For a year Randy Mains endured gross incompetence in the chain of command, top-secret excursions into neutral Laos, routine recovery missions that would turn suddenly, unexpectedly into life-threatening nightmaresmore than one thousand combat hours flying into the perilous heart of a terrifying jungle inferno. In the wild, unruly fraternity of combat flyers he learned the meaning of courage and camaraderieand experienced the gut-wrenching pain of personal loss. But most important, he survived to tell his own unforgettable story of the real war Mom never knew about.