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

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.

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!”

The author is to be commended for writing a book to m memorialize his father and fellow soldiers who served on C-47s flying supplies to soldiers in the CBI theater of war.The factionalized tale begins before the war starts, continues throughout his service, and ends with his return home by ship. The book was interesting in parts but I was turned off by how every character becomes the protagonist's best friend almost immediately. Everyone in the book, except for the Japanese, are just too darn nice. Sticky situations,often contrived, always work out well. Many of the supporting characters are simply 2 dimensional. Not the worst book by any means, but not the best.

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.

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"

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.

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.

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!