Honor Denied: The Truth About Air America and the CIA Paperback – November 11, 2011

Few Americans are able to speak or write with the kind of Vietnam War experience and perspective Allen Cates brings to these pages. Having served very early on as a young Marine lieutenant piloting H-34s in 1965, and then from 1967 to the war's bitter end in 1975 as an Air America employee flying fixed and rotor-winged aircraft, he writes with authority that does not overwhelm. What I so enjoyed in reading "Honor Denied" was Cates' refreshing and genuine humility; the kind one only witnesses in a man with nothing left to prove, completely comfortable in his own skin after having lived a purpose-filled, meaningful life.Allen Cates, in this too-short book, tells much of the story through his personal involvement. He does it not to boast of his own exploits but rather enjoys showcasing the goodness, selflessness and heroics of the men--pilots, and the air and ground crews--he served with. This is not the ragtag bunch of deviants, mercenaries and malcontents we saw caricatured in the Mel Gibson film "Air America" but committed, spirited, principled fellows who served, many of whom gave their lives, believing they were stemming the Communist tide.For readers serious about understanding America's SE Asian endeavors, "Honor Denied" colors in a portion of the blank spaces regarding the contributions of Air America to that effort. Cates does an especially good job dispelling some of the myths, half truths and outright lies left heretofore unchallenged to stand as fact by Hollywood and the media.The noble intent of "Honor Denied," aside from simply telling the truth and setting the historical record straight, was to get the US Government, which happily consumed the services of these in-the-shadows warriors who daily put it all on the line, to simply grant them veteran status. Such a linear goal in an incongruous, non-linear world has so far been illusive. For the open-minded reader however, Cates' effort raises the stature and goes far in highlighting the honorable role played by a small group of dedicated warriors who sacrificed so much to keep a tipping domino upright.

I flew with quite a few ex-Air America pilots on the south Texas border during the 80s. We were running electronic contraband across the Rio Grande into Mexico. Some of these incredible old vets were still looking for that rush of adrenaline. Mexico delivered in spades. I was a young Vietnam vet turned G.I. Bill pilot on the border & had talked to many of them about their war in Laos. These included Rocky Neesom (DO-28), Al Rich (C-46), Don Deming (possibly DC-3), Chuck Rodehaver (possibly DC-3) and Ed Adams (Volpar Turboliner). Over & Back by Wild Bill Callahan on Amazon....hope you don't mind Mr. Cates....but some A/A guys might like to hear what happened "after" Southeast Asia.Except for Rocky, it was tough to get much inside poop from the A/A guys I knew. Mr. Cates book delivered a detailed, out-in-the-bush story of how the war was fought by these brave individuals. I had no idea the training was so well organized, thorough & safety concious. Still, it was the unfortunate bullet with a guy's name on it that downed quite a few.It was an easy read, an inside look and an eye-opener of Air America operations in Laos. If you'd like to read my book about their further adventures south of the border, please go to: Over & Back by Wild Bill Callahan. Over and Back: A Daring Band of American Pilots Flying North to South Into Mexico!: The Untold True Stories Smuggling Contraband Into Mexico

Very interesting insight into Air America and its operations. I was stationed in Northeastern Thailand in 1962 at the Royal Thai Air Force base that the Air America helicopter group worked out of. Met many of them both on base and in Udorn socially. They were a great group of dedicated and talented airmen. Have fond memories of them and the times we spent together. Stayed at the Mahpakde Hotel (not sure of the spelling, phonetically its right) for a time where many of the air crews stayed also. Only question on the book is that Allen states the Marines were in that area in 1960, I don't know about that but they were there in 1962 during the "Laotian Crisis" as it was called for a month or so. Good information source for anyone interested in that period of history and insight as to what was really going on and not the whitewash job coming out of Washington then and now. Feel those of Air America should get all the respect and benefits that anyone else who put their butts on the line got.

I Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the [at the time] secret war in Laos. In 1967 I was stationed at RTAB Udorn, Thailand, with the 20th ACS [Air Commando Squadron, 'Pony Express'], a CH-3E helicopter outfit. Our main job was infil/exfil and support Air America/C IA with heavy lift. Air America in those days did not posses any heavy lift choppers or C-130. It is true about the Russian built AN-2 being shot down by an Air America crew, after it bombed CH85. My squadron mates were there at the time. At the time the site was Top Secret, but now you can read the whole story in Air Force magazine. For actions at this site CMSgt.Etchberger received his MOH..I did not find any incident/occurrence that the author made up or exaggerated. I do hope some day Air America will be properly recognized and honored. After all, without AA the CIA cold not function in that theater.Thank you Air America for all the 'free rides' around the Orient... on TDY orders of course... TPRS..

Good book. The Truth can be very Sad.

Having finished reading it several weeks ago, I've found it surprising how many times, in every day since, Allen Cates writing pops into my consciousness.Written in a classically understated way, clearly the author endured an exceptionally long time in the field, flying all over South East Asia, with the entire gamut of danger, daring, risk, deadly weather, horror, war, the extreme lows and highs, lived and lived through it. The author states his views, his personal opinions, and tries to a degree to de-construct the motives of Air America in general, and his candid sharing of his personal motivations is a simultaneously painful and moving read.On the subject of Air America as an entity, and unlike a number or writers on the subject, this author doesn't try to right all the wrongs previously published, and wastes no time picking holes, or arguing over a single point, to prove or disprove the whole. So here you have a personal account, sensational at times, but not sensationalised.A genuine and honest perspective on the CIA, and about trying to do the right thing, at a time when most people didn't know or didn't want to know about the turmoil and suffering in human terms.The latter chapters focus on selfless campaigning for recognition by the US government today. These American citizens, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrificed for their country, in a war so secret, that even today the CIA doesn't understand it's own history, and the role it played. In spite of the authors years of devoted effort since, lobbying for the government to recognise these men, and support them through their latter years, it seems both the White House, and CIA have no intention to do the right thing today, a bitter irony, considering "Doing the right thing", was clearly the majority motive of Air America in the 1960s!What happened to the USA in the last 40 years?There is no secret today, practically all the originators are now dead, those who remain, also epitomise the heart and soul of a great nation.You'll find no mention of PTSD in this book, yet surely many of these men will have been fighting that battle every day since. The VA and dedicated hospitals throughout America, are probably THE BEST equipped to help with the legacy effects suffered, and yet still these men are marginalised.What example does this ignorance set to the generations since?In many countries through the world, their legal systems share a common ancestry to British law.A fundamental tenet of which is "Beyond Reasonable Doubt", THE hinge-pin differentiator in judging every case.To the John Grisham generation of nit-picking legal technicalities, the subtlety of "beyond reasonable doubt" is possibly lost, but regardless, if one applies it here;"Has Allan Cates, proved, beyond reasonable doubt, the employees of Air America, were funded and controlled by the elected authority of the American people, the White House Administration?" YES!Honor Denied needs to be on the required reading list for the educational system of the USA.It will make you evaluate your understanding of doing the right thing!It will leave you with a deep enduring respect for these honourable men.What a disgrace the 21st century White House lacks the same courage and conviction.

Good