Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin : A Story of the U. S. Military's Commitment to Leave No One Behind

On November 18, 1965, U.S. Navy pilot Willie Sharp ejected from his F-8 fighter after being hit while positioned over a target in North Vietnam. With a cloud layer beneath him, he did not know if he was over land—where he would most certainly be captured or killed by the North Vietnamese—or over the Gulf of Tonkin. As he ejected, both navy and air force aircraft were already heading toward him to help. What followed was a dramatic rescue made by pilots and other airmen with little or no training or experience in combat search-and-rescue. Told by former military flight test engineer Eileen A. Bjorkman, this story includes nail-biting descriptions of air combat, flight, and rescue. Bjorkman places Sharp's story in the larger context of the U.S. military's bedrock credo—No Man Left Behind—and calls attention to the more than eighty thousand Americans still missing from conflicts since World War I. She also explores the devastating aftershocks of the Vietnam War as Sharp struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Woven into this gripping tale is the fascinating history of combat search-and-rescue missions that officially began in World War II. Combining the cockiness and camaraderie of Top Gun with the heroics of Sully , Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin is a riveting tale of combat rescue and an unforgettable story about the U.S. military's commitment to leave no man behind. On November 18, 1965, U.S. Navy pilot Willie Sharp ejected from hisF-8 fighter after being hit while positioned over a target in NorthVietnam. With a cloud layer beneath him, he did not know if he wasover land-where he would most certainly be captured or killed bythe North Vietnamese-or over the Gulf of Tonkin. As he ejected,both navy and air force aircraft were already heading toward him tohelp. What followed was a dramatic rescue made by pilots and otherairmen with little or no training or experience in combatsearch-and-rescue. Told by former military flight test engineerEileen A. Bjorkman, this story includes nail-biting descriptions ofair combat, flight, and rescue. Bjorkman places Sharp's story inthe larger context of the U.S. military's bedrock credo-No Man LeftBehind-and calls attention to the more than eighty thousandAmericans still missing from conflicts since World War I. She alsoexplores the devastating aftershocks of the Vietnam War as Sharpstruggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Woven into thisgripping tale is the fascinating history of combatsearch-and-rescue missions that officially began in World War II.Combining the cockiness and camaraderie of Top Gun withthe heroics of Sully, Unforgotten in the Gulf ofTonkin is a riveting tale of combat rescue and anunforgettable story about the U.S. military's commitment to leaveno man behind "Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin is the thrilling true story of Navy pilot Lt. William Sharp's high-speed ejection from his F-8 over North Vietnam and escape."-- Provided by publisher