Danger Close: My Epic Journey As A Combat Helicopter Pilot In Iraq And Afghanistan Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
The inspiring and riveting first-ever memoir of active combat by a female helicopter pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.Amber Smith flew into enemy fire in some of the most dangerous combat zones in the world. One of only a few women to fly the Kiowa Warrior helicopter—whose mission, armed reconnaissance, required its pilots to stay low and fly fast, perilously close to the fight—Smith deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the elite 2-17 Cavalry Regiment, part of the legendary 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles. She rose to Pilot-in-Command and Air Mission Commander in the premier Kiowa unit in the Army, repeatedly flying into harm’s way during her 2005 and 2008 deployments. In Danger Close, Smith takes us into the heat of battle, enabling readers to feel, hear, and smell the experience of serving as a combat pilot in high-intensity warfare. This is an edge-of-the seat story of learning to perform under pressure and persevere under extreme duress—both in action against an implacable enemy and within the elite “boy’s club” of Army aviation. Smith’s unrelenting fight for both mastery and respect delivers universal life-lessons that will be useful to any civilian, from “earning your spurs” as a newbie to “embracing the suck” through setbacks that challenge your self-confidence to learning to trust your gut as a veteran of your profession. Intensely personal, cinematic, poignant, and inspiring, Danger Close is a war story on one hand, and also the story of a brave pilot who fought for and earned a lifetime membership in the ranks of the best of the best.
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 150111638X
ISBN-13: 978-1501116384
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #9,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #9 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Afghan & Iraq Wars > Iraq War #17 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Afghan & Iraq Wars > Afghan War #223 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Women
Danger Close was a phenomenal book and a rare behind the scenes look of a women at war. Amber Smith is a female combat veteran and helicopter pilot that served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She did some amazing things over seas and her life in general is just fascinating. I loved how courageous and humble she was. Always giving the credit to those she served with. Should be required reading in every high school so that our children recognize what selfless service looks like. And if anyone ever doubted what a women can do in combat won't feel that way after reading Danger Close.
Amber Smith is the real deal. A brave, fierce patriot who took her place in American history and offered herself to a life of service and sacrifice. This book allows you to feel like you were there to watch her incredible journey. It is most definitely a must-read. Actually I would love to see this book in schools across our nation.
As a combat vet and UH60 flight medic from OIF and OEF, I found this book well written and authentic in detail.Well Done and highly recommended. Her descriptions brought me right back to the sand box.
Couldn't put it down. Well written for those not familiar with the military, she blended in explanations where needed. An amazing journey, and lots of hardships overcome, yet ready to jump and protect her brothers and sisters. Flying doorless up in extreme cold air probably a lot worse than being stuck on a ski lift at Breckenridge, I can't even imagine.Reading it also gave me a big kick in the butt for not working on my heli pilot license :) Thanks Amber!
I finished reading every word and each sentence in this most interesting story about growing up in a quality family, reacting to the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and entering the U.S. army with a mission to fly aircraft. The step by step training in uniform, assignments, deployments, combat, deaths, accidents, R & R, sisters on deployment were all presented thoroughly without too much detail. The transitions throughout the timeline were logical and excellent in keeping my interest and attention. I highly recommend this book to veterans and civilians both male and female. High school age students should read this work to get an understanding about military life, training, and service. Excellent soldiering and superb writing, Amber!
I really enjoyed her book. As an Army vet myself, a lot of the personnel interactions brought back memories, both good and bad. Her descriptions put you in the pilot's seat without getting too technical. This is a great read and I cannot recommend this book enough!
What does one do after cheerleading the Huskies to a National Championship at the Rose Bowl? Go to Iraq and help Americans kill terrorists in their nests, of course. Then go to Astan and do it again. Well, maybe not everyone does that.One of My Cousin Vinny’s ex-girlfriends said it best...‘Suppose you are a little Afghan boy, tending your goats every day, helping Bro Mohammed and Uncle Sa’ad plant IED’s every night, and you’re out one night on Route Justice digging in your IED, and Bro Mohammed is suddenly cut in half before your eyes, and you’re wearing Uncle Sa-ad’s brains, and you’re lying real still in a little open sewer creek, cuddled up with half a dog and trying real hard to look like just another piece of garbage in case there is something aiming at you, and you can hear some kaffir Kiowa going back and forth overhead but it’s all black and you can’t see anything, and it’s almost dawn, almost time for morning prayer call, almost ready for the sun to pop up, and maybe you can run thirty yards to hide behind the wall, and maybe you live another day...do you care if that kaffir Warrior has a set of balls between her legs?’
Wow! This first hand account of Ms. Smith's experiences as an Army helicopter pilot is intriguing and extremely well-written. As a reader, you go through training and two year-long deployments with Ms. Smith. Her descriptions are vivid - I could feel the sand in my nose and teeth, feel the physical discomfort of sitting in a cramped cockpit for several hours while on a mission, and experience the mental pressures of making quick decisions while flying into dangerous, ever changing situations.Danger Close was hard to put down, and it will stay with me for a long time. This is a book that I will recommend to others.
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