BOOK REVIEW, by Don Poss
Webmaster, VSPA.com and War-Stories.com

A Vietnamese Fighter Pilot in an American War,
by Hoi B. Tran, former Major, VNAF
Publication Date: March 28, 2011
Trade Paperback; $23.99; 440 pages; 978-1-4568-4723-4
Trade Hardback; $34.99; 440 pages; 978-1-4568-4724-1
eBook; $9.99; 978-1-4568-4725-8.



Buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Vietnamese-Fighter-Pilot-American-War/dp/1456847236

The Chinese had three curses in increasing severity -- all would apply to author Hoi B. Tran's life:

• May you live in interesting times
• May you come to the attention of those in authority.
• May you find what you are looking for.

Author Hoi Tran's fight through the gauntlets of all three Chinese Curses is the enduring and compelling story of honor, valor, and personal victory through decades of war and struggle as A Vietnamese Fighter Pilot in an American War. Hoi Tran relives these Chinese curses through his dramatic life story as written in A Vietnamese Fighter Pilot in an American War.

As a young man in Hanoi, Hoi Tran was a former Vanguard Youth Troop who sang “who loves Uncle Ho more than us children." Tran's book passionately carries the reader through his disillusionment with stormy Vietnam politics and communist betrayals in North Vietnam in 1945. He describes the 1953 military defeat and end of French colonialism at Điện Biên Phủ, and the nightmare and cruel and crushing demise of South Vietnam in April 1975, brought about partially by the enemy within its allies.

Tran’s words take you through the turmoil and his participation in the first bombing raids over North Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. You will feel the distrust of Tran by South Vietnam leaders because his family still lived in North Vietnam and his brother was in the NVA. When Tran voluntarily flies a mission and drops vital supplies over the presidential palace during a coup attempt, in support of the SVN President, his loyalty is no longer in doubt.

Hoi Tran vividly describes his rise from a small boy to ARVN pilot, squadron commander, and acquaintances with powerful generals and presidents. You will take pleasure in his growing achievements and his assignment duties as an Air Vietnam pilot, Flying Tiger in Saigon as an Operation Consultant, and trusted pilot that flew Vice President Ky and the South Vietnamese Delegation to the Paris peace talks.

A Vietnamese Fighter Pilot in an American War is a page turner to be sure (I lost sleep, and I am sure you will), and completes the story of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese pilot's perspective. The well researched book is Tran's story that should be told to the world, and read by every veteran who served in Vietnam and Thailand during the war. Tran's personal struggle to fight for his country is well referenced, with glossary and index, and generously documented with photographs, and has earned a place in my Vietnam War library.

Today, after 50 years in the workforce (22 years with VNAF, 4 years with the State of Washington and 24 years in the private sector) Hoi Tran is retired and living in southern California with his family.

Don Poss
Webmaster, VSPA.com and War-Stories.com