Description:
Step inside the hardened aircraft shelters of Hahn Air Base and witness life on the front lines of the Cold War inThe Fightin' Tenth.
In a personal and often humorous voice, former US Air Force officer Michael Makatura takes you behind the wire of one of NATO's most elite tactical fighter squadrons-the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron-during the tense final years of the Cold War and into Operation Desert Storm. From the heart of West Germany to the skies above Iraq, this gripping memoir captures what it means to stand ready for war at a moment's notice, fly the iconic F-16 Viper, and live among warriors with a shared sense of purpose and brotherhood.
Part history, part military life, part personal transformation, Makatura's story is filled with grit, fighter-pilot mockery, and raw honesty. Whether it's enduring the mental gauntlet of Officer Training School, landing in Europe as a wide-eyed second lieutenant, or watching seasoned pilots prep for combat in the Middle East, The Fightin' Tenth brings to life the unique culture, mission, and mindset of an American fighter squadron in an unforgettable era.
Brief description: Michael Makatura served as the executive officer of the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Hahn Air Base, Germany. Born into a working-class family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he never imagined he would one day be part of a fighter squadron that would help shape the final days of the Cold War and later participate in Operation Desert Storm."Mak" graduated from Pitt Johnstown in 1987. He is married to his wife, Rhonda, and together they have five children. He resides in Winter Garden, Florida.
Review Quotes:
"Once I started Michael 'Mak' Makatura's book, The Fightin' Tenth, I couldn't put it down. Having also served in a fighter squadron during the Cold War and participated in Operation Desert Storm, Mak captures perfectly the pace and warrior culture of a fighter unit. The F-16 was a stallion that could humble even the best aviator. 'The culture demanded thick skin, sharp wits, and absolute focus. It chewed up the lazy and spit out the unprepared.' The book describes the 10th TFS's stellar performance in the desert during hundreds of high-risk missions where one mistake could cost you your life. But even more, the book captures the wonderful experience of American servicemen and women living in the Mosel River Valley in Germany. 'For many of us, those evenings in the Mosel became defining memories . . . when you remembered that while the mission mattered, so did the moments in between.' For those of us who were there, it's a wonderful story of remembrance, and for everyone else interested in what it was like to serve in such a dynamic role, this is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the presence of warriors."-Richard 'Mongoose' Hess, USAF and ANG (Ret), author of Night of the Bear, Red Tide, and High Flight: A Pilot's Journey Through Life
"The Fightin' Tenth brings back my own memories of serving during the Cold War and Desert Shield/Desert Storm days! For those that have not served, this is a great account of the life of an airman in the United States Air Force. The best air force in the world! You have the airmen, NCOs, officers, and then the pilots. The men and women that strap into a claustrophobic office sitting on a jet engine with an enormous amount of power and an arsenal of weapons at their fingertips performing G-forces that can take you into another dimension!
This is an account of those pilots and the constant state of high alert during the Cold War and then actually exercising what they learned during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This is an account of the team of logistics, admin, bomb loaders, and maintenance that make sure our pilots can become airborne at a moment's notice to do that job. This is also an account of the sacrifice by the families that are left behind during war. Each squadron have their own unique stories to tell, but this one is the Fightin Tenth's story!" -Technical Sergeant Tod Gohl, USAF (Ret), author of Saving America's Citizens
"I doubt very much that a book like Captain Michael Makatura's The Fightin' Tenth: Cold War to Desert Storm would be found in any Russian library, or in the libraries of any despotic, totalitarian regime. This book is wonderfully American and could only have been inspired within a freedom-loving people and country. Michael experienced that special 'feeling of the feel' serving with the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and he was compelled to capture in writing all the camaraderie, love, and bonding that takes place in an elite, high-risk military unit in combat and in preparing for combat. Well documented and well done. A necessary read for all military buffs and historians."-Colonel Joseph Tedeschi, US Army (Ret), author of Knowing My Father and A Rock in the Clouds