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#5367285 in Books Xlibris Corporation 2006-07-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .50 x 5.98l; .88 #File Name: 1425705480164 pages
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. A War Story; Very Well ToldBy Book ReporterA great book! Korea; a Lieutenant's Story; is a personal account of the Korean War as experienced by a young U.S. Air Force officer in 1950-1951. The book is a page-turner. It is a war story told by a skilled storyteller and heavily sprinkled with interesting information about officer training; flying and flight operations; battles; inter-service relations; and military life.The author is Robert C. Mathis; who served 34 years in the Air Force. Mathis flew more than 300 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He later directed the Air Force's F-111 fighter plane program and the F-15 program. He also served as vice chief of staff of the Air Force. During his career he won the Purple Heart; Silver Star; Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster; Air Medal with eleven oak loaf clusters; the Air Force and the Defense Distinguished Service medals; and many other awards. He retired as a four-star general.This book focuses on the beginning of Mathis's career -- before he or anyone knew where his career would take him. Mathis tells of his efforts to go from small town in Texas to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; his cadet days at the academy; and thereafter service at various air bases -- all from his personal point of view. He discusses what he was doing; the planes he was flying; the people he was meeting (some famous); and incidents that loomed large or interesting to him.With modesty and grace; Mathis tells his war story; and it is quite a story. He flew F-80s jet fighters on bombing and strafing missions; and he flew T-6 propeller-driven planes on Mosquito forward air command missions. Twice he served as a forward air command officer on the ground -- at the front; from where he directed fighters and bombers to targets. During his second tour as a forward air command officer on the ground; Mathis became trapped behind enemy lines when Chinese forces overran his position. Wounded; he made it back to friendly forces; but his friend Lieutenant John R. "Buddy" Gaston was captured. Gaston spent three years as a prisoner of war. Mathis tells part of Gaston's story; and Gaston tells more of it in the epilogue to Mathis's book.Mathis discovered that "war is very personal." His friends got injured; his friends got captured; and his friends got killed. He was among the lucky ones. This is his story; one about not only him; but also the people; planes; places; and time as he experienced the Korean War. I highly recommend this book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Korea ReviewBy J. ColeThis book is very well written and tells the story of Ret. General Robert C Mathis. It was an amazing book written by an equally amazing man.
