The Vietnam War saw bitter fighting on the ground and in the air, with increasing demands being made on men and machines. The harsh realities of combat flying in Vietnam are exposed in Deadliest Day, April 4, 1968: An Unusual and Rewarding Mission by Colonel Jerry R. Fry (Retired) and Clifford A. Gehrt. Jerry Fry was a helicopter pilot during the prolonged and bloody conflict, and his heroic and daring nighttime rescue mission forms the central theme of the book. His decision to evacuate wounded soldiers as an emergency measure in his UH-1C helicopter gunship demonstrated extreme courage and skill. The helicopter he flew was a modified version of the well-known troop-carrying “Huey”, a nickname that was synonymous with the conflict. The primary task of the UH-1C was to provide covering fire to ground troops. Due to its limited internal space, it was ill-suited for rescue work. Medical evacuation (“medevac”) missions to airlift wounded troops were particularly dangerous and usually took place under heavy enemy fire. Set against the background of the Tet Offensive that began in early 1968, Colonel Fry was providing support to a company pinned down by enemy fire, suffering many casualties. Two medevac helicopters had been damaged and withdrew as night descended. Taking the initiative, Fry showed outstanding airmanship in evacuating some of the wounded, then returned for a second time.

Deadliest Day, April 4, 1968 is unusual in focusing on a single combat mission, but nevertheless captures the intense drama that those who saw combat duty in Vietnam knew all too well. Tactics, operations, the enemy, and conditions on the ground are graphically described. Co-author Clifford A. Gehrt, himself a Vietnam veteran, adds a wealth of detail to Jerry Fry’s account, with extensive eyewitness confirmation, maps, photographs, diagrams, insignia, and copies of official documents that are evidence of painstaking research. Considerable background is provided and adds interest for those not familiar with the war, backed by a comprehensive glossary. Every new book on the Vietnam War brings with it different experiences, perspectives, and insights, as well as highlighting heroism and humanity. Colonel Fry did not receive due recognition for his act. Although nominated for a Medal of Honor, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross due to an administrative error, which has proved impossible to correct. The book also applauds the contribution of the crew chiefs, door gunners, and medical teams who provided support for the pilots. It is a riveting account that serves as a lasting memorial to those who served.

Deadliest Day, April 4, 1968, by Col. Jerry R. Fry (Ret.) and Clifford A. Gehrt recounts Fry's Vietnam service as a U.S. Army captain with the 101st Airborne Division’s Black Angel helicopter gunships, when a routine day turns into a night mission near Huế. An infantry company has taken heavy casualties at Ap Nam Phu, where enemy fire has already driven medevac helicopters away. The captain leads a gunship team into darkness, working by radio with infantry officer Captain Paul Davin to locate friendly troops as worsening weather closes in. Another evacuation attempt is forced back, leaving wounded soldiers below who still need a way out. The account turns to the decision facing the crew as a helicopter built for gunship duty is asked to perform an emergency evacuation under fire.

Col. Jerry R. Fry (Ret.) and Clifford A. Gehrt’s Deadliest Day, April 4, 1968, is fascinating military history, and the authors make specialized material easy for a civilian reader to follow. Procedures are explained through what they meant to the men using them, giving technical details a place in the account. This is evident when Alpha Company uses Bangalore torpedoes to open safe lanes through a booby-trapped village, with the method explained through the soldiers’ work on the ground. The documentary research is excellent, with records given enough context to explain their importance. The 1968 Form 157-R proves the point, since the Medal of Honor was not listed as an option. Photographs put faces to history, and maps make unfamiliar locations easier to place. Well-written and extremely immersive, readers who enjoy firsthand military history will adore this.