KICKER (The Forgotten Front): A WWII thriller about a family’s hardships on the home front and the Army airmen who flew unarmed missions over Japanese territory in China, Burma and India

What a treat! An exceptional and fascinating insight into the lives of US airmen helping to fight the Japanese in China, Burma, and India in 1944 and 1945. This was a theatre of war I knew nothing about. R Grey Hoover brings alive the men, the jungle, the dangers, the hardships, and the friendships and camaraderie of the units involved in dropping supplies to ground forces that were suffering intolerable conditions. It made me laugh and made me shed a tear or two. My respect for these servicemen grew with every page. Highly recommended.

This is a well written novel about Sam who had a burning desire to serve his country during WWII. While torn between going to support the war efforts and staying at home with his family, the pull to serve his country wins. As Sam travels across the world in dangerous times he is experiencing a huge learning curve where he acquires skills to do his job, as well as gaining an understanding of different cultures he benefits from an increased knowledge of geography and history. We get an insight into his journey as he travels from Natal to Casablanca to Tunis and on. The danger and bravery he shows is a testament to the efforts of so many soldiers who served during the war. This is an engaging book which demonstrates what people are prepared to risk for their countries. The book has elements love, humour, courage, bravery and friendship along the way. It would be easy to say so much more however, I think you should read this book for yourself. A highly recommended read.

It is with great pleasure that I review the biography Kicker, and it's not often I can say that!I pride myself on knowing a lot about WWII but I knew nothing about 'Kickers,' the brave men who kicked the supplies out of American transport aircraft in the Far East Theatre, during the War.Into this chaotic, dangerous and inhospitable world comes Private Sam Huber. He applied himself to the task at hand without complaint and soaks up the help of veterans around him and the exotic sights that surround him.The book is full of lovely vignettes of life in places like Calcutta and Casablanca and contains some of the most harrowing scenes I have yet come across in any war book.I don’t want to give too much away but the native in Burma who risked everything to help Huber left me speechless; I have never read of a greater act of bravery.The War certainly brought out the worst and the very best in the human race. If you want your dose of stories from the font of truth and not fiction, read Kicker. If you like films like Too Late the Hero and Merrill's Marauders but you want to get beneath the surface of these guys, then read Kicker. And if you want to know how the wives and children suffered at home, read Kicker.

I came to this book was some expectation - my own Polish father served with the British army in Burma though I never knew where because he died young and told my mother virtually nothing - and was not disappointed. This is the gritty, sometimes harrowing, story of Sam Huber, based in no small part on the author's father, who joins the army at a young age and soon finds himself in the dangerous but critical position of flying in supplies to some of the 700,000 Allied troops fighting the Japanese in Burma. So bad were conditions on the ground, the hot, moist climate of the Burmese jungle hastening the process of slain and decomposing bodies and producing an almost unbearable stench, that the men defending one particular little piece of a ridge began calling it Maggot Hill. Drinking water that tastes like stagnant mud, barricading themselves behind a wall of bodies stacked three or four high, they soon come to the conclusion that this place must be worse than hell. Small wonder then that the veterans who served in this most distant of WWII operations were, just like my father, reluctant to talk about it. But it's not all doom and gloom, in between all the horrors of war, there are some lighter moments. I particularly enjoyed when one of the `kickers' of the book's title - the supply guys in the air - kicked out some rations including 3 French novels and an English language manual titled Symposium on Gynaecology. "This is great," says the Yank on the ground who retrieves it, "they sent us a secret weapon. We'll just show the Japs what the army sends us to read, and they'll laugh themselves to death."Something else I enjoyed, and this is the gift of Mr Hoover's effortless prose, was the heart-stopping chase of the Japanese patrols when Sam, shot down over enemy territory, has to negotiate days of tortuous travel through the jungle, assailed by snakes, spiders, blood-bloated leeches on his body, and an army of red ants running up his left leg. This episode is thrill-a-minute stuff; the heroics of the Naga warriors will remain long in my mind.Read this book if you have any interest in the "forgotten generation" of CBI (China-Burma-India) Theater veterans who fought seventy years ago to preserve the life we have today.You won't regret it.

R. Grey Hoover's, Kicker, is a terrific read and testament to the efforts of members of the Greatest Generation during WW II. Kicker, a term used to describe aircraft members who literally would lie on their backs and kick supplies to soldiers on front lines is a strong work of historical fiction. It's authentic and paints a great picture of what life was like during those difficult years.Like countless others of our Greatest Generation, Sam is torn between his love of family and his sense of duty to his country. His decision takes him from rural Pennsylvania to the jungles of Burma and as he struggles to survive the terrors of war, back home, his family struggles with shortages and rationing. Sam finds himself in a wide variety of locales and Mr. Hoover brings these multiple settings to life through the eyes of his main protagonist.Kicker works on many levels and I highly recommend it, especially to fans of great historical fiction.

I haven't finished reading the book yet but I'm close to! The book really makes you feel the experience of WW2 and with each chapter you receive different emotions that makes you want to continue reading!Recommended!

There are so many books and movies about WWII, but hardly any like this. This is a refreshing take on the war from the perspective of those who dropped supplies down to the forces, and those on the ground who needed it most.I'm such a huge fan of the Author now that I've read this book. You can feel every emotion and hardship the characters endured. It is clear that the Author drew great knowledge from his extensive research, from not only his own father but other veterans too. Even though the book is set in a time and place not many of us are familiar with, everyone can relate to the fundamental basics of love, loss, fear and joy that this story evokes. This is more than historical fact/ fiction. There is action, comedy, drama, suspense and some heartfelt moments that will bring tears to your eyes. I would give this book more stars if I could, but alas, the limit is 5.

I was nine years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I grew up in a rural area near the town of Osceola Mills highlighted in the story. Our family was not acquainted with the author's relatives as described in the narrative. However, many of the characters in the story can be recalled, especially the A&P owner who lost two sons in World War II.The town and the nearby area, with a population of about 3000, had 35 young people killed during the war. For the most part, the depth of this sacrifice was unknown except for the people who experienced it.The author has done a masterful job of communicating the personal aspects of the war and has filled a void in WW-II literature. The China-Burma-India theater has always been the “poor cousin” when it came to recognizing glory and sacrifice; but this book masterfully records a well-earned place in history.

I found this book to be a compelling story about a young man's journey into WWII. Kicker (The Forgotten Front) is a story about what was indeed a forgotten front of WWII. The book is an easy read and I couldn't put it down. I will admit that I do have a bias, as my father served in the China, Burma, India (CBI) theater of operations as a pilot flying the "Hump." The conditions described in this story certainly gave me an appreciation of what my father when through while operating in theater. While this book is a novel, it is based on true events. While my father never talked much about his experiences while flying "The Hump," however there is one event the author writes about that sounded very much like what my father told me about when he was flying Chinese troops. All-in-all a great book for those who like learning about what our "greatest generation" endured.

R. Grey Hoover took on a bold challenge when he sat down to write Kicker. Anytime an author undertakes a piece of almost forgotten history, with the mission in mind to recapture fast-fading events, and turn it into a heart-rending novel, is brave. But that’s what Hoover did, and did it well.The CBI (China-Burma-India) Theater of World War II, although the largest in battle-zone area, did not command the spotlight of history as some other aspects of WW II. With Hoover’s in depth research, he pulls together the essential ingredients, and builds a fine piece of military historical fiction for the reader.But Hoover takes his work a major step further; he links the misery of the CBI experiences of soldiers with the anxiety and anguish of citizens back home waiting day by day for their loved ones to return home. Some did, but many didn’t. It was the era of a Gold Star banner hanging in the windows of the families that had lost loved ones to the war.Hoover takes the reader deep into the war zone and lets you feel up close the beast of war. He takes you deep in the jungles where you’ll meet more wildlife than you’ll find in any man-made zoo. And you’ll pay any price for a ticket out. But there’s a different kind of scalper to deal with. And they ain’t “scalping” tickets to a rock concert.Kicker is not a hyped version of military fiction bloated and dependent upon the coarse, salty language of soldiers under war-time stress. For me that was a unique feature that I greatly appreciated, and makes Kicker G-rated and suitable family reading. Hoover demonstrates that an authentic story can be told with civil language.As I read Kicker, I could feel the tearing and shredding of emotions between loved ones in the CBI war zone and the families back home. While bullets and bombs delivered the war, the author lets the raw human emotions of his full-sized characters carry his story all the way to the end.Hoover leaves nothing out. He shows the sacrifices made on the battle front, as well as sacrifices made on the home front. He introduces the reader to shortages of raw goods, foods, and materials experienced by American citizens. Ration stamps were more important during WW II than any trendy gadget. Jobs became war-oriented; citizens’ thoughts searched for meaning in a world aflame.When you read Kicker, you’ll discover just how significant the word “kicker” was in the war effort. You’ll come to realize that any job, task, AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code), or MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is of equal importance. Remove one, and the mission is threatened.For most individuals war is remote, but Hoover fulfills his mission admirably. He brings the reader a spell-binding and enlightening story that should long be remembered, and he does it with the fire-power of good writing style, “top-notch brass” pacing, and with full-colors flying. And he does it with sterling word-choice, one page at a time.I commend Hoover for delivering his story with a perfect “kick.” I gladly award Five-Stars, brightly polished gold stars, for recapturing an important time in the human experience. Kicker has a permanent place on my reading shelf.“Front and center, Mr. Hoover. Honorable work! Five-Stars and more for your contribution to the writing world, and your service to your country!”

I've known two veterans of the Burma/India/Hump campaigns. Neither thought their lives were worth celebrating. One was on the ground as a mule skinner with Stilwell and he told of digging holes to bury mules so the Japanese wouldn't learn of the soldier's presence. Rains completely washed away any evidence. This story brings the real cost of what my friend endured to light. The other gentleman, now 98, was an airplane mechanic forced to become a gunner when his partner had his arm shot off. One is gone now but I'm still humbled to have known them and sit in their shadows. Thank you Mr Hoover, for introducing readers to this little-known piece of WW2 and the personal drama that affected virtually everyone.I grew up the son of a career soldier, stationed at and with memories of many of the places Huber underwent training. Fort Indiantown Gap was my playground as a youngster; Pennsylvania's small mill towns, rural communities and mountains helped me grow into a young man. This book was sensory overload for me and I loved it.

As far as I have been able to find, there has been little about the Army Air Corps men who made this dangerous flight day after day other than many were lost. When I saw this story I had to read it! I have a distant relative, a Major and a fighter pilot, who was lost somewhere over the hump and never found ; I wanted to learn more about the flights. Keeping that in mind I was a little disappointed in the tale as it is mainly about the AAF cargo drops. On the other hand, I spent 26 months as a Lt. in the Army Transportation Corps myself in a cargo and stevadore unit so as able to understand the problems of the men in the story. It is still a good read for the post WW II generations!!

It's a reasonable presentation of life as an enlisted man in the CBI theater of operations with some reflections on the life of the dependents back in the USA. The writing style seems aimed at, perhaps, a middle-school audience: short easy declarative sentences with short easy words (well, it worked for Hemingway).

Kicker by R Grey Hoover is a story of the World War Two Soldiers who had the unique and unappreciated task of "kicking" needed supplies to the American and Allied Forces in the CBI Theater. But it is more than this. The novel brings out the trials and tribulations of those willingly going through enemy territory in unarmed planes,to reach the fighting men so enough supplies are dropped that the soldiers can carry on the war. This is a moving story of Sam Huber, a Kicker, and the people he dealt with in the isolated jungles and battlefields of the war. Not only do we follow Sam and his fellow soldiers, but we see how the people back home are dealing with wartime living. This is expressed through the loving letters of his wife, who has one son and one on the way and is still working and sacrificing for America. The reader is constantly involved in the War Story and is eager to find out what happens next. The straightforward writing of R Grey has given us a treasure that all should read. He has written a great tribute to those men who served in the CBI Theater of World War Two.

As the story of a young volunteer to the front lines of CBI, the author takes us to a rarely discussed, but strategic battlefront of WWII. The supply lines in India, China, and Burma were strategically critical to the success of the Pacific theater.I could not put this book down, as the story of Sam, the young volunteer and aspiring pilot, unfolds. The author delivers his story telling with a rich back drop of historical details reflecting a thoroughly researched knowledge of the subject matter. The author includes those left behind, and a romantic, patriotic voice that reflects the times of a country at war, with its own existence at threat. I could picture him as Billy, playing with his toy aircraft, oblivious to the risks he father was enduring.There are many memorable characters supporting Sam in his journey, and the mishaps, snafus, adventures, and hijinks make for a emotional ride, both entertaining and captivating. Don't miss this gem. Its flying low under the radar, just like the C47s in the novel.

The father of my wife was kicker in burma the pilot was the brother.... So for us is the best... The history in the book was real... The best book . Thank you. You make the time a veterans

Well written fiction. A good description of the hardship of the times. Some of the narrative was not believable but fun to read. In summary, a nice easy read.

Not as much about the war as about family life. Pretty boring considering what I was expecting.

Like this book a lot. It's based on actual anecdotes (from WWII veterans) and meticulous research, and set in the lesser known China-Burma-India theater of WWII. It follows the wartime travails of Sam Huber, a young man from rural Pennsylvania, his wife Eleanor and their family on the home front. The title "Kicker" comes from the nickname for the men who braved dense jungle, enemy fire, mountain ranges and mechanical failures to supply the front line troops by air, a dangerous and essential mission. Would recommend this not only to history buffs and WWII aficionados (like myself) but to any reader interested in being transported to another time and place, one that shaped all of our lives and fortunes today, worldwide.

Sam, the hero, is a simple but capable drafted during the war and is resilient, brave and self deprecating. Delivering supplies to softball along the Burmese border and supplying the troops gives the reader whole new sense of appreciation for the dedication and patriotism of the men who flew th "Hump"