My review of Warnings Unheeded by Ssgt Andy Brown

First of all let me state for the record I Have never met Andy and we are not related! We were both however USAF Security Policemen! We both were stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base at different times. I own and have read his book, several times over! In 20 years as an Air Force Cop I have never needed to either draw my M9 or chamber a round in my M-16! Andy not only had to draw but also engage an armed mass murderer at a USAF hospital! In addition it’s the story of an out of control AF B52 pilot responsible for the death of his whole crew at an air show at Fairchild AFB! His in-depth research is worthy of an NCIS episode! I whole heartedly recommend this Audio book! SSgt F. Brown USAF ret. 377th Security Police Group.

6 people found this helpful

Great!

Incredible and informative. This book gives amazing insight and these tragedies and what we can do to try and stop them from happening again.

3 people found this helpful

Lessons for military leadership

Andy Brown’s experiences are presented with a bold honesty that lets you begin to understand the frustration felt by many military and law enforcement personal, not only dealing with mentally ill personnel, but the system that ignores them or passes them on for others to deal with. The system that allows high ranking officers to be immune from guidelines intended to protect the safety of everyone is also frustrating. As a former USAF Security Policeman and police instructor I can relate to this book and acutely remember when it happened. I highly recommended all Security Police personnel, commanders, supervisors and those in the flying community read this book and heed the lessons presented! Furthermore, the training principles discussed by Andy are truly valuable techniques I have practiced and taught. They will improve police officers skills if taken seriously.

2 people found this helpful

Eye opening details

Very detailed leading up to two preventable tragic events. Heartfelt recount by the the author Andy Brown.

1 person found this helpful

Important lessons and well written.

This is an important story to tell. Mr Brown does a perfect job of laying out the facts and the timeline. As leader, an Airman and a citizen these are very important lessons to learn. So many people could have broken a link in these chains of events. Thanks for writing this book. Be vigilant!

1 person found this helpful

Great story and History,,

This book was addictive for me once i started i wasnt able to stop until the end. I use audible to listen to books due to eye problems,,most i listen to cant keep my interest and pause and come back to or just not finish cause boring,,this story was like being there and the detail made it that way. Im a local to the area but was unfamiliar with the real details of what happened at that time and also was young at that time. i hope to read more from this author.

1 person found this helpful

Required reading

Whether you are in the military, law enforcement or basically any other walk of life, you have been touched by tragedy, heroics, mental illness or bureaucracy. This book should be required reading for you. The amazing details in this book of the before, during and after of two very preventable tragedies is astounding. I have been to active shooter training and “Warnings Unheeded” put my mind into the scenario of an active shooter more than any other simulated munitions ever could have. Amazing book written by a truly amazing American.

1 person found this helpful

Well written account of two tragic events

Enjoyed the writing and narration. The writing was not morbid or maudlin considering the subject matter. Kept my attention from start to finish.

Excellent! Should be required reading

…for today’s military. We were stationed at a different largeB-52 base when these events occurred. Many in that community knew of Bud Holland and his antics. I won’t repeat other accolades but simply add ours—this book is well with a credit, both for the two highlighted stories and for the author’s own tale. Definitely recommend.

A Book More People Should Be Reading...

Andy Brown's "Warnings Unheeded" is one of those rare books that have just as strong a message nowadays, as they did when they were originally published.

The book chronicles two tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base within 2 weeks of each other in June of 1994: one a mass shooting at a Base Hospital perpetrated by a mentally deranged individual who managed to manipulate the medical system established within the military at the time to keep him enlisted; the other, a crash of a B-52 Stratofortress heavy-bomber (callsign, Czar-52) during a rehearsal flight the day before the annual Fairchild Air Show, the pilot of which being a chronically reckless individual who never resisted the urge to push the boundaries of the aircraft he flew- regardless of the wishes and wellbeing of not only his superiors and other higher-ups, but that of the fellow airmen flying alongside him. The failure of authorities to adequately prevent these losses of human life is hard to fathom, but from another point of view, were just results of a system of accountability that failed every man and woman on that base, up to, and including, the men who caused the incidents in question.

Brown's account of events is unique, him having been the person who successfully stopped the shooter before he could continue his rampage further. He lays down precisely what led to these two events, in maddening, brutal details, that will cause readers to question aloud why the leadership of a military installation failed to step in, when both of these individuals displayed serious signs of both mental instability and careless abandon for human life. At the same time, they will be answered with reasoning that will only be reminding of a key fault with any man-made system: the fact that they aren't always perfect. Mortal systems, even that of a military nature, never have been, and never will be... unless the process of accountability is upheld at the highest possible standards.

Like I said, this story is relevant. I really wish I read the paperback, there's way more material in the form of official documents, photos and diagrams showing the layout of the locations and where every event took place. It's worth listening to, but I, personally, would've gone with another narrator. That's my only complaint.