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Bob LaPointe (PJ 70-95) released his latest book on November 11,
2006.
"All for One" is the story of the largest successful combat search and
rescue (SAR) by USAF Air Rescue forces during the Vietnam War.
The downed airmen were forced to eject from their F-4 "Phantom"
fighter bomber which had the call sign of "Boxer 22." The two
Americans landed deep in enemy territory and in an area that was known
to be one of the North Vietnamese Armies most heavily defended areas;
Mu Gia Pass. This pass was a key chock point on the Ho Chi Minh
Trail that connected North Vietnam and Laos. Because of this, it was a
regular target by the USAF fighter bombers which tried to disrupt the
flow of supplies to enemy forces operating in Laos and South Vietnam.
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When the crew of "Boxer 22"
punched out, troops on the ground were highly motivated to capture a
couple of the pilots who bombed them every day. NVA commanders had
different motivations. They knew that our air force would do everything in
its power to pick up the downed men. The rescue mission would require most
aircraft to operate at much lower altitudes than normal. These
aircraft would make easier targets than normal. With a little bit of
luck, the NVA could shoot several more aircraft and at the same time tie
up aircraft that would otherwise be bombing their forces elsewhere.
The downed pilots were going to be used as bait in a trap; a SAR trap.
This is a serious historical text
and a riveting read. The books 178 pages cover the Herculean efforts
of the USAF and it's Air Rescue forces to rescue Boxer 22. For three days
in December 1969, hundreds of aircraft battled thousands on enemy troops
in this epic battle. Read why thirty years later, this SAR is still a
legend told by fighter pilots at squadrons all over the world. These
pilots know and believe in their hearts that Air Rescue will not let
abandon them if the are forced to eject today.
This work took
two years of exhaustive research. All of the story comes from
primary source material collected from the Air
Force Historical Research Agency, the USAF Museum and the Air Rescuemen
who flew on this combat rescue mission in America’s longest war. Heavily illustrated,
the book includes maps, pictures and many illustrations. The photographs include aircraft, survival gear, weapons,
combat equipment and the heroic rescuemen who flew these legendary combat rescue
missions. The book also includes a list of of all known primary
participants of this epic SAR.
Some may tell you that the "Bat
21" rescue effort during the 1972 NVA invasion across the DMZ was a larger
SAR than Boxer 22. It is true that Air Rescue tried its best. However,
commanders in Saigon ordered the termination of rescue by helicopter
efforts. That survivor was eventually rescued by a USN SEAL team.
This book is not available in bookstores. It can
only be purchased from the author, Robert LaPointe. He is a two tour, heavily
decorated, Vietnam veteran who saved over 100 lives and accumulated over 400
combat hours in the HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant.
Get
your copy before they are all sold out !!!
If you waited too
long to buy a copy of his first book you know you had better get your copy
now.
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