New Audiobook Release Celebrates Veterans Day with Intimate Vietnam Helicopter-Crew Memoir

In time for this year’s Veterans Day—November 11—the critically-acclaimed narrative nonfiction “Taipan Snake Pit” by Michael D. Guard is now available in audiobook format. This new audio edition invites listeners to experience, with visceral realism, the story of the elite helicopter crew of the 135th Assault Helicopter Unit during the Vietnam War.

Originally published in print in 2024, “Taipan Snake Pit” “discloses the tribulations of the Vietnam helicopter war and provides deeply moving insight into the lives of those crewmen who routinely flew combat assault missions. Guard’s account captures not only the intensity of aerial combat but the raw human cost — the young men exposed to mortality, the ‘sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll’ backdrop of 1969 and the deep bonds forged in the air.

Why the Audiobook Matters on Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a moment to honour the service of those who served in the armed forces. The audiobook version of ‘Taipan Snake Pit’ gives voice—literally—to the experiences of helicopter crews who were often unsung in mainstream Vietnam War narratives. By giving the story an audible form, the production allows veterans, their families, students of military history, and the general public to engage with a first-hand kind of testimony that resonates with memory, emotion, and authenticity.

Through this audio medium, the roar of rotor blades, the urgency of combat missions and the quiet moments of reflection come alive—not just as text on a page, but as immersive listening. The timing around November 11 reinforces the message: remembering veteran sacrifice isn’t confined to parades and ceremonies—it includes listening, reflecting, and understanding.

About the Book & Author
In “Taipan Snake Pit,” Michael D. Guard pulls back the curtain on helicopter warfare in the Vietnam conflict, focusing on the Taipan platoon of the 135th Assault Helicopter Unit, a multinational force combining U.S. Army and Royal Australian Navy personnel.

Written in narrative-nonfiction style, the book takes readers (and now listeners) into the cockpit, into the landing zones, into the emotional terrain of young men whose lives were transformed in war.

Michael D. Guard brings to his writing an unflinching view of combat, life on the line, and the aftermath—themes that align powerfully with the purpose of Veterans Day.

Audiobook Release Details

• “Taipan Snake Pit” (Audiobook)
• Author: Michael D. Guard
• Narrator: Steve Stansell
• Release Date: November 6, 2025
• Available On: Audible, Amazon, and iTunes
• Purchase/Streaming Link: https://a.co/d/6ocn5lI

For Listeners, Educators & Veterans

• Veterans and active-duty service members: This audiobook offers a powerful lens into aerial combat, helping current and former aircrew relate to, or reflect on, shared experiences of sacrifice and service.
   
• Educators & history-buffs: An ideal teaching or discussion tool for military history, Vietnam War courses, and veteran-studies syllabi.
   
• General audiences: Those drawn to real-life stories of courage, survival, and brotherhood will find “Taipan Snake Pit” unforgettable.
  

About the Publisher
Veritas Ink & Press LLC is a publisher known for thoughtful titles in biography, military history, and narrative nonfiction. “Taipan Snake Pit” is listed in their catalogue and distribution network.

Media Contact
Veritas Ink & Press inquiry@veritasinkandpress.com (928) 247 6144

Contact Information

Michael D. Guard

Author

Veritas Ink & Press LLC

Contact via E-mail