Danger Close

June 27, 2016
Like a skilled helicopter pilot who skims the ground without churning up too much dust, Smith, a former U.S. Army Kiowa Warrior pilot, superficially revisits her years in the military. As both piloting and military service ran in her family, Smith grew up believing that someday she’d don a uniform and fly planes. The 9/11 attacks turned someday into now. Smith was still in college, though, and without a degree only the Army flight program accepted her—and only for helicopter training. She discusses her experience training as a pilot, occasionally peeling back a layer or two from the surface but studiously avoiding controversy. Smith does deliver deft, almost loving, descriptions of the Kiowa helicopter and the role that the chopper and its crew play in combat. Though comfortable writing about training, equipment, and missions, Smith sidesteps addressing military gender politics. This may come as a disappointment to some readers, given that all combat positions recently opened up for women and that sexual assault and harassment continue. She also shrinks from discussing the politics or the history of the wars. There’s no question that Smith was an accomplished and loyal soldier who served her country well, but readers will be left wondering why she didn’t address crucial aspects of service. Agent: Jim Hornfischer, Hornfischer Literary.

August 1, 2016

While most memoirs about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been penned by male combat veterans, Smith's book represents a missing viewpoint--the voice of a female Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot. Deploying in 2005 and 2008 with the Second Squadron of the 17th Cavalry Regiment, part of the legendary 101st Airborne Division, Smith flew missions over dangerous and remote territories in Iraq and Afghanistan to scout IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and enemy presence, maintaining calm under fire in the worst of situations. Smith begins with her decision to join the U.S. Army after growing up with her pilot father and a childhood of flying experience. The book journeys through basic training, flight school, and then in-the-air training. Through that training, Smith shares the difficulty of breaking through the "boys club" of military aviation. The author covers each mission with edge-of-your-seat detail and a coolness that demonstrates how she gained the respect of not only her fellow pilots but also soldiers on the ground. VERDICT A rare outlook in a field of wartime memoirs, Smith's account is a must-read and an inspiration for women who aspire to become aviators.--Rebecca Hill, Zionsville, IN

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