In 1967, legendary author John Steinbeck climbed into a Huey helicopter over Vietnam—and what he wrote afterward was so raw, so strange, and so brutally honest that it still messes with pilots and historians today. This episode dives into the Vietnam War helicopter experience through Steinbeck’s eyes: the sound, the fear, the weird calm, and the “ecstasy” of combat aviation that only those who’ve strapped into a military aircraft truly understand.
We unpack what happens when a world-class writer meets rotary-wing warfare head-on, why Huey pilots in Vietnam lived on a knife edge between poetry and panic, and how Steinbeck captured the psychology of flight, risk, and survival better than most official war histories ever did. It’s part aviation storytelling, part Vietnam War history, and part “what did I just read?”—told the only way pilots can: with irreverence, curiosity, and a healthy respect for anyone who willingly steps into a machine designed to hover over a jungle full of people shooting at it.
If you’ve ever wondered what flying a Huey in Vietnam felt like, how war correspondents experienced combat aviation, or why pilots sometimes describe danger in oddly beautiful terms… buckle up. This one’s a ride.From Vietnam War Huey helicopter missions to pilot safety, ATC coordination, and the strange psychology of combat aviation storytelling, this episode explores how flying in war changes everyone who touches the sky.
Stay Connected:
Subscribe To The Podcast: https://sothereiwas.us/subscribe/
Follow Us On Twitter: https://x.com/There_I_Was
Follow Us On TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@so_there_i_was
Website: https://sothereiwas.us
…
#VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #MilitaryAviation #VietnamWarHistory #HelicopterPilot #CombatAviation #WarStories #AviationPodcast #PilotStories #JohnSteinbeck #VietnamHelicopter #AviationHistory #TrueWarStories #USMilitaryHistory #SoThereIWasPodcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | RSS
2 thoughts on “John Steinbeck’s Ecstacy Leak Episode 197”
Wow, short but very impactful episode. I am a new listener and only recently discovered your podcast. I love the format and content and am still catching up on past episodes. It makes for great listening while traveling or even on daily walks.
The John Steinbeck letter was a rare find. I will definitely be adding it to my collection of great aviation quotes and ranking it among my top three alongside Ernest Gann and Len Morgan, the longtime Flying magazine columnist and aviation author.
Thank you for a memorable episode.
Ken Stringer
B-737 Captain
Aloha Air Cargo
Awesome, Ken! Welcome. Let us know if you’ve got any stories or recommendations for guests!