Prominent Review of The Kansas NCO

The Plot: Set in 1970 during the “Vietnamization” phase, the story follows a group of unsuspecting Air Force support troops who get pulled into a massive black-market and drug-running network operated by a shadowy, corrupt senior non-commissioned officer (the “Kansas NCO”).

The Conflict: After a double-cross, the young airmen find themselves stranded “outside the wire,” fighting for survival against both enemy forces and treachery within their own ranks.

              Honest Review & Breakdown

Authenticity and Realism: Reviewers—especially military veterans—praise Campolo (a Vietnam veteran himself) for nailing the dialogue, attitudes, and disillusionment of enlisted personnel. The descriptions of the climate, jargon, and base life feel grounded and real.

Pacing and Structure: The novel features short, punchy chapters—each opened with a historical quote—that help build steady momentum. While it starts as a slow-burn look at base corruption, it accelerates into a tense, action-heavy jungle survival story.

Character Depth: Characters like Andrew “Cru” Crucianelli feel like real GIs rather than Hollywood action heroes. Their shift from mundane base duties to life-or-death survival happens abruptly, mirroring the chaotic nature of the war.

Some readers note that the heavy use of period-accurate military slang and adult language requires a brief adjustment period in the opening chapters before the narrative hooks you. The antagonist (the Kansas NCO) also looms large over the plot as an omnipresent force, though he isn’t fully unmasked until later in the book.

The Kansas NCO is a gripping, highly recommended read for fans of military fiction and Vietnam War histories. It succeeds because it trades over-the-top Hollywood heroics for a gritty, believable look at greed, survival, and camaraderie.

~ Andrew Stiles