Only The Light Moves: Flying Covert Reconnaissance Missions in the Vietnam War

The book Only the Light Moves tells the story of Captain Francis A. Doherty, a 24-year-old US Army pilot who volunteered to fly covert S.O.G. missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam. It is a love story about flying and a personal account of the emotional struggle, reconciliations, and impact of war on families. Doherty's story reveals the reality and cost of war without glorifying violence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 04 September 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Only the Light Moves is a captivating novel that delves into the heart-wrenching experiences of a twenty-four-year-old US Army pilot who volunteered to undertake covert S.O.G., or Studies and Observations Group, reconnaissance missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This region, which came to symbolize both the United States' war with Vietnam and the "secret war" with Laos and Cambodia, became the backdrop for Captain Francis A. Doherty's remarkable journey. However, this story extends beyond the realm of war; it is a profound love story about flying. For ten months, Captain Doherty dedicated himself to flying a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, the first all-metal fixed-wing aircraft ordered for and by the United States Army after its separation from the Army Air Forces in 1947. This single-engine liaison and observation aircraft served as Captain Doherty's platform to witness the elusive nature of the war. From the cockpit of his Bird Dog, he observed the conflict, perhaps searching for enemy troop movements or calling down waiting F-4 Phantoms to strike new targets. It was a war that followed in his father's footsteps, fulfilling his dream of becoming a pilot and instilling in him a deep compassion for his comrades and the civilians caught in the midst of this terrible conflict.

In Only the Light Moves, Captain Doherty not only shares the highs and lows of his year at war in Vietnam but also delves into the emotional struggles he and his comrades faced upon their return home. He explores the process of reconciliation with lost faith and the profound impact of war on families. The novel also provides an insightful glimpse into Francis's subsequent journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot. His story, devoid of broad stroke proclamations about the war, offers a deeply personal and sensitive account of a terrible conflict experienced firsthand.

Through his experiences, Captain Doherty sheds light on the human cost of war and the profound impact it has on individuals and communities. His story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve in the armed forces and the toll that war takes on the lives of those caught in its grip. Only the Light Moves is a testament to the resilience and humanity of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399057011