Collier pens book on flying helicopters during Vietnam War

SANDPOINT — Bill Collier, a local vet, penned "The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot, Flying the H-34 Helicopter in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps" to tell the story about flying during "The Helicopter War." About 40 area residents, including about nine veterans, heard Collier tell his story at the East Bonner County Library Thursday.

Collier grew up right after World War II and loved the country and felt a desire to serve. His brother had told him that he should be an officer in the military, which meant he needed a four-year degree. He headed off to college in California to earn an engineering degree, but after four semesters, he said he felt "bogged down" by all the calculus and science classes.

He crossed the quad at the college, and a serviceman was there in a green uniform talking to people about being a pilot. He told Collier that a second lieutenant only involved two years of college.

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