300 Missions Over Vietnam

This book chronicles the story of a young F-100 pilot fighting in the air war in South Vietnam. Through 72 letters written to loved ones back home, this work tells of his life in a fighter squadron in the peak year of that war. The letters and added commentary contain vivid descriptions of combat operations, of mission briefings, flight protocols, tactics, and targets. They speak of dangers faced: enemy fire, harsh weather, unforgiving terrain. The letters describe in rich detail the brutal fury and inspiring beauty of nature in a land far from the pilot's home. Importantly, the letters also reveal the human side of war. More than combat actions, war is ultimately a human endeavor. It is a realm of high excitement and deep melancholy, of loss and longing. This book presents a contemporary review of a troubled war, and one pilot's firsthand account.