Journey to Command: The Naval Career of Captain J.C. Smith

Journey to Command is the true story of a man who overcame adversity to realize success. Entering the Navy, J.C. Smith earned the wings of a pilot. When circumstances took him away from this lifelong dream, he became a Naval Flight Officer, blazing the path for thousands who later followed. Captain Smith made a mark on history during his wartime cruises in the Vietnam War; he was one of the founders and the first Commanding Officer of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, revealing the untold story of Top Gun in this book. The culmination of his career was as Commanding Officer of VF-114, Command at Sea.