MWSA Book Review

Rice And Cotton – South Vietnam And South Alabama

Author:  John B. Givhan

Publisher:  Xlibris Corporation

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Author John Givhan is a real hero; and he is also a very modest man.  I first meet John in person in an open field outside of Columbus, Georgia in 2002.  We were there filming a documentary called “In The Shadow of the Blade.”  We landed our Huey helicopter behind the home of a fellow comrade that became a rather surrealistic experience that was both emotional and exciting as well.  You see old John used to fly these machines back 1964.  It was there that he lost his leg and almost died.

His book explores the world he lived in prior to going to Nam as well as his experiences there in combat and afterwards.  The ever humble John known to his good friends as “Peg Leg” doesn’t think of himself as a hero—but as a combat veteran and former Huey pilot, I think he truly is!  He is one of my personal heroes anyway.  Once the reader finishes his memoir, “Rice And Cotton,” they no doubt find themselves in full agreement.