Commander William “Saint” Patrick was responsible for all squadron administrative functions and in line to succeed the CO. The second in command, the executive officer, or XO, was a sour-faced martinet. He was known as the “CO” or Skipper to those inside the squadron. VFA-64 was commanded by Commander Steve “Cajun” Lassiter, an easygoing former Tulane linebacker with a thick moustache and a shock of dark hair. The Ravens flew the multi-mission FA-18 Hornet strike-fighters, and were equally at home with anything from air-to-air fighter sweeps and combat air patrols to air-to-surface bombing and defense suppression missions with an array of weaponry each pilot mastered. The Ravens consisted of 15 pilots, a small number of maintenance officers, a dozen chief petty officers, and some 160 sailors who maintained the 11 aircraft and performed various functions that allowed the operation to run without hiccup. And, at times, in his innermost thoughts, a guilty desire for combat, a reality which was now little more than 1,000 miles over the horizon, and getting closer with each passing minute. Experiencing life on a warship on the other side of the world - a reason to stay. He thought of the exhilaration of flying off the ship, being up on the “roof” and experiencing what only a handful of humans can even imagine. Possibly by the Navy’s choice - probably by my own. He was conscious of the fact that once the cruise ended - some five months from now according to the schedule - he may not come back here on a deployed aircraft carrier again. It may be the last time this cruise… may be the last time ever, he had thought. As he had trudged down the flight deck in 40 pounds of custom flight gear, he had taken in the scene and wondered if this would be one of the last times he would ever experience it. He was the last aircraft to trap, and after shutting his jet down on the bow, he had taken a favorite route toward the carrier’s “island,” the towering six-story superstructure that housed the bridge that allowed him to enjoy the sunshine. He remembered yesterday’s hop in the Gulf of Aden, a functional test hop on a clear, blue day, one of those days when he still couldn’t believe they paid him to fly. Throughout the years of writing and refining, my wife Terry - herself a veteran of those deployments but from the perspective of the spouse back home - and my late mother Margaret, also a career Navy wife, provided timely observations and edits in company with the love and support both of them have shown me all my life.
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My brother-in-law retired NYPD Lieutenant John Dove, also an accomplished professional writer, provided much appreciated suggestions, observations and encouragement. CAPT George Galdorisi USN (Ret.) and CDR Ward Carroll USN (Ret.), both prolific and accomplished writers in this genre, freely offered solid suggestions and were encouraging to me when the publishing process got me down, as was CAPT Tom Schneider, MC, USN (Ret.) who added sage advice about his experience with modern publishing. Jaeger, MSC USN (Ret.) was also helpful with her excellent observations and suggestions. CAPT Don Gabrielson USN provided vital feedback and suggestions on surface combat and descriptive prose, and CDR Gordon “Dart” Fogg USN (Ret.) was instrumental in explaining modern close air support procedures with which I was not familiar. Liz) Nosal USN (Ret.) were instrumental and enthusiastic in the editing process and storyline improvement, as were CAPT Will Dossel USN (Ret.) and LCDR George Walsh, USNR (Ret.). I wish to thank CAPT Chuck “CAP” Nash USN (Ret.) for his invaluable observations on squadron culture, CAPT Rich Thayer USN (Ret.) for his keen thoughts on leadership decision making, and CAPT Kevin “KC” Albright USN (Ret.) for his thorough editing and content suggestions, as well as his observations on leadership. Strike-Fighter Squadron SIX FOUR (VFA-64) Officersīefore they lead a strike, fighter pilots get a “sanity check” from their seniors and fellow pilots to ensure success.CVW-4 “Tomahawk” call letters AH “Alpha Hotel”.Retired Navy Captain Kevin Miller fills his novel with flying action and adventure - and also examines the actions of imperfect humans as they follow their own agendas in a disciplined world of unrelenting pressure and danger.