Marshall Tucker Band - Carolina Dreams
If the name George McCorkle rings a bell for you '58 Clubbers
(people born in or around 1958), he was a singer/songwriter with the Marshall Tucker Band. I met George McCorkle via email as I gained permission to use the song, "Desert Skies" in my book, Desert Skies II. George McCorkle was an under-appreciated musician and songwriter and it was an honor and privilege to have met such a great American. He recently passed away, but lives on forever in his songs. Pick up a copy of Carolina Dreams, which is, in my opinion, The Marshall Tucker Band's greatest album. Top 10 (make that 11) Comedy Albums of All Time
1. Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy - Steve Martin in his prime.
2. Steve Martin - Let's Get Small - The follow up that was just as good as the first.
3. Bill Cosby – The Best of Bill Cosby - A most under-rated comedian that has become an out spoken proponent of American values. Still a funny, funny man.
4. Eddie Murphy – Eddie Murphy's Greatest Hits - More best of, prime work. At one time, Eddie Murphy was the king of stand up comedy.
5. Cheech and Chong – Cheech and Chong's Greatest Hit - I forgot most of this. Probably a reason for that.
6. Robin Williams – A Night at the Met - Back when he was young and out of control.
7. Rodney Carrington – Hangin' with Rodney - The Prince impression is outstanding!
8. Monty Python – Sings - All the nutty songs by the greatest English export of the 20th Century.
9. Bob Newhart – Something Like This ... The Bob Newhart Anthology - Another American treasure.
10. The Smothers Brothers – Sibling Rivalry - These guys had a TV show that led the way for evening variety and follow on shows by Carol Burnett and Flip Wilson.
11. Richard Pryor – Anthology: 1968-1992 - I had to add one by Richard Pryor. Before Robin Williams, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy, King Richard owned the stand up circuit.
Helicopter Books
Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden
Just the best helicopter war book ever written. Bowden’s research for the book was well chronicled and the result is a superb war book.
Chickenhawk by Robert Mason
A great book depicting how life and death flying Huey’s in Vietnam was. I’ve heard it was actually a compilation of what happened to pilot’s in that war. This book was what inspired me to write “Desert Skies”. MTG
Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills
Another Vietnam Helo book with great reviews on Amazon.
Desert Skies by Michael T. Gregory
A ‘fictional’ account of helicopter warfare in the first Gulf War. The book is a rough cut (not professionally edited), but if you can get past the grammatical errors and mis-spellings, it’s pretty damn good. Available directly from me or at amazon.com. MTG
Desert Skies II by Michael T. Gregory
Total fiction, but a nicely done follow up to my first book. Buy it direct cheaper or at amazon.com.
Best Helicopter Movies
Black Hawk Down
The most realistic war scene’s depicting 21st Century combat. The only negative thing about the whole movie is all the darn Aussies and Brits they used to play American GI’s! Josh Harnett, Tom Sizemore and a couple others and the rest of the guys have pretty damn good GI accents. A truly great movie. MTG
We Were Soldiers Once
The highlight of the movie for me is Greg Kinnear nearly falling out of his Huey after flying forever and puking. A true depiction of what those helicopter warriors went through.
Apocalypse Now
The reason I wanted to fly helicopters was because of this movie. “Col Kilgore” (Robert Duvall) is the quintessential military leader. All that and a bad ass that loves “his boys” to boot. What a character! MTG
Firenerds
Firebirds was supposed to be the US Army recruiting film to match “Top Gun”. Not quite. As an apache pilot, I never put a panty on my head, I never heard of anyone putting a panty on their head and will never forgive Nicolas Cage for putting a panty on his head! Even Tommie Lee Jones couldn’t save this flick. But the Apache flying is cool. MTG
The Guardian
Decent flick depicting what it takes depart a helicopter that isn’t gonna crash. Good special effects of what the Coast Guard helo guys go through. MTG
Honorable Mention: Blue Thunder
A couple decades ago, Roy Scheider was the man. He was a pretty solid hero type actor. Blue Thunder was a really decent movie, but for the life of me, I can’t even begin to explain “whisper mode” to viewers. MTG.
Best War Movies
Savng Private Ryan
Only the best War movie ever made. Hat’s off to the greatest American actor of our time, Tom Hanks for pulling off the role as the leader that is charged with a mission of utmost responsibility. MTG
Full Metal Jacket
Actually two movies in one. The first about being a Marine recruit and the second depicting combat in Vietnm during the Tet Offensive. If you watch this movie, try not to end up in a “world of shit”. MTG
Platoon
Tom Berenger and Willam DeFoe fight for Charlie Sheen’s soul in Vietnam. Some classis lines and some excellent action. MTG
The Deer Hunter
What would today be considered an ‘all-star’ cast. Robert DeNiro is at his best in a movie that depicts the warped-ness and brutality of war. You only need “one shot” to see this movie. Should be recommended viewing for every soldier returning from Iraq today. MTG.
Tears of the Sun
I’m a huge Bruce Willis fan. His role as a special ops team leader in this movie is spot on! Loved this film. Way under-rated. MTG
All Quiet on the Western Front
The original. Makes you glad you weren’t born in 1900. WW I must have really sucked. MTG
Best Historical War Films
Gladiator
Like him or not, Russell Crowe kicks butt in this film! Not a job for girlie men. MTG
Braveheart
Mel Gibson is one of my favorites and this movie is not for the faint of heart. BTW, yes, he does get tortured in this one, too! MTG
Kindom of Heaven
I’m not a big Orlando Bloom fan, but he does a reasonably good job as a ‘Knights Templar’type. Must see to understand ‘what’s all the fuss’ about the problems in the middle east. MTG
Flyboys
Tremendous special effects. This movie is not possible to make without the special effects wizards in Hollywood. Great dogfight scenes. MTG
The Magnificent Seven
Based on a Japanese Samurai movie, Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach are excellent antagonist and there are some fine sub-character development plots and Steve McQueen again shines. MTG
The Last of the Mohicans
Another under-rated movie with Daniel Day Lewis pulling off the role of a half-breed(?) American Indian. MTG
The Patriot
Mel Gibson as an original American terrorist. A well done film with some fine performances. Lots of my Brit friends are not too keen on this one. Wonder why? MTG
Gallipoli
Mark Lee and Bill Kerr out act a young Mel Gibson, but the film is Excellent. This is how Australia was born. MTG
Zulu
Michael Caine and Stanley Baker are outstanding in this 1964 movie about UK ‘imperialism’. MTG
Lawrence of Arabia
A 1962 film with Peter O’Toole as Captain T. E. Lawrence that led the arab tribes against the turks. If only we learned the Brit lesson. MTG
Leadership Movies
Patton
The man! George C. Scott gives the performance of a lifetime as the undisputed best General the US Army has ever produced. MTG
Band of Brothers
Simply the best compilation story of what a unit goes through to become a fighting force. A tremendous insight into leadership dynamics. MTG
Kelly’s Heroes
Clint Eastwood in a most underappreciated role at Lt. Kelly. Plot line is unrealistic, but the characters depicted by Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas, OUTSTANDING! MTG
The Great Escape
Based on the greatest escape from a German prisoner of war camp in WW II, this movie features the underrated, Steve McQueen as Hilts, the cooler king. Fantastic motorcycle chase scene and excellent performances by an amazing cast. MTG
The Dirty Dozen
Lee Marvin is fantastic as the veteran Major given a crap mission to make a fighting team of 12 condemned prisoners of war. Great performances by Telly Savalas, John Cassavettes and Donald Sutherland. MTG
The Green Berets
I’m not a huge John Wayne fan and now that I’m ‘older’, I understand the right leaning propaganda of the film. That said, it is a very good snapshot of the American warrior in Vietnam. The battle scenes are right out of a 60’s studio and Ft. Benning, but the principle and concept are understood. Behind the blatant message, the title song makes you wanna join the special ops. (Sorry Frank!) MTG Breaker Morant
A way under-rated film that is a must see. Bryan Brown is excellent. MTG
Spartacus
Before “Gladiator” there was, “Spartacus”. Kirk Douglas as the slave leader. An epic. Enjoy. MTG
300
A ‘buff’ Gerard Butler. Destined for a sequel. I’m not sure how they’ll do since all the 300 died! But it made too much at the box office! MTG
Navy Movies
In Harm’s Way
Classic 1965 saga of how the US Navy won the battle of the Pacific. Kirk Douglas, John Wayne and an all-star cast. MTG
Midway
Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda in a 1976 classic. Not quite as dynamic as “In Harm’s Way”, but a powerful film.
The Bounty
Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty and I like this Mel Gibson version best. MTG
The Caine Mutiny
A terrificly acted picture with Humphrey Bogart and Jose Ferrer. It wasn’t really the strawberries after all! MTG
The Hunt For Red October
“One ping, Vasily, and one ping only.” You have to see the movie! Sean Connery is outstanding. This is probably the only movie Alec Baldwin could do to pull off any semblance of a military man. Harrison Ford is a better ‘Jack Ryan’,