[September 27, 2024] I’m back with another great book telling the stories that need telling about dustoff pilots in the Vietnam War. The first book was “The Helicopter Whisperers, Vol I” by Phil Marshall, which I reviewed here on Monday (see link). Today, I will highlight COL Doug Moore’s book “A Bullet Through the Helmet” and, yes, the cover photograph shows his flight helmet where a bullet went through the front and out the side of his helmet. Now, that is a story to tell your grandchildren. Just a note to say that I’m honored to review these books, and although I did several combat tours, they were nothing even approaching what Doug Moore, Phil Marshall, or any of the dustoff pilots did while rescuing those wounded in combat. Both these books can be found on Amazon; type in their names, and the books will come up for you. Obviously, I highly recommend them both. Now, it’s time to sit back, call your dog over to sit with you, brew your coffee, and tell your wife not to disturb you while reading. And I’m giving a shout-out to all our Vietnam Veterans, “Welcome Home!”
A Bullet Through the Helmet: A Vietnam Dustoff Pilot’s Memoir, COL Douglas E. Moore, April 16, 2019
I am privileged to know a Father Jim Drucker, who introduced me to Colonel Doug Moore, the dustoff pilot I’m writing about today. And this man has a signature career in the U.S. Army and a life’s adventure that most of us can only be jealous about. Any person who willingly and purposefully exposes himself to physical harm through the actions of a determined enemy is a real hero, and to actually read about his exploits makes me honored to know that there are men like that out there who can be relied upon to go the extra mile to save others.
“It must be true that God looks after dogs, children, and wayward aviators.” So ends chapter 2, where Doug Moore tells the
COVER: A Bullet Through the Helmet by COL Douglas E. Moore
story of flying in rain and fog to a South Vietnamese base camp at Thu Dau Mot, just north of Saigon, and unknowingly landing inside the camp, nowhere near their designated landing pad. All the while, they are taking fire from the VC with a 51 caliber machine gun, small arms fire, and dodging VC sapper teams. This is how the book works. One story after another in succession, all telling of the exploits of dustoff pilots, and not all in Vietnam. But what we easily pick up on is that dustoff pilots are a different breed of Soldier.
In Chapter 10, we get the story behind the bullet through the flight helmet. What I liked about this book is that Moore goes the extra mile to explain what dustoff pilots did. In this chapter, titled ‘A Day in the Life of a Dust Off Crew,” he tells us a story that is exciting in every detail. “Just then, Steve Peth exclaimed, ‘Look to our left front!’ Two North Vietnamese Army soldiers fired what was likely a B-40 rocket at us.” That sure does create a pucker factor that most folks will never experience. Those are the kinds of events that are great for telling in a bar with your friends. After the fourth trip to pick up wounded from an Infantry Battalion in contact, Moore was hit in the helmet with an AK-47 bullet. “… I felt something hit me and hit me hard.”
Doug Moore tells us many stories while he was with the 57th Medical Detachment. What he does also is let us know that the crew of the dustoff was a tight group that worked closely together to pull the wounded out of the most dangerous circumstances. And they did this without regard for themselves. Anyone who knows Doug Moore or any dustoff pilot should know these are rare men, and just being around them is a true honor.
Highly recommended.
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Please read my books:
- “55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon (link here).
- “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).
Side Note: Please remember and take a look at Tom Copeland’s reading blog. His website, which I highly recommend, can be found here: https://militaryreadinglists.com/map
all those who were asking my friend Doug about me. I been busy with my devotional reading seeking God for things prepare my teaches Sunday school and preaching on my 6am morning prayer group. Preaching on my friend 830pm svc on the 3rd Sunday of the month. A time to reload is healthy for the mind
Sure do appreciate these war stories from the men who were there.
Gen. Satterfield thank you for the review and I look forward to reading this book by COL Doug Moore. Please continue reviewing books like this one and the one by Phil Marshall. These are the kinds of books on life and death situations that are real and worth knowing.
Doug Moore is a real life hero. 👍
Otto
Excellent comments
Gen. Satterfield, another great review of a book that does tell “stories that need telling” and that give us some small insight into the lives of those who risked their lives for others.
Otto
Excellent comments
EDDIE, you’re back. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
More dustoff missions! Yep, and I love each of them.
DUSTOFF pilots. Just gotta read more stories on these men from the Vietnam War. Col Doug Moore had a 30 year career and by his own admission, these were the best of years. The best team work. The best camaraderie. The best and most thrilling of times (altho I don’t think he might call it “thrilling”). The best of times! Let us never forget our fighting men from that war or any war.
✔✔✔✔✔ Absolutely right ✔✔✔✔✔
A Bullet Through the Helmet: A Vietnam Dustoff Pilot’s Memoir by Douglas E. Moore
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51406947-a-bullet-through-the-helmet
in Goodreads
“Somewhere in all that confusion, I told Steve I’d been hit. His response demonstrated the worth of all that hard training at Fort Rucker because he replied very calmly, “Roger, Sir. I have the aircraft.” Steve Peth saved our lives that night.”
Looks like I have another book to read. Happy days! Now that the weather here on the East Coast is finally cooling down, I’m going to have more time to read and this book is going to be at the top. thanks Gen. Satterfield for reviewing this book by army colonel Moore.
Wow, very good review. I look forward to reading the book some day. My uncle is a Vietnam Vet, an 11 Bravo as he says and also told me that he had a special love for the helicopter pilots who risked their lives to rescue the wounded. LIke the previous book by Phil Marshall, we cannot get enough of these stories and I am happy that Gen. Satterfield is getting a chance to highlight them on his blog. 👍
YES! 11 Bang Bang is another way of saying he’s Infantry. Those who were from the Infantry courses at Fort Benning, GA.
Fort Benning … didn’t crazy Joe Biden change the name?
Another great book coming out that shows that our American service men are the greatest. We should never forget that fact! Those who want to mess with America are on notice.