Naked in Da Nang : a forward air controller in Vietnam
(Book)

Searching for an elusive enemy, forward air controllers (FACs) in Vietnam flew low and slow, often offering themselves as bait to draw fire from NVA troops. In addition to the perils of enemy fire--which ranged from lucky AK-47 shots to .51-caliber machine guns and SA-7 shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles--they also had to watch out for B-52 Arc-Light strikes and friendly artillery fire. FACs were regarded by many of their aviator brethren as insane, suicidal, or both. This was Mike Jackson's life for 366 days. In spring 1972 he hugged the DMZ, fighting back against the massive NVA Easter Offensive, controlling the bomb-, rocket-, and napalm-laden attack aircraft whose ordnance made the difference between life and death for friendly units on the ground. He was also part of the team of FACs who managed the rescue of BAT-21, immortalized in the movie of the same name. With a keen eye for the absurdities of a combat zone, Jackson's irreverent storytelling makes Naked in Da Nang a personal and darkly humorous take on the Vietnam War. -- Back cover.