“How can I describe what I felt as I read the last word of the last paragraph on that last page?  I didn’t want it to stop!  It’s been years since I’ve “marathon read” a book.  It absolutely took my breath away.  Colin Cahoon has that rare gift that only a few authors possess.  He didn’t just tell the stories of these young American heroes - he became their shadow warrior.  He felt the horrific body slam as round after round pounded their ceramic body armor.  He felt himself losing control as their Huey was being ripped to shreds on short final into a hot landing zone (LZ) and...he felt their pain, their terrifying fear and the million thoughts running through their heads as the doctors and nurses worked frantically to save their lives.  Well Done!”

— Ronald L Walters, Sr.

Commander - U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) - Aviator

Prior service U.S. Army Aviator - AH-1G Cobra, 1st Cavalry Division - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.  1970 – 1971

“The majority of my Infantry Officer classmates who died in Vietnam were killed in helicopter shootdowns as were many of our wounded.  Helicopter pilots vied with infantry platoon leaders for having the most dangerous assignments in the war. Mended Wings has the full flavor of that long ago war from the dangers to the messiness that is part of war.”

— Ronald E. Neumann

Ambassador (ret) and once upon a time Lieutenant, USA

“Mended Wings is a great read.  The view of war from a diverse group of pilots and crew members and how they ended up in Vietnam is moving to say the least.  As a combat Veteran pilot from Desert Storm, I found this book to present a much-needed human element to a war story.”

— Craig C. Ebejay

Lt Col USAF Retired 

“Mended Wings is a great snapshot in the timeline of the Helicopter War in Vietnam. It is a humanization of the sky soldiers who piloted and crewed these amazing aircraft. As for me, I was transported back to Vietnam, great read.”

— Eldridge Johnson

Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot, C Troop, 2/17 Air Cavalry

Lt Col USAF Ret

“As both an RCAF jet pilot and Loach pilot (Canadian Air Force Scout helicopter pilot) with thousands of hours of tactical experience, I found Mended Wings well written and very readable. Colin Cahoon masterfully portrays the Vietnam helicopter war while honoring the pilots who fought it. Well done.”

— Peter Campbell

RCAF Ret

“When courage, guts and loyalty merge, you’ll find Army helicopter pilots fighting in Vietnam, committed to each other beyond measure. This is their story. Buckle up.”

— Admiral Thomas B. Hayward

Chief of Naval Operations 1978-1982

USN Ret

“‘Roger. Death rides a Dark Horse. Out’: the last radio message I received from the gunship team as it left after pulling my and my Vietnamese soldiers “fat out of the fire” in a night ambush in the Vietnam Delta in 1971. Colin Cahoon brings empathy as well as technical knowledge to recounting the human (and war) stories of the men of the “Dark Horse” 16thCavalry and other Army aviators who flew into the maelstrom to aid Americans and Vietnamese comrades. “Mended Wings” is a well-researched and long overdue account of their valor and their post-Army accomplishments. Recommended reading.”

— Charles E. Tompkins

Military Assistance and Advisory Team 51, MACV

Advisor and “Paddy Rat”, 21st Inf Div (ARVN) Reconnaissance Company

“I developed the greatest respect for helicopter pilots in Vietnam. Helicopters seemed flimsy flying machines to me, and were tempting targets, especially while taking off and landing. Anything from automatic weapons to small arms fire, under the right circumstances, could bring one down. The results were usually disastrous. I served as a medical officer with the Special Forces in Vietnam and my use of helicopters was ubiquitous. I never had a single request for a medevac or other mission, night or day, turned down during my entire 365. Every time a helicopter flew a mission, one chopper and four crew members risked their lives. They were men of bravery, and these ten stories will show you exactly why.”

— Russell L. Hunter

Captain, Medical Corps, Special Forces, Det. C-2, Vietnam

“Colin Cahoon spent over 1000 Hours flying Hueys for the Army and has written this inspiring book profiling ten American Helicopter pilots who were badly wounded in Vietnam. Mended Wings is inspiring.”

— Jan Scruggs

Founder of the Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial in Washington, D.C.