SAMUEL K. BEAMON

Melvin Loh -- Civilian

Review date: 03/14/2010

As a fan and friend of the author over here in Australia, I found FLYING DEATH a very captivating account of a USMC crew chief in Vietnam- at all levels, from his early life, recruitment into the Marines, training, service in the Nam on 2 tours, issues associated with alcohol and drug use, race etc, and return home, including dealing with the legacy of his wartime experiences.

 Some truly phenomenal accounts, such as the bar scene involving Sam and his best friend, a white dude from Wisconsin; the experience of 3 guys from the same state of Connecticut lyin on the same chopper (CONNECTICUT YANKEE); rowdy R&R experiences in Bangkok; and perhaps the greatest travesty of returning home from Vietnam then being denied entry, on racial grounds a NY country estate for a veterans' function (much to the anger and disgust of his brother Marines).

 Definitely a good account conveying that brotherhood in battle is indeed colour blind.