Synopsis
John Bercaw’s journey to Vietnam started at the beginning of the Korean War when, as a young boy, he thrilled to see his first helicopter as it defied gravity and common sense by flying. A circuitous route through troubled teenage years and four years in the Marines led him to Fort Wolters, Texas, and the US Army’s Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviation Course. For the first time in his life, he felt a deep sense of belonging. John’s successful struggle to master the beast called helicopter earned him an all-expense-paid trip to South Vietnam and the opportunity to prove himself as a combat pilot. His year of war was not as expected. Awed by the lush landscapes of Vietnam and the unexpected moments of war’s savage beauty, Bercaw changed his mind about war and its effect on the men who fought in it. He found himself able to overcome fear and doubt in combat and do his job to the best of his ability. Based on the books he had read and the movies he had seen, he had not anticipated the addiction to the highs and lows brought on by the intensity of war. The difficult part came at the end. Leaving Vietnam before the war was over, the sudden end to the daily adrenalin rushes and the sense of being part of something important—aggravated by the shameful reception experienced by all returning veterans—initiated a period of depression that haunted him for years.
About the Author
After four years in the Marine Corps, John Bercaw joined the United States Army and spent a year in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. After Vietnam, he served as an instrument instructor pilot at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia before joining the Illinois Army National Guard where he remained until 1990, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and a Master Army Aviator. His medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with the "V" device and the numeral 21, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Bronze Star, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He earned a B.A. from Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois in 1977 and worked for the Federal Government. Upon retirement, he spent nine years as an instructor at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois, and now lives with his wife Cynthia in Kentucky
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