John, one of the best books I have ever read and could serve as a guidebook for living. You are a philosopher, poet, humanist and gifted writer. There were so many lessons to be learned regarding friendship, loyalty and thinking outside the box that I read the book a second time in order the fully grasp these lessons. Who can ever forget Wiley, Jack, Charles, Ty or the Hawk, Desktop and the Church of the Air Force. Your endless patience with Rich, your regard for Tonto, and your gift of tools to Toothless revealed your character. The way you wove the music of the day into daily events and the symbolism of the rocks was pure genius. The lyrics of those songs will forever remind me of the stories in the book. In skimming over the Mekong River on the return trip from Long Tien, I felt the sense of triumph and relief of you and the crew at having survived the impossible. Thank you for helping me to understand the role of politics in deadly conflicts. Your father's observation that you were lambs led to slaughter was right on. The news bulletin interrupting the Lawrence Welk show describing "the event" would have been unbelievable had I not just read your book of what really happens in war. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are truly one incredibly brave and humble American. Can't wait for your next book. – Ruth Daniel (Brent's Mom)


"Scary without being gory." – Publisher Lisa Drew


"A work of art! Action, humor, love, friendship, poetry, music! This story WILL have a profound impact on all. My girlfriends are FTM junkies." – Mrs. Shawn Cicchini


"After reading dozens of books covering the Revolution, Civil War, the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf, this goes beyond telling war stories. It has several other levels which put this book as the best of the batch." – Michael McKone


"I felt like I was there in the cockpit." – Lori Trisler


"Thank you for sharing your experience with those us who are not able to relate our stories. I went to Laos 2 years after you. Lived across the street from the Vientiane airport near the Mekong. After graduating from UC Berkeley in Political Science I had just enough money for a one-way ticket to Taipei for my 9 year old daughter and myself…eventually arrived in Vientiane. We managed to scramble across the Mekong into Thailand in mid 1975 but the memories even the buried ones are always with us. I believe I was profoundly fearlessly ignorant before I left the US and upon my return... well, I still don't have words, but I am grateful for your words." -- Lynda Rallo


"One of the best things that ever happened to me! The Thunder 58 scene is a terrible thing to imagine and it makes me sad every time I read it. But this stuff really happens in wars. And the author didn't just write this about Vietnam, it is for all wars even the ones that are occurring right now. This book shows how wars really are. It would be a great book to discuss with fellow classmates because it touches on serious issues regarding war in the world. It also addresses everyday issues and the importance of choices we make in our lives. More people would value life and not take it for granted if they realize how easy it is to lose your life. This book makes readers thankful they're safe at home and have people willing to fight for the freedoms we enjoy. We need to look at history to learn lessons so we don't repeat the same mistakes." – 14-year-old Britney Frandsen


"I just finished reading your work. I was so desperate to keep reading that the children found me on a foot stool in the kitchen catching a few pages while the water boiled for the pasta. I'll be on the lookout for a red die of my own." -- Kate Ovington


"I finished your book at 5:30 this morning. Words flood my mind…exciting, amazing, frightening, gripping, suspenseful! It was the best read I have had in a long time." -- Barbara Bryan

"I will go on the hunt for my specially selected red die this weekend. It shall be a quest of honor. I will find my perfect red die and will respectfully share the story behind it for all my years to come. I would like to carry it for awhile and then carefully situate it in a small glass display case where I can see it as I am writing. It will represent so very much and inspire me always." – Robbie Schumacher

"I know you have been corresponding with my brother-in-law Terry Kindlon and his son Lee, based in Fallujah. I write a letter to our bookstore customers telling them what I'm reading, what's going on the bookstore, book news, etc. I would very much like to write this month's letter about the 'magic' of books connecting generations and lives and think your correspondence with Lee and Terry would fit the bill. Would you mind if I used parts of the letters you sent Lee about your book, Lee's stay in Iraq, and homecoming. Our mailing list is about 9,000 people so it would be out there in the world." -- Gayle Shanks, Owner, Changing Hands Bookstore. Tempe, Arizona

"Midnight made me cry so much I am taking a copy to my bookstore. if
there are mistakes in this note it is because I am still bleary-eyed" – Dorothy Baltrusch

"My husband was a T-28 pilot at NKP from Aug 1966 to 1967. Michael rarely talks about it. Your book has given us a framework that allows him to talk to me. For years I learned about things that happened to him only at parties where he was in conversation with someone who was there. Your book brought it all back. The war in Laos gets left completely out of history books. It is time for it to be documented. Thank you for telling your story." – Judy Brown

"I absolutely loved your book and read it two times in a row. I am a 62 year old grandmother and think it is one of the best books I've read." – Sharon Thomas

"I just finished your book. This is a book every citizen needs to read. I'm a 53 year old, female, junior high language arts teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed your book and will add it to the "must read" list of my friends. I think it will have wide-spread appeal. Good Luck!" -- Jana White
"I just finished your book and reread chapter 49 – 3 times - and cried every time." --Sharon K. Jackman (63 year old grandmother)

"I did not stop reading once I started. I taught English and American history to 8th graders, so know how hard it is to write clearly, factually, and keep the reader interested. I took a 3-week tour of Southeast Asia in October 2005. We started in Bangkok, flew to Cambodia, then cruised the Mekong River. This caused me to feel intimately involved with your story, especially where you were cruising 20 feet above the Mekong. You said the people were only focused on catching fish and were not aware of the war around them. I had the same impression last Fall. I felt if I could just stay behind and only have to think about one day at a time what a great life that would be." – Maria S. Rothschild

"I was able to meet you at Changing Hands bookstore and listen to you and see the photos. Last night I had to put the book down and just sit and absorb what I just read...it brought tears to my eyes. when I think what if that was my husband, brother, son...I love the music." -- Trish DeGraaf


"Dear Airplane Whisperer: With your blessing I will hunt for my specially selected red die this weekend. It shall be a quest of honor. In honor of Jack and you, I will find my perfect red die and will respectfully share the story behind it for all my years to come. I would like to carry it for awhile and then carefully situate it in a small glass display case." – Roberta Gulledge

"I couldn't read it because my wife, Beverly, grabbed it and wouldn't give it up. I took an extra day to finish it in Maui. I don't wan it to end. My son was with us and he got to read it. You've written the most important book about Vietnam since "Dispatches" as well as a literary effort that has a fundamental truth only found in great fiction like "Slaughter House Five" and "Catch 22." – Robert D. Bock, LTC USAF (RET)

"I thoroughly enjoyed Flying Through Midnight. So much so that I stayed up until 2am to finish it. I normally skip reading the 'Author's Note' but wanting 'more' I read yours and was really touched." -- Miriam Dasic


"I finished your book at 5:30 this morning. Words flood my mind…exciting, amazing, frightening, gripping, suspenseful! It was the best read I've had in a long time." -- Barbara Bryan