Pop a smoke
by Rick gehweiler
now available.
By 1969, the Sikorski H-34 was an older helicopter with severe limitations for combat duty in Vietnam. For pilots like U.S. Marine Lieutenant Rick Gehweiler, the good news was it could still take significant damage and keep flying. His vivid memoir narrates his harrowing, at times deadly flight missions under fire, as experienced in the cockpit, along with anecdotes of tragedy and humor from his 13-month tour through Da Nang and Phu Bai.
One of the TOP five books on Nam I have read.
I served as an FMF Marine "Devil Doc" and had a lot of contact with the brave men who flew us in and out of combat. They would come in to pick up our wounded, even under heavy fire. Lt. Rick Gehweiler was just such a USMC pilot. The book is a must-read if you ever were in combat in Vietnam. It is well written and gives a sometimes humorous account of his tour of duty in " da Nam.” As a Devil Doc, I popped many a smoke (sadly), but the brave USMC pilots were always there for us. Semper Fi Lt. Gehweiler & thank you for writing this book!
– Hawkman
An extraordinary personal story about war, friendship, and compassion.
The book is a gripping and soulful memoir describing Rick’s journey from graduating at the University of North Carolina to his commission in the Marine Corps to becoming a helicopter pilot and deploying to Viet Nam. The action in the narrative never stops and I was immersed in his perspective of flying a Sikorsky H-34 helicopter. He brings the story alive with detailed descriptions of this unique aircraft as well as the bravery and diversity of the men he flew with on missions of combat & rescue. In fact, it is so well written, I could smell the diesel fuel, feel the heat & humidity, hear the sound of the rotors, see the beauty of the country and taste the adrenaline of flying that helicopter in Viet Nam. It was 1969 and we are reminded of the unfortunate repercussions of coming home from the war in Viet Nam. Pop A Smoke is an essential read that presents an important frame of reference and vantage point of a complex and misunderstood period in American history.
– Jack Alterman
I was a Marine infantry company commander in Vietnam.
The majority of our time was spent in the jungle fighting. Our lifeline was the helicopter and the pilots who flew them. They brought us food and water, carried out our wounded and dead and delivered replacements. Without them we could not have survived. They never let us down, no matter how dangerous or desperate the situation. I never remember them not responding to my call. It was incredibly dangerous flying in the worst terrain and circumstances imaginable. Their skill and courage were astounding. To this day I remain in awe of them. Read Rick Gehweiler’s personal account and you will understand.
– W. E. Boomer, General, U.S. Marine Corps (ret)
What a great read !!
POP A SMOKE by Rick Gehweiler is exceptionally well written. That’s reason enough to read this gripping book that unequivocally puts you in the cockpit of his helicopter in a way that brings the reader directly into the war in Vietnam.
This is a story/memoir that touched me deeply. We as a country and as United States citizens will learn much about ourselves and our country by reading Rick Gehweiler’s book.
– Arthur von Boennighausen
Interview with Rick
About Rick
Rick Gehweiler graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1967, attended Marine Corp Officer Candidate School at Quantico Virginia, earned his navy wings in Pensacola, Florida and served a tour in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot flying combat missions. He currently manages a fly fishing lodge on the Bighorn River in Montana.
