Publisher Description

U.S. Air Force Pararescue is the most skillful and capable rescue force in the world, taking on some of the most dangerous rescue missions imaginable. PJs (short for para-jumpers), are members of an elite unit whose commando skills are so wide-reaching they often seem like something out of science fiction. They routinely tackle perilous operations that are beyond the capabilities of other rescue organizations, and sometimes dare the seemingly impossible. Since their inception in 1947, PJs have saved more than thirty thousand lives. They can pluck near-frozen climbers off jagged mountaintops as well as recover shot-down jet pilots stranded deep in hostile territory. In the dead of night, the PJs parachute into ominous black waves that loom twenty feet tall to save distressed seamen, and brave the cruelest and most desolate deserts to recover victims. U.S. Air Force pararescuemen have played a prominent role in every armed conflict since the Korean War, rescuing thousands of soldiers from behind enemy lines. This book presents true stories of uncommon courage told from the perspective of the actual men in the arena. PJ's belong to an exclusive brotherhood and forge unbreakable bonds of loyalty, commitment, and sacrifice. They do these things for their country, to protect their brothers in arms, and to honor their motto: "That Others May Live." ILLUSTRATION: 16 pages of photos

Author Biography

Senior Master Sergeant Bill Sine entered the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 1975. He immediately volunteered for pararescue duty and completed the rigorous training in 1976. Sergeant Sine has over twenty-five hundred flying hours and is an accomplished military scuba diver, mountain-rescue instructor, and confined-space and structural collapse technician. He retired from active duty in 2003 after twenty-eight years of distinguished service. Sergeant Sine's decorations include a Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2005 he returned to the PJ community becoming the first civilian PJ instructor in history. He currently serves as the Assitant Director of Operations at the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1: Into The Valley Chapter 2: Pararescue Selection Chapter 3: England Chapter 4: Okinawa Chapter 5: Philippines Chapter 6: Ethiopia Chapter 7: Iceland Chapter 8: Khobar Towers Chapter 9: Trouble Comes In Threes Chapter 10: Casualties Of War Chapter 11: To Boldly Go Chapter 12: Yemen Chapter 13: Warrior Down Chapter 14: Life After Pararescue

Review

"...a fabulous read, filled with heroism, history nd hi-jinks....Reading this book will give you a history of an elite group of servicemen that few have ever heard of...writing style is fluent and dynamic..."-- "Readers' Favorite"
"Rather than being a history of the Pararescuemen, Bill Sine has written a book which is a collection of extended vignettes about his career in the PJs. Some are very funny and some are (given the nature of their work) sad; all demonstrate that combination of professionalism and calculated risk-taking that seems to be inherent in this trade. Some of the history is given as part of the stories but the focus is the men and the tale....brings his subject to life and most definitely explains why Pararescuemen can be regarded as a highly-specialised, highly-capable force. I recommend this book to anyone who might even be vaguely interested in the subject or who just enjoys stories from lesser-known parts of the military."-- "Army Rumour Service"

Prizes

Winner of New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards (First Book) 2013

Review Quote

Rather than being a history of the Pararescuemen, Bill Sine has written a book which is a collection of extended vignettes about his career in the PJs. Some are very funny and some are (given the nature of their work) sad; all demonstrate that combination of professionalism and calculated risk-taking that seems to be inherent in this trade. Some of the history is given as part of the stories but the focus is the men and the tale....brings his subject to life and most definitely explains why Pararescuemen can be regarded as a highly-specialised, highly-capable force. I recommend this book to anyone who might even be vaguely interested in the subject or who just enjoys stories from lesser-known parts of the military.

Details