© Copyright Michael Dan Kellum 2010
Welcome to my website honoring Marines, Navy Corpsmen and other U.S. Servicemen depicted in my two books:
American Heroes
Grunts, Pilots & “Docs”
Title: Book I, American Heroes: Grunts, Pilots & “Docs”
Subtitle: Building “Hard Men”...U.S. Marines
Vietnam War Stories, 1966-71
Publisher: Navarro-Hill Publishing Group (Published Sept. 2011)
Hardback w/dust jacket ISBN: 978-0-9845132-1-5, 539 pages
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-9845132-0-8, 539 pages
Product Dimensions: 6.14 x 9.21 x 1 inch
Title: Book II, American Heroes: Grunts, Pilots & “Docs”
Subtitle: Leathernecks Find ‘em, Fix ‘em, Kill ‘em
Vietnam Combat Stories, 1965, ‘69-’70
Publisher: Navarro-Hill Publishing Group (Published Sept. 2011)
Hardback w/dust jacket ISBN: 978-0-9845132-3-9, 498 pages
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-9845132-2-2, 498 pages
Product Dimensions: 6.14 x 9.21 x 1 inch
Book I Introduction
“Rounds penetrating a helicopter are hard to describe. It’s a loud metallic, cracking
sound when coming through the sides while up through the floor it was more of a
muffled sound. The floors are honeycombed aluminum, thicker. I’ve had grunts (we’ve
just extracted from a hot LZ) hitting the deck of the helicopter as was normal for them
when receiving hits (on the ground). Once I took my stubby screwdriver, which every
crew chief carries, and poked a hole in the side of the helicopter (to show how thin the
walls of the aircraft were and they would not stop an enemy round). I then told the
grunts, ‘There’s nowhere to hide in here.’”---Cpl. Josef “Joe” Dobosz, 21, of St. Joseph,
Missouri, HMM-364 Purple Fox crew chief. Chapter 1..... MORE
sound when coming through the sides while up through the floor it was more of a
muffled sound. The floors are honeycombed aluminum, thicker. I’ve had grunts (we’ve
just extracted from a hot LZ) hitting the deck of the helicopter as was normal for them
when receiving hits (on the ground). Once I took my stubby screwdriver, which every
crew chief carries, and poked a hole in the side of the helicopter (to show how thin the
walls of the aircraft were and they would not stop an enemy round). I then told the
grunts, ‘There’s nowhere to hide in here.’”---Cpl. Josef “Joe” Dobosz, 21, of St. Joseph,
Missouri, HMM-364 Purple Fox crew chief. Chapter 1..... MORE
Book I Excerpts
In Book II, American Heroes: Grunts, Pilots &
“Docs,” I relate the stories of Marines and Navy
Corpsmen in combat in Vietnam and, as in Book I,
their uncommon heroism. The following personal
narratives tell the unique history of the times when
idealistic young men served in the Marines in a war
between two countries half the land mass of Texas
on the other side of the earth to stop the spread of
Communism..... MORE
“Docs,” I relate the stories of Marines and Navy
Corpsmen in combat in Vietnam and, as in Book I,
their uncommon heroism. The following personal
narratives tell the unique history of the times when
idealistic young men served in the Marines in a war
between two countries half the land mass of Texas
on the other side of the earth to stop the spread of
Communism..... MORE
Book II Introduction
I looked down at the Marine working on my legs and asked, “How are my legs?” to
which he replied, “Don’t worry about them...they’re gone.” West told the Marine on top of
him to go check on the lieutenant and he was gone before he could finish his sentence...
"As a survivor of that mission, it is my responsibility to share the unbelievable courage
and bravery I witnessed that day. I was surrounded by heroes."---LCpl. Ed West, an 18-
year-old radioman for the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) with only 45 days in-country
accompanied 1stLt. Bruce Cruickshank, a 24-year-old A-4 Skyhawk pilot calling in air
support for Alpha Co., 1/1. Both men would lose their legs to a mine explosion in a
minefield. Two Marines and a Doc were killed and altogether 12 Marines wounded out of
two squads north of Hill 55 while engaging NVA troops on January 31, 1970. Chapter
1..... MORE
which he replied, “Don’t worry about them...they’re gone.” West told the Marine on top of
him to go check on the lieutenant and he was gone before he could finish his sentence...
"As a survivor of that mission, it is my responsibility to share the unbelievable courage
and bravery I witnessed that day. I was surrounded by heroes."---LCpl. Ed West, an 18-
year-old radioman for the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) with only 45 days in-country
accompanied 1stLt. Bruce Cruickshank, a 24-year-old A-4 Skyhawk pilot calling in air
support for Alpha Co., 1/1. Both men would lose their legs to a mine explosion in a
minefield. Two Marines and a Doc were killed and altogether 12 Marines wounded out of
two squads north of Hill 55 while engaging NVA troops on January 31, 1970. Chapter
1..... MORE
Book II Excerpts
Book I RVN, NVA and VC Units, Individuals Cited.....
Book I Vietnamese Cities, Villes & Hills.....
Book II RVN, NVA and VC Units, Individuals Cited.....
Book II Vietnamese Cities, Villes & Hills.....
Book II U.S. Military Units.....
Book I U.S. Military Units.....
Book I Marines & Other Personnel Cited.....
Book II Marines & Other Personnel Cited.....
