Book Description

From the seemingly endless hot, sweaty, often bloody infantry battles in Vietnam to high-altitude supersonic fighter engagements in the Middle East lasting only seconds, Steve Stevenson can mix two seeming disparate careers into one. Not appreciated nor welcomed home by a mis-informed American public, Steve and the Vietnam era troops performed every challenging task assigned. Many of the Vietnam era problems were corrected in Middle East conflicts twenty years later by senior leaders who fought as junior officers in Vietnam.Known by his Air Force call sign ?Grunt? in F-4s, he pushed the importance of and need for Close Air Support, to an extent that occasionally got him in trouble. Steve takes you into the life of young paratroopers in combat, into the mostly untold lives and actions of US Special Forces, into the rowdy squadrons and cramped cockpits of fighter pilots. Along the way, he preaches Jointness and inter-service cooperation that is accepted by the ?boots on the ground?, but often opposed by the parochialism of senior leaders in all services.From the Vietnam War, Yom Kippur War, Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, Desert Storm to ?black? special ops, Steve volunteered for or was at the right place at the right time. He captures the comradeship, dedication, and loss of these warriors and their families, raucous parties and the heartbreak of friends lost.In every organization, Steve believes people are his greatest assets and rewards his troops, even when it may be unauthorized. But, higher headquarters will never know. Come along on the ride to look ?at clouds from both sides now, from up and down.'