Black Sheep One The Life Of Gregory Boyington (Book Review)

[Smoke]

Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington: Bruce Gamble: 9780891418016: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DRo-f1ASL.@@AMEPARAM@@51DRo-f1ASL


I finished Black Sheep One By Bruce Gamble last night and I have mixed feelings about the book. It was well written and the author made a point of documenting, citing and sourcing almost every claim he made and all in all I'm sure the book painted a very accurate picture of Gregory Boyington.

What I didn’t like about the book was that the author acted like he was on a mission from God to disprove every claim Boyington made in his autobiography. That part of the book just felt vindictive to me.

I get the same impression form reading this book that I got form reading Boyington’s book, Gregory Boyington was a miserable man for most if not all of his life.

It’s like he never felt good enough and he always had to prove himself to the world and in the process of doing so he tended to push people away. Both books made me feel sorry for the guy.

The book recounts one instance where he ran into a guy he knew was a poser claiming to be a former member of The Black Sheep and said nothing in an attempt to gain acceptance but in another place tells the story of a kid that met him at an airshow and asked him to autograph the box from a model airplane and got told “Screw you, if you want my autograph buy my book.”

Based on what I read I would guess that Boyington was probably had nondiagnosed Bipolar disorder and the alcohol was probably an attempt at self medication; which isn’t to say he wasn’t an alcoholic.

So I guess the book is worth the read but I don’t know that it’s an enjoyable book.

 

[RonJ]

Disappointing. I was hoping he was like Pappy from the TV series.
I guess I always knew that wasn't' the case though.

 

[ditrina]

Ok .. I'll give you another side of " Pappy".. He was in town for an event.. ( Baton Rouge May26, 1977 ) and the event organizers brought him to the restaurant I was working in at the time. He took time to visit with all who knew him and would chat with the folks.
When the dinner was over he graciously personalized a menu with a note to me and his autograph.

It was 37 years ago and I still remember his great demeanor to this day.. ( And yes he did drink Bourbon)

 

[hangnoose]

SO HE WAS HUMAN.

I would think his life story (warts and all) would make an interesting read. Whatever his psychological diagnosis, an adrenalin junkie had to play a part. He had to have lost many a pilot/crew and friends along the way. I'm sure they drank pretty hard back in the glory days. Likely had a hard time adjusting to non combat life. Good days/bad days, like the rest of us.

 

[opoefc]

About 20 years ago, at the old Great Western Gun Show at the Los Angeles County Fairplex ( World's biggest& best gun show ever! 6,500 tables in 7 bldgs!) I was setting up my table and introduced myself to an oriental gentleman at the next table. He was unpacking books he was selling. Turned out he was the Japanese Zero fighter pilot who, as a teen ager, had shot down Col "Pappy" Boyington over , I believe, Rabaul. He had pictures of himself with Pappy, taken some years after the war. Ed.

 

[rwsmith]

My take on Biographies......

I love biographies, heroes, legends, politicians, you name it. There is a trend that I've noticed over the last 10-20 years. Since biographies have been written on most famous people already, the formula is easy. Document everything, but villainize every move and intention they may have. I've about gotten to where I avoid newer biographies. I've noticed this in many readings but the one that stands out to me most is:

'The Lives of John Lennon' by Albert Goldman

Everything he says makes Lennon out to be an evil S.B. He could walk to the corner for cigarettes and Goldman would assign some sinister intent to it. Paul McCartney simply said that whoever wrote the book didn't know John Lennon.

I don't mind a 'warts and all' biography but this stuff is libelous nonsense.

PS I'm reading a bio of John Adams that is supposed to be pretty good.

Anyway, I'd like to read the 'Black Sheep' book. It sounds like something I would like.

 

[RonJ]

Did Pappy ever write an autobiography?

 

[Smoke]

About 20 years ago, at the old Great Western Gun Show at the Los Angeles County Fairplex ( World's biggest& best gun show ever! 6,500 tables in 7 bldgs!) I was setting up my table and introduced myself to an oriental gentleman at the next table. He was unpacking books he was selling. Turned out he was the Japanese Zero fighter pilot who, as a teen ager, had shot down Col "Pappy" Boyington over , I believe, Rabaul. He had pictures of himself with Pappy, taken some years after the war. Ed.

The guy's name was "Mike" Kuyoto (or something pretty close to that) and his claim to have shot down Boyington was pretty thoroughly debunked in the book.

 

[Smoke]

Did Pappy ever write an autobiography?

Amazon.com: Baa Baa Black Sheep (9780553263503): Gregory Pappy Boyington: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wXaPIP31L.@@AMEPARAM@@51wXaPIP31L

Yes he did, it was entitled Baa Baa Blacksheep. He wrote it with the assistance of his former XO Frank Walton He also wrote a (very heavily fictionalized) account of his time in the AVG called "Tanya"

The author of Blacksheep One made a point of discrediting a lot of Boyington's book but the impression I got from reading it (Baa Baa Blacksheep) was that Boyington was trying to sell a book and in an effort to make it more readable and more marketable he embellished some of the stories. The way Bruce Gamble writes it though it's almost like he's accusing Boyington of stolen valor

 

[armenius]

At Air Sho' 76,a 4 day event in Harlingen Texas by the former Confederate Air Force ( now called the politically correct Commemorative Air Force due to pressure from Washington),Pappy was reveling in the fame from the TV show and was selling his 20 year old Baa Baa Black Sheep.He had a table set up selling and signing.My 10 year old son asked him to sign a program,Pappy replied"buy a book". My son who idolized was heartbroken and came back to tell me.( I had his book from the '50's).About that time a saw a guy who looked like a fullback charging down the ramp.I told my son,"I bet you get his autograph".He ran and caught up to the fullback,who gave him a quizzical look the put the program on his chest a he signed.."Gabby Gabreski"..Now there was a man with real class!!

 

[RonJ]

Thanks, I just bought his autobiography. I'm early in the book but even before any war action the book is entertaining. Sorry to hear he was such a dork at his book sales. It always diminishes a hero in my eyes.
Bob Gibson was another AH when it came to signing autographs.

 

[dmar]

I met some of the Black Sheep pilots at an airshow in Indianapolis about a dozen years ago. Great guys, very down to earth and engaging. I was there when the show was getting set up, and the planes were coming in for the weekend. Just stood around the old Corsairs and chatted for a while. They spoke well of theColonel...

 

[walnutred]

Kinda sad that he probably thinks the <90 days that VMF214 existed was the highlight of his life.

 

[XD40inTX]

Back in the Nineteen Fifties I knew a pilot named "Bucket" Parker. (I have no idea what his real name was. Everybody called him "Bucket" and I was just a starry-eyed teenager, more interested in the P-40 Warhawk Bucket owned than in him.)

He had flown briefly with the Black Sheep Squadron, and yes, he had the documentation and photographs to prove it. He told us that no matter how many magazine articles, books, and movies they made, they could never tell the true story without people going to prison.

I heard some of the stories he told, and if they were true, he was
right.

 

[Smoke]

Kinda sad that he probably thinks the <90 days that VMF214 existed was the highlight of his life.

VMF214 still exists only now it's VMA 214

VMA-214 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

VMA-214 has twice deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first time was for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and again from February to August 2004, where they were based out of Al Asad.[10] The squadron deployed to Afghanistan in May 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. They returned to MCAS Yuma in November 2009 having flown some 3,000 hours during their six-month tour. During the deployment, they were based out of Kandahar International Airport as part of Marine Aircraft Group 40 and provided close air support and aerial reconnaissance.[11][12] They were part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid-February 2009.[13]

Beginning in May 2009, a detachment from VMA-214 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During the deployment they supported the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in southern Afghanistan and counter piracy operations off the coast of Africa.[14] The Black Sheep were recognized for the fourth time with the Lawson H. M. Sanderson Award as the 2010 Attack Squadron of the Year as a result.

A couple of years ago Gregory Boyington Jr. donated his father's Aviator Wings and a Rolex watch he was given for receiving the CMH ( apparently the company gave one watch to each living recipient) with the stipulation that they be incorporated into the unit's traditions.

The Wings are worn by the newest pilot in the unit at the annual Marine Corps Ball and the Wrist watch is worn by the C.O. at the change of command and handed to his successor along the unit colors.

 

[Smoke]

Back in the Nineteen Fifties I knew a pilot named "Bucket" Parker. (I have no idea what his real name was. Everybody called him "Bucket" and I was just a starry-eyed teenager, more interested in the P-40 Warhawk Bucket owned than in him.)

He had flown briefly with the Black Sheep Squadron, and yes, he had the documentation and photographs to prove it. He told us that no matter how many magazine articles, books, and movies they made, they could never tell the true story without people going to prison.

I heard some of the stories he told, and if they were true, he was
right.

The First appendix of the Book is a documented roster of every pilot that flew in VMF14 during the two combat tours that Boyington Commanded. According to Mr. Gamble the roster was verified by Frank Walton (XO). There is no one on the list named Parker and the closest I could come to "Bucket" was a pilot named Brubaker

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Kinda sad that he probably thinks the <90 days that VMF214 existed was the highlight of his life.

One online site says 84 days. It is not that unusual for units to stand down and then later reappear.
I will have to say 84 days does sound short for a unit in combat.
We do have a good looking Corsair down at Santa Teresa, NM.

 

[ditrina]

Just a note of fact, as as explained to me by Col. Oliver North,
(and a friend of our Forum)as he signed TWO books for me. One for my own library, and one that we auctioned here for the benefit of the Forum. I paid for each book.. It was stated at the head of the line.. ONE BOOK per person and he would personalize it with only you name.. Needless to say he personalized to the Forum.. ( Yeah he broke the rules but it was for US!!)

I caught him in the hallway later on and asked him about the process..

When doing a " Book" signing, or a paid per autograph session, the authors are under contract to a promoter.. As usually written in the contract the author or celebrity is forbidden to sign anything with out a fee.. could be books, baseballs, bats basketballs, jerseys ETC. The agent and the contract set the rules.

This is not the first time I have run into this.. When Shaq and Dwight Howard played for the Magic, here in Orlando they were both frequent visitors to the LGS that I worked in. They would sign anything and take pictures with anyone.

It was their own time.. But when appearing at the local Borders book store to promote the book.. you had to buy the book to get it signed, no " Freebies".

I don't know about the circumstances surrounding " Pappy"
But I'm guessing publishers and book agents have not changed much.

 

[Smoke]

Just a note of fact, as as explained to me by Col. Oliver North,
(and a friend of our Forum)as he signed TWO books for me. One for my own library, and one that we auctioned here for the benefit of the Forum. I paid for each book.. It was stated at the head of the line.. ONE BOOK per person and he would personalize it with only you name.. Needless to say he personalized to the Forum.. ( Yeah he broke the rules but it was for US!!)

I caught him in the hallway later on and asked him about the process..

When doing a " Book" signing, or a paid per autograph session, the authors are under contract to a promoter.. As usually written in the contract the author or celebrity is forbidden to sign anything with out a fee.. could be books, baseballs, bats basketballs, jerseys ETC. The agent and the contract set the rules.

This is not the first time I have run into this.. When Shaq and Dwight Howard played for the Magic, here in Orlando they were both frequent visitors to the LGS that I worked in. They would sign anything and take pictures with anyone.

It was their own time.. But when appearing at the local Borders book store to promote the book.. you had to buy the book to get it signed, no " Freebies".

I don't know about the circumstances surrounding " Pappy"
But I'm guessing publishers and book agents have not changed much.

According to Gamble's account Boyington was selling a vanity print of his book. He made it sound like Boyington was on his own hook , no publisher involved.

 

[bishopm14]

Kinda sad that he probably thinks the <90 days that VMF214 existed was the highlight of his life.

Why so? Aside from the fact he doesn't feel a thing being dead for decades now. But, even if it was less than three months time, why wouldn't being a CO of a fighter squadron, taking the fight to the enemy and kicking tail doing it, be considered the high point of someone's life?
Regardless of how he struggled after the war, it's about a hundred times the achievement most people will ever accomplish.