Book Review: A Lonely Kind of War: Forward Air Controller Vietnam

One of the benefits of serving in the military is the sense of humour which can develop under even the most difficult of conditions, and which helps the serviceman keep going and laugh when common sense says otherwise. Unfortunately a lot of this service humour does not reach the general public, as most memoirs tend to concentrate on the more military or traumatic aspects of conflict. "A Lonely Kind of War: Forward Air Controller Vietnam" is therefore a real treasure. Not only does the author describe the technical aspects of his war in a clear and concise manner but he also conveys the humour and absurdities of service life in a way that will appeal to both service and civilian readers. The author, Marshall Harrison, is that rare breed, a serviceman who can not only tell a good story but also put it down in writing.

Storytelling aside, from a wargamer's point of view "A Lonely Kind of War: Forward Air Controller Vietnam" is a gold mine of information about the air war in Vietnam. From my own experience of wargaming many gamers can quote reams of statistics about weapon calibres, vehicle speeds and armour thickness, but are less knowledgeable about the procedures and mechanisms by which the weapons are actually put to use. The role of the Forward Air Controller (FAC) is one such area and as such the book fills a distinct gap in our gaming knowledge.

The book describes in detail exactly what the Vietnam FAC role actually entailed – and it makes for engrossing reading. On a typical mission the FAC could be controlling numerous inbound air strikes, directing artillery fire, acting as a traffic policeman for other friendly aircraft in the area, and talking to infantry, artillery and air units on several different radio frequencies. All this would be done at the same time as flying at low level, observing the enemy and trying to avoid both ground fire and collisions with friendly aircraft and trees. The mechanics involved in such a complex activity seem overwhelming at first but, as the author explains in detail, it is all a matter of practice and confidence. The most astonishing aspect of the job however is that the FAC's fought alone, staying in contact with friendly units by radio.

The responsibility placed on the FACs seems almost overpowering and Marshall does not pull any punches when he admits to removing pilots who were not up to the job.

Regardless of the job at hand however, Marshall's main problem seemed to be in fighting the heat which built up in the cockpit of his OV-10 Bronco which had very little in the way of air conditioning or circulation (a hot sun and lots of Perspex made for a very warm pilot!), resulting in the pilots sweating so heavily that they used to carry baby bottles full of water in the pockets of their flight suits. Even after drinking several bottles of water, the pilots were sweat soaked and heavily dehydrated after a mission. During one mission enemy ground fire blew a hole in the forward part of the aircraft and, with admirable sang-froid, Marshall was less worried about the damage to the aircraft than he was grateful for the fact that the hole allowed a stream of cool air to blow into the cockpit!

From the start Marshall follows his route to being an FAC from the initial training in the USA and then moving onto Vietnam. Initially flying as an FAC in support of US ground forces Marshall eventually moves into the shadowy world of the Special Forces war – flying as an FAC in support of SOG patrols operating in Laos and Cambodia (being shot down during one such operation and spending the night on the ground in enemy territory before being rescued). In the course of the narrative he explains the tactics and procedures in a clear and easy to follow manner which does not however detract from the story. I personally found the book to be an invaluable reference for understanding how the FAC system worked and I would recommend it to any other gamer interested in the Vietnam War.

In addition to the technical details of the FAC role however, Marshall also tells a good story - full of excitement, wit, humour and compassion. It is rare that a book on such a military subject makes me laugh, but this one had me laughing out loud on several occasions – the incident concerning the snake in the hootch bunker, and the response of the Green Beret captain, is a real gem. The daily life of a pilot in Vietnam provides a rich vein of humour that contrasts with the intensity of the flying and combat narratives and gives the impression that while a pilot could be a cool professional whilst in the air, once back on the ground he was just another small cog in a large military machine which seemed hell bent on making daily life as awkward as possible.

The fact that Marshall, as a squadron leader, not only coped with both the flying and the problems of day to day living, but also provided a high standard of leadership and man-management to his pilots and ground crew is an indication of his strength of personality. Despite the responsibility he retained an enthusiasm for flying, and a willingness to take calculated risks, which proved invaluable when working with the special forces (who were known to be very clannish and untrusting with outsiders).

"A Lonely kind of war: Forward Air Controller Vietnam" is both a welcome addition to any wargamer's Vietnam reference library and a good read. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Barrie Lovell, September 2000