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Robert Mason (writer)
Encyclopedia
Robert C. Mason is a Vietnam War
veteran and author of several books, including his first, best-selling memoir: Chickenhawk
(1983). Mason piloted Huey
"Slicks" in the United States Army as a Warrant Officer 1. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) for approxmiately one year (including over 6 months in Vietnam).
Mason spent an intense two days during the Battle of Ia Drang
hovering for many hours far above the terrain, while a full colonel and two Army captains sat in the back of his helicopter, coordinating ground units by radio. Mason followed this over-extended duty with a contested night-landing to pick up wounded troopers. Mason would also ferry supplies to an artillery unit and deliver more troops from 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry to Landing Zone X-Ray later in that battle. In repeated missions, Mason delivered more than one hundred wounded troops from the battle zone to the Division hospital tent and came under fire repeatedly, taking several hits to his helicopter. Mason believed that a maneuvering helicopter was a poor target, so he turned his aircraft back and forth when things got too hot. Because he always took fewer hits than other helicopters in his flights, the other men started calling him "Lucky".
Mason transferred to the 49th Aviation Company in May 1966. He continued to fly helicopters, including assault missions for the 101st Airborne
in Dak To
as part of Operation Hawthorne in June 1966. Mason carried out other flying tasks and managed to get involved in near-daily flights trading block ice for goods and money. After his one-year tour of duty
, Mason became an instructor pilot. However, he was grounded soon afterward for deteriorating mental health, which was later diagnosed as post traumatic stress disorder resulting from his service in Vietnam.
In 1979, Mason began to write a book about his tour in Vietnam. He named it Chickenhawk, after a conversation he and his friend and fellow helicopter pilot Jerry Towler had had in 1965 while waiting to pick up some GIs in Vietnam.
In 1981, he was arrested for smuggling marijuana on a boat from Colombia
.
Chickenhawk was published in 1983, and was very well-received. Mason was invited to appear on the The Today Show. In the midst of this, Mason's legal appeals were exhausted and he learned that his incarceration was set to begin on August 19, 1983. The Today Show appearance took place August 15, and sales of the book benefited from the author's personal ongoing drama as well as his widely-praised writing. Chickenhawk became a hardcover and paperback best-seller.
Mason was released from prison on May 17, 1985. He has subsequently published two novels, Weapon
and Solo, as well as a second memoir, Chickenhawk: Back in the World. In 1996, Columbia/Tristar released a film (Solo
) based on Mason's first novel, but which used the title of the second.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran and author of several books, including his first, best-selling memoir: Chickenhawk
Chickenhawk (book)
Chickenhawk is Robert Mason's narrative of his experiences as a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. The book chronicles his enlistment, flight training, deployment to and experiences in Vietnam, and his experiences after returning from the war.- Writing, Publishing, and Reaction...
(1983). Mason piloted Huey
UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
"Slicks" in the United States Army as a Warrant Officer 1. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) for approxmiately one year (including over 6 months in Vietnam).
Battle of Ia Drang
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the...
hovering for many hours far above the terrain, while a full colonel and two Army captains sat in the back of his helicopter, coordinating ground units by radio. Mason followed this over-extended duty with a contested night-landing to pick up wounded troopers. Mason would also ferry supplies to an artillery unit and deliver more troops from 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry to Landing Zone X-Ray later in that battle. In repeated missions, Mason delivered more than one hundred wounded troops from the battle zone to the Division hospital tent and came under fire repeatedly, taking several hits to his helicopter. Mason believed that a maneuvering helicopter was a poor target, so he turned his aircraft back and forth when things got too hot. Because he always took fewer hits than other helicopters in his flights, the other men started calling him "Lucky".
Mason transferred to the 49th Aviation Company in May 1966. He continued to fly helicopters, including assault missions for the 101st Airborne
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
in Dak To
Dak To
Đắk Tô is a village in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and in the so-called "tri-border" area where the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia all come together. Located just north of the Vietnamese town of Tan Canh , Dak To is populated by a Montagnard tribal people known as the Degar...
as part of Operation Hawthorne in June 1966. Mason carried out other flying tasks and managed to get involved in near-daily flights trading block ice for goods and money. After his one-year tour of duty
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
, Mason became an instructor pilot. However, he was grounded soon afterward for deteriorating mental health, which was later diagnosed as post traumatic stress disorder resulting from his service in Vietnam.
In 1979, Mason began to write a book about his tour in Vietnam. He named it Chickenhawk, after a conversation he and his friend and fellow helicopter pilot Jerry Towler had had in 1965 while waiting to pick up some GIs in Vietnam.
In 1981, he was arrested for smuggling marijuana on a boat from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
Chickenhawk was published in 1983, and was very well-received. Mason was invited to appear on the The Today Show. In the midst of this, Mason's legal appeals were exhausted and he learned that his incarceration was set to begin on August 19, 1983. The Today Show appearance took place August 15, and sales of the book benefited from the author's personal ongoing drama as well as his widely-praised writing. Chickenhawk became a hardcover and paperback best-seller.
Mason was released from prison on May 17, 1985. He has subsequently published two novels, Weapon
Weapon (novel)
Weapon is a 1989 science fiction novel by Robert Mason. The book was Mason's first novel; he had previously written a memoir about his experiences in Vietnam titled Chickenhawk.-Plot introduction:...
and Solo, as well as a second memoir, Chickenhawk: Back in the World. In 1996, Columbia/Tristar released a film (Solo
Solo (1996 film)
Solo is a 1996 science fiction, action film from Columbia/Tristar Studios. It was directed by Norberto Barba, who has since primarily produced television series. The film was based on the novel Weapon by Robert Mason, and was adapted for the script by David L. Corley...
) based on Mason's first novel, but which used the title of the second.