The Grotto is the true story of Marine Aviators in Vietnam who flew CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters near the end of the first, and probably last, great helicopter war. This part of the war has seemingly been forgotten and barely written about. Marines who entered Vietnam during this era knew they would not be leaving as winners or be welcomed back home as victors. The polite political phrase “Vietnamization and Redeployment” the sole purpose of which was the withdrawal of all American forces, branded that era. The Marines came from inner cities, suburbia, small farm communities, as well as wealthy, influential families. They lived and worked together under the extreme pressures of flying Marine Grunts into battles and bringing them back, dead or alive—no matter what. It’s the hijinks, the fraternity-like pranks, unorganized pick-up football and volleyball games played in monsoon rains and deep red mud under the auspices of loosely defined “jungle rules.” It’s the legacy of those who came before us, and new guys learning how to fly and survive in combat. It’s the missions that without warning went horribly wrong. It’s also hope, doubt, tension, and camaraderie, the kind that comes from a unique atmosphere, the kind that makes you brothers to the bone… forever. This is the story of HMM-262 in Phu Bai, South Vietnam, 1969-1970, as seen through the eyes of one of those men, a Marine who lived in The Grotto.

The Grotto Book One: Phu Bai, Vietnam: 1969 - 1970

History

Walker, Harold G

Asia

Dragonfly Publishing

Donald “Hokey” Busby has a bit of the devil in him, but nobody thought he’d kill his best friend, Harry “Fats” Shell. Yet, one night on the Walker family farm, Hokey brutally shoots Fats down. Hours later, Hokey is found dying in a pool of blood, from a single shotgun blast. The Walkers fear more bloodshed will come as family and friends gather for the shocking double funeral of the murderer and victim.

Murder on the Floodways

Biographies & Memoirs

True Crime

The Grotto Book Two is a glimpse of the goings on in a combat helicopter squadron during the withdrawal of Marine Corps forces from Vietnam. The Flying Tigers of HMM-262, call sign Chatterbox, were honored to be the last CH-46 squadron to move south of the Hai Van Pass. On 14 February 70 we completed our move to the Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), the home of Marine Air Group 16 (MAG-16). The base was located on the beach at Da Nang and was breathtakingly beautiful, reminiscent of the white sands of Pensacola Beach. Marble, as we called it, was almost like being in the states. It had everything, good food and good Officer and Enlisted Clubs where we reunited with friends from flight school. It was a community of helos, 46s, 53s, Cobra Gunships and Huey Gunships whose task it was to keep the enemy away from Da Nang. That was the job and it was done with precision, 24 hours a day by the Grunts we swore to support in any way possible: Resupply, Medevac, Assaults and getting anyone out who had orders to R&R. Our hodge podge of missions frequently included the Marine Reconnaissance teams who were in every nook and cranny of the area from the South China Sea into Laos, charged with keeping tabs on the enemy. Each and every insert and extract was an opporutnity for the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong to make themselves known and they always knew we were coming!

The Grotto Book Two: Vietnam 1970 Marble Mountain

Military

The Grotto is the true story of Marine Aviators in Vietnam who flew CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters near the end of the first, and probably last, great helicopter war. This part of the war has seemingly been forgotten and barely written about. Marines who entered Vietnam during this era knew they would not be leaving as winners or be welcomed back home as victors. The polite political phrase "Vietnamization and Redeployment" the sole purpose of which was the withdrawal of all American forces, branded that era. The Marines came from inner cities, suburbia, small farm communities, as well as wealthy, influential families. They lived and worked together under the extreme pressures of flying Marine Grunts into battles and bringing them back, dead or alive-no matter what. It's the hijinks, the fraternity-like pranks, unorganized pick-up football and volleyball games played in monsoon rains and deep red mud under the auspices of loosely defined "jungle rules." It's the legacy of those who came before us, and new guys learning how to fly and survive in combat. It's the missions that without warning went horribly wrong. It's also hope, doubt, tension, and camaraderie, the kind that comes from a unique atmosphere, the kind that makes you brothers to the bone? forever. This is the story of HMM-262 in Phu Bai, South Vietnam, 1969-1970, as seen through the eyes of one of those men, a Marine who lived in The Grotto.

The Grotto Book Two is a glimpse of the goings on in a combat helicopter squadron during the withdrawal of Marine Corps forces from Vietnam. The Flying Tigers of HMM-262, call sign Chatterbox, were honored to be the last CH-46 squadron to move south of the Hai Van Pass. On 14 February 70 we completed our move to the Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), the home of Marine Air Group 16 (MAG-16). The base was located on the beach at Da Nang and was breathtakingly beautiful, reminiscent of the white sands of Pensacola Beach. Marble, as we called it, was almost like being in the states. It had everything, good food and good Officer and Enlisted Clubs where we reunited with friends from flight school.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Walker, Harold G. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Walker, Harold G

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Walker, Harold G. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Grotto Book One: Phu Bai, Vietnam: 1969 - 1970

Murder on the Floodways

The Grotto Book Two: Vietnam 1970 Marble Mountain

The Grotto Book One: Phu Bai, Vietnam: 1969 - 1970

The Grotto Book Two: Vietnam 1970 Marble Mountain