We Dared to Fly is the true story of the young men who risked their lives daily on classified missions deep behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. The Army aviators and enlisted observers assigned to the 131st Surveillance Airplane Company, call sign Iron Spud, flew the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk into the jaws of death to capture timely intelligence for top military decision makers and senior national officials. The story is the author’s account of his assignment to that special mission unit, of the history that came before and the events that unfolded while he was there. When he arrived, three-quarters of the unit’s aircraft had been lost, most to combat action in Laos and North Vietnam—some of the most hostile threat environments in aviation history. The Army quickly replaced losses because of the critical need for the information they collected. Some downed crew members were recovered; most were killed or missing in action. In recognition of the exceptional sacrifices made during the war, the unit received the Valorous Unit Award for “gallant actions and extraordinary heroism.” The book is filled with riveting combat accounts. It is also a human-interest story, bringing the reader into the lives of this group of fascinating brave men.

“Like the A-10 aircraft she flew in combat, retired colonel and fighter pilot Martha McSally is a gritty individual who loves our Air Force and personified its core values of excellence, integrity, and service before self, while standing up to make it a better institution for everyone who serves. How to be resolute, do the right thing, persevere, find gratitude, and learn compassion are just some of the lessons in her inspirational life story.” —Ron FOGLEMAN, General (ret.), U.S. Air Force; former Air Force Chief of Staff Combining the soulful honesty of Make Your Bed with the inspiring power of You Are a Badass, America’s first female combat jet pilot and Arizona Senator Martha McSally shows you how to clear the runway of your life: embrace fear, transform doubt, succeed when you are expected to fail, and soar to great heights in this motivational life guide. Martha McSally is an extraordinary achiever whose inner strength and personal principles have helped her overcome adversity throughout her life. Initially rejected from Air Force flight school because she was too short, she refused to give up, becoming the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat and the first to command a combat fighter squadron in United States history. During her twenty-six-year military career, she fought to free American servicewomen stationed in the Middle East from restrictions requiring them to don full-body, black abayas and ride in the backs of cars – and won. McSally has continued to serve America, first in the House of Representatives, and now as a U.S. Senator from Arizona. McSally is also a survivor. She shares how her experiences propelled her to become a fighter for justice in and out of the cockpit. In this powerful, uplifting book, McSally reflects on her successes and failures, shares key principles that have guided her, and reveals invaluable lessons to break barriers, thrive through darkness, and make someone proud in your life. “Courage isn’t magic or genetics. It is a choice. By choosing to do things afraid, you discover your own power to overcome.” Filled with fresh stories and insights, Dare to Fly will help each of us find the courage inside to break our barriers, endure turbulence, and keep flying high.

When Eagles Dare to Fly is a story of hope. It foretells a bright future where the deep-rooted spiritual nature of mankind can overcome the past and lead us to a future of peace, love, and tranquility. This is a powerful story of Mitch and Raymond growing up in a society where men have lost purpose. Robbed of pride, men drink to forget their past and hopeless future; alcoholism and the destruction of their families result. Children are forced to endure physical and mental abuse of their mothers and families. The children realize the cycle must be broken. Joining together, they show their parents a better life. A seemingly insignificant deatha murdergalvanizes the youth to action. Reverting to the old ways, the spiritualism of their forefathers, they vow to return to the days when they were a proud, loving people. During their journey, they discover an amazing fact. That bigotry and racism are just barriers erected to hide the fact that mankind suffers from the same diseases.

The turmoil within the world, as well as within oneself, the storms both within and without, can be checked and brought to a calm before they rage out of control, set on a path of destruction. Prejudice is a storm of life that can be overcome by reminding ourselves that individualism is a God-given right to be set apart, to be different. We must learn to look for the "good salt" in others, to see their spirit. With courage, boldness, a keen hindsight, like our brother; the eagle, we can overcome; lifting ourselves above adversity to soar Where Only Eagles Dare to Fly! Amelia Malone is a divorced, middle-aged woman, who has lived her life in a sheltered corner of the world in rural America. With her children now grown, she has plenty of time to follow the innate desire to search out the roots of her Indian ancestry. Though she has never experienced prejudice, or violence, other than thru the windows of television or newspapers, they both will now come to rest on her as she steps out of her norm into reality. It is there she finds her greatest enemy, herself. Amelia moves to the city where she is plagued by the presence of an evil spirit and encounters a young Indian man whose been sent on a vision quest by spirits of tribal elders past. Showing up unexpected on her camping trip allows him the opportunity to save her from smorgasbord for a mountain lion. With the developing of their friendship, Amelia learns she is a valuable component in his vision being fulfilled, A vision of a legend that eyes of Indians of many generations past have waited to see fulfilled. After shes been presented with a sacred eagle claw necklace from the spirit of an elderly Indian woman, and she and her new friend find themselves adorned with identical ceremonial chokers, they part, not knowing when theyll meet again. Amelia is afforded a chance to go west to watch a western filmed that shes been corresponding with. On the train journey she must overcome prejudice when she befriends a Mexican that a rich white woman tells her to beware of cause he has a black eye and a yet open gash on his lip. She faces prejudice again when she befriends a full-blooded Indian who at first pierces her thru with fiery darts as he glares at her and calls her the average white woman. They quickly overcome the wall of prejudice and find their destination is one and the same; as he is an actor in the western shes to watch filmed. That week she finds herself caught up in the Legend of Great Bear, trying to overcome her Great Bear within, her insecurities, and her Great Bear without, a bold-legged cowpoke who has vowed to have her. At the ranch she comes across the Indian shed encountered in the city and finds he is best friends with her new Indian friend from the train. They find themselves at odds over her as she spends her week scaling Eagle Rock, saving her friends from two kinds of serpents, a knife throwing renegade and a rattlesnake, and helping the ranch owner overcome a 30- year vengeance hes had against his best friend over a woman they had both loved. She helps her Indian friend, who had save her life, overcome a false sense of pride, helps him accept the truth about his real father so he wont take his own life, comforts a friend the cowpoke attempted to rape when he thought it was Amelia in Amelias bed, persuades an adversary to allow Crystal Creek Waterfall to be used to authenticate a scene, brings out the hidden truth about Indian people, discovers unsought love and finds her destiny Where Only Eagles Dare to Fly. I love to write, though writing this book wasnt planned, but rather inspired. I have a voice and was told a truth needed to unfold that many generations past have waited and needed to hear about the Indian people.

This is his best book yet. Here, James uses a metaphor of the eagle to depict how people should live and take care of their children. Sometimes, we, as parents, drop the ball and make mistakes, and that’s all right if you learn from the mistakes. If you don’t know that there are predators out there, now you will know. James speaks from his own experience with child abuse and molestation. Eagles protect their young, and so should we.

The book Dare to Fly! is an accumulation of many years of inspirational thoughts and spiritual insights. It's a message right out of the Bible on living the victorious Christian life. It deals with many problems and obstacles Christians face in their daily walk with Jesus. It deals with the area of a tremendous lack of faith experienced by a multitude of believers, even many pastors and teachers. Bible scriptures can produce the faith needed to be overcomers. This book is a sharing of wonderful truths that give all Christians hope. Their lives can be better, more fulfilled, and more productivemore than just settling for mediocrity!

From NPR correspondent O' Brien comes this thrilling Young Readers' edition that celebrates a little-known slice of history wherein tenacious, trailblazing women braved all obstacles to achieve greatness in the skies. Photos.