Does class rank really matter? Q: What do you call the person who's last in their class in medical or law school? A: Doctor or Lawyer. Q: And, what do you call the person who's last in their class at West Point, Annapolis or the U.S. Air Force Academy? A: Lieutenant or Ensign. Same Date of Rank salutes 17 men and three women grads at the top and bottom, representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. They range from the "goat" or last man in West Point's Class of 1942, who was the first man in his class promoted to Brigadier General, to a 1999 Annapolis All-American rugby player who has served three tours in Iraq in the Marine Corps. Read about combat leaders, admirals, astronauts, pilots, ship captains, business leaders, an historian, logistics expert, mayor, teacher and software guru. The book also provides class ranks of many famous academy grads from George Pickett and George Armstrong Custer (lasts) to Robert E. Lee and Douglas MacArthur (2nd and 1st) as well as Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, John McCain, and Jim Webb plus athletes like Roger Staubach of the NFL and David Robinson of the NBA. And, it includes timely information about how to apply to each of the three academies, too.

Go along with the Colonel on this nostalgic trip back to the 1950's and life growing up in the Midwest. Follow him on his solo trek across Europe and the year that made him a man in the Aviation Cadet Program. Next it's many a day in Vietnam over the course of the war and the hardships faced by the aviators and their families on a daily basis. Life in the "fast lane" or five years in the Pentagon gives the reader a close look at the many challenges faced by the Staff Officer in the "building." Finally, the harrowing experience of life in a high school classroom for 19 years caps off the interesting adventure. Lt. Col. Watson amassed almost 5,000 hours flight time with 1,300 of it being combat time in Vietnam. He was "in country" for over 500 days covering parts of 1965,1966,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972, and 1973. He was decorated 39 times including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 12 Air Medals, 2 Commendations Medals, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry just to mention a few. His travels took him north of the Arctic Circle to the southernmost tip of South America, all over Europe and the Far East with stops in 68 countries on 6 continents. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this most interesting story of an Air Force Officer and his travels in support of our national interests.

"Nickel On The Grass" is a series of vignettes that capture the life of an extraordinary aviator, fighter pilot and leader, Colonel Phil Handley. In a career that spanned 26 years "Hands" earned a reputation as an exceptional pilot and leader in war and peace. I do not know anybody who served with him who does not admire him for his dedication, integrity and courage. The central theme of the stories he relates is that the fraternity of true fighter pilots is made up of men who share a love of adventure, have exceptional flying skills, are willing to risk all rather than admit defeat and believe earning the respect of their peers is their greatest accomplishment. The really good ones possess a sixth sense about people and machines that gives them an edge over mere mortals in the air and on the ground. This is a book about a man who lived most of the stories and counts among his friends and acquaintances the central characters in the others. It has been my privilege to have been his friend and fellow fighter pilot for the past 30 years. General Ron Fogleman, USAF, Ret. Chief of Staff, USAF, 1994-1997

Jim Reed has had a life of diverse adventure. From sending U-2's to the North Pole, retrieving missiles in the open ocean, and a flying and boating career that spanned the world, he has done just about everything that you could pack into one lifetime. "Turning Final" captures those adventures and shares it with all of us who dream of meeting exciting challenges. This story is about a real life pilot/sailor who accomplished things that most people only dream about while at the same time he and his lovely wife raised a family of four boys. His life truly spans the world.

During the height of the Cold War, the United States started to develop and expand its air defense capabilities to knock down Russian Air Force nuclear-armed bombers flying over the North Pole, across Canada, and into the northern United States to attack US military targets and major cities. The Air Defense Command created air command centers, radar stations, ground observer corps, and fighter-interceptor squadrons. The 54th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (54th FIS), based at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, protected the Strategic Air Command's assets at Ellsworth AFB (nuclear alert bombers and tankers and intercontinental ballistic missiles). From 1951 to 1960, the men of the 54th FIS protected North America from possible air attack by long-range Russian Air Force bombers. The threat was deemed real at the time, only later shown to be less serious as the CIA overflew the Soviet Union with high-flying Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.

Competition for Army acquisition funding in the betrween wars depression years was fierce. The opposing camps of Fighter Supremacy versus Strategic Bombing played out at the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS), at GHQ, before Congress and in the media. Military exercises pitted the Navy and the Air Corps in operations with real cloak and dagger background gambits, each trying to gain the upper hand. When leaders such as Benjamin Foulois, Billy Mitchell, and Frank Andrews eventually were able to foster a bomber competition to replace the Martin B-10, Boeing's four-engined Model 299 was a clear winner; but then it crashed at Dayton, and the Army opted for the Douglas B-18. Somehow, Frank Andrews had enough faith in his convictions and managed to have 13 Y1B-17s produced and sent to the 2nd Bombardment Group at Langley Field, VA. There Robert Olds and his three squadrons enthralled the country with long range goodwill flights, transcontinental speed runs with an obscure 1st Lt Curtis leMay navigating the way, and a thrilling movie "Test Pilot" starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy. Fortunately for the trials of WWII, these daring young men of the Army Air Corps put their careers on the line, and made the B-17 one of the iconic weapons of that conflict. This is the untold story of the aircraft development and the men who made it happen.

This book covers the history of Dyess Air Force Base from 1941 to the present. The reader is led from the construction and World War II training operations through the Cold War with the Soviet Union, to bomber and missile nuclear alert, and to the transition of a world-wide conventional weapons response capability with the B-1B and air mobility options provided by the C-130 Hercules transport. The book includes a photo tour of the base as well as information on topics such as: Abilene Air Force Base, 96th Bombardment Wing and the Boeing B-47E Stratojet, Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter and the 11th Aerial Refueling Squadron, 578th Strategic Missile Squadron and the Atlas F Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, 4th Strategic Support Squadron and the Douglas C-124C Globemaster II, the Nike-Hercules Surface-to-Air Missile, 96th Bombardment Wing and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, and the Special Weapons Storage Area.

Until now, Army Air Force Bases in Nebraska during World War II had never before been presented in a single book (most of the photographed structures are no longer visible). These stories and photographs mostly focus on America s Greatest Generation, which fought and won World War II. Also included are information on and images of the Martin B-26/Martin-Boeing B-29 Superfortress production plant at Fort Crook. One section deals with the building of modified B-29s for the 509th Composite Group, referred to after the war as the Atomic Bomb Group, which dropped the two atomic bombs on Japan, ending World War II. Also learn about German and Italian Prisoner of War camps, where POWs contributed to agricultural production in Nebraska, helping feed American troops, Allied troops, and civilian populations around the world. Most Americans are not aware of the huge numbers of Axis POWs held in America during the war."

This complete history of Ellsworth Air Force Base tells the story of the base, units, and personnel that have been defending the United States for over seventy years, and traces the proud heritage of this South Dakota military facility beginning in World War II. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, Convair B-36 Peacemakers, and Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers have all stood at the ready on Ellsworth's runway. The current bomber out of Ellsworth is the B-1B Lancer, flown by the 28th Bomb Wing who continues to defend America now and into the future.

January 31, 1968. A cold, dense fog had settled over the city of Hue, South Vietnam. Guards posted at key points around the lightly defended American military advisors' compound stared out into blackness. Nothing could be seen or heard until the blinding flash and shocking concussion of an exploding rocket tore through the fog. A hail of rocket and mortar shells was followed by a ground attack. It was soon obvious to the heterogeneous group (Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force personnel) inside the compound that a large group of people outside the compound wanted to kill them. The Tet battle for Hue was on. The Americans battled for their lives. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Richard Brown had two jobs: leading Forward Air Controllers responsible for the area between the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and DaNang, plus advising General Truong, First ARVN Division Commander, on Air Force support. He lived in the Hue MACV compound and remained in the city during the first seventeen days of the battle. The author began his military career during World War II as a fighter pilot in the Fourteenth Air Force, China, under the command of General Claire Chennault. Called back to active duty during the Korean War, he remained in military service until the end of his duty tour in Vietnam. Curious as to how communism could "benefit" common man, he returned to China in 1980 and Vietnam in 1988.

Merriam Press World War 2 History. During World War II the state of Montana gave over 1,000 men to the final sacrifice to defend the United States. Thousands of military personnel trained in the state, before moving onto combat, especially those of four B-17 bomb groups. The state was temporary home to alien detainees and German Prisoners of War. Now, over 75 years from these events, this book is dedicated to these Americans who helped win the two-ocean war the United States fought, 1941-1945. This is truly a look back in time to America's greatest generation. 304 photos, maps, illustrations.