Book excerpt: “Snake, Rolling in Hot” is a historical novel about a squadron of Marine Corps helicopter pilots and their crews. It is a true accounting about flying and fighting in Vietnam as well as the training of aircrews before they were sent to Southeast Asia. The combat operations take place in I-Corps in Vietnam and from the decks of navy carriers in the South China Sea. The story also takes a look at some of the wild R & R escapades Marines experienced in Hong Kong, Bangkok, the Philippines and other hot spots around the world. There is also a provocative look at the political scene in the U.S. during the war in Vietnam and how it affected several of the characters in the book in a ways they never thought possible when the war began. With dialog that snaps with electricity and realism, “Snake, Rolling in Hot” takes the reader into the cockpits of Marine choppers during action packed missions flown against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. After reading this book, no one will ever feel the same about helicopters and their crews again.