William E. Peterson

Bill Peterson's new book, "Chopper Warriors: Kicking the Hornet's Nest" is a compelling and easy read, comprised of twenty-three short chapters which describe personal experiences during the Vietnam War. A host of contributors have joined Bill in this story to talk about special incidents they experienced during their tours many years ago; some describe acts of gallantry and heroism...others talk about fear and death. Contributors include pilots, infantry grunts and officers, Navy Corpsmen, door gunners and a lone tunnel rat; their tours take place in different years and span across the entire country of Vietnam. Thus, seeing the war from different perspectives.

As a Vietnam Veteran myself, reading "Chopper Warriors" is like sitting around a summer campfire with a group of vets from my local VVA chapter. They come from every branch of service and occupation; most have something to say - others are comfortable just listening...all are treated with trust, dignity and respect while relating their stories around the roaring blaze. There is usually a common thread shared during these discussions and testimony seldom takes a sudden left or right turn. This is how I relate to Bill's new tome - thankfully, he did not include the extra commentary that I might have heard: "I got one, listen to this..."

As I commented in "Missions of Fire and Mercy", us grunts held chopper crews in the highest regard. Without your support, dedication and bravery, there would be many more names listed on the black granite wall in Washington D.C. You were always there when we needed you - I remain forever grateful for that!

After reading "Chopper Warriors", non-veteran readers will better understand why veterans returning home after war are different and troubled. Could be a different country, war and time, the results are the same!

Bill, excellent job in following that common thread throughout the story. Thank you, too. for the education - I did pick-up on some new things I didn't know while reading your story! Highly recommended - don't miss out on this one! Welcome Home Brothers!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel… (altro)

The '80s saw a wellspring of Vietnam memoirs reach bookstore shelves as a long-overdue shift in public attitude led to the embracing, rather than the ignoring (or worse), of the veterans of America's most unpopular war. Still, many stories remain untold to this day as our vets continue to struggle with or repress the horrors that only they can fully comprehend. Occasionally, perhaps for therapeutic purposes, a new first-person account will reach print and allow readers to become absorbed - as much as an observer can be - in the author's war-time world. William Peterson's self-published "Missions of Fire and Mercy: Until Death Do Us Part" joins the ranks of those honest, unfiltered accounts of the Vietnam war that have emerged over the years.

Bill's story begins in the remote Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he enjoys a life of outdoor recreation and rural living, buoyed by a strong family and a firm faith. Volunteering for the Army, and for flight status as a crew chief, Bill embarks on a twelve-month tour with the 1st Cavalry Division that will erase his innocence and expose him to some of the most extreme horrors that mankind can afflict upon one another. Employing somewhat of a stream-of-consciousness narrative style, the fog of war, the intense struggle for life (his own and those of his brothers-in-arms), and the minutiae of Army life are presented in crisp chronological detail.

A quick read, "Missions of Fire and Mercy" breaks from the traditional memoir not only in the author's writing style, but in the format of the book itself. Letters written home during Bill's tour are included verbatim, with intervening chapters presented in letter format as well. Although it can be difficult to differentiate between the pseudo-letters and the real thing, given the engaging quality of the text, the choice of format allows for easy timekeeping as we enthusiastically join Bill in counting down the days remaining in his tour of duty.

"Missions of Fire and Mercy" should be on the reading lists of those interested in the Vietnam War as seen by those who fought the battles on the ground and in the air (not from Washington). Hopefully other veterans will be encouraged by Bill's work to share their own experiences with us. We're listening.… (altro)

Bill Peterson's new book, "Chopper Warriors: Kicking the Hornet's Nest" is a compelling and easy read, comprised of twenty-three short chapters which describe personal experiences during the Vietnam War. A host of contributors have joined Bill in this story to talk about special incidents they experienced during their tours many years ago; some describe acts of gallantry and heroism...others talk about fear and death. Contributors include pilots, infantry grunts and officers, Navy Corpsmen, door gunners and a lone tunnel rat; their tours take place in different years and span across the entire country of Vietnam. Thus, seeing the war from different perspectives.

As a Vietnam Veteran myself, reading "Chopper Warriors" is like sitting around a summer campfire with a group of vets from my local VVA chapter. They come from every branch of service and occupation; most have something to say - others are comfortable just listening...all are treated with trust, dignity and respect while relating their stories around the roaring blaze. There is usually a common thread shared during these discussions and testimony seldom takes a sudden left or right turn. This is how I relate to Bill's new tome - thankfully, he did not include the extra commentary that I might have heard: "I got one, listen to this..."

As I commented in "Missions of Fire and Mercy", us grunts held chopper crews in the highest regard. Without your support, dedication and bravery, there would be many more names listed on the black granite wall in Washington D.C. You were always there when we needed you - I remain forever grateful for that!

After reading "Chopper Warriors", non-veteran readers will better understand why veterans returning home after war are different and troubled. Could be a different country, war and time, the results are the same!

Bill, excellent job in following that common thread throughout the story. Thank you, too. for the education - I did pick-up on some new things I didn't know while reading your story! Highly recommended - don't miss out on this one! Welcome Home Brothers!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel… (altro)