Roger Ball!

<I>Roger Ball!</I> is a magnificent read about a great and distinguished life well lived. John Monroe Smith is a living legend in Naval aviation: an all-American boy living his dream a dream of becoming the best fighter pilot and carrier aviator in the Navy. He succeeded in being the best in a way that only one with unbridled passion fierce commitment boundless energy unconditional dedication and relentless resolve can experience.</BR><B>-Ed Allen Rear Admiral USN (Retired)</B></P>In the wake of the hard lessons of the Vietnam War a pantheon of committed naval aviators struggled valiantly to modernize fighter aircraft and overhaul tactics. It was a seemingly titanic task marked by political intrigue doctrinal apoplexy and sadly petty politics.</P>This is the personal story of one of those naval aviators Captain John Monroe Hawk Smith. It chronicles his growth as a naval officer his seasoning as a fighter pilot and his hardening as a commanding officer. It tells of the raw courage of naval aviators and captures the visceral loyalty unswerving commitment and the unsinkable camaraderie that is the brotherhood of naval aviation.</P><I>Roger Ball!</I> is a seven-g heart-in-the-throat story of the very unforgiving profession of naval aviation.</P>