed it up for me.