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Journey to Command by Carol Smith Dec 30, 2006
By Carl H. Ellis
What a great read about life in the Military as it really is. Written by the wife of a distinguished Naval aviator, this is a story about her husbands roller coast career ride. In frank terms, this book reveals how fate and dedication to duty can work through Chain of Command bureaucracies in order to accomplish great things for the service and our country.
Captain Smith was the Radar Intercept Office in a Phantom Jet that shot down the very first MIG during our Viet Nam war. His career then migrated toward training and Captain Smith is credited with having established the famous Top Gun Air Combat School.
Woven into the story of Captain Smith's career is another story about love and dedication to family. This is a story about life, about love, about duty and it is a story about the young warriors of our country that have kept our nation safe and secure through the years.
Having just read the book, I feel proud.
Journey to Command - more than a story about Naval Aviation Feb 12, 2007
By Paul D. Kehrer
Carol Smith has done a marvelous job of relating the personal story of Captain John C. "J.C." Smith, an outstanding leader, aviator and American who contributed much to improve our effectiveness in aerial combat during the Vietnam War. Lovers of aviation history, and real life adventure stories, will be more than satisfied with this book. However, the book Journey to Command, is much more than this. It is also a great love story about a man devoted to serving his country, and a wife and partner who together, made it all possible. This true story about Captain J. C. Smith is more than anything the triumph of one individual who prevailed against nay sayers and doubters and made a huge difference. On the stage of life there are only brief moments of opportunity to make a difference. The ones who do have seized the moment. Captain Smith was that man in Naval Aviation during the Vietnam war. Humble and gifted, his story is a delight to read. No person who loves true stories with happy endings will miss reading this wonderful book.
This Ain't No Bull! - Been There, Enjoyed That! Jan 05, 2007
By Phantom Phlyer
"Phantom Phlyer"
"Journey To Command" is a must-have book for any Naval historian. Carol Smith and her husband J.C. have brought to life what it was "really like" to be a part of an exciting yet perilous era in Naval Aviation, the creation of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, Top Gun. The book includes all the before, during,and afterwards of that process in the early 1970s, and Capt. Smith's impact on making it happen.
Following Capt. Smith from early in his career through his retirement, the reader is captivated by the camaraderie, challenge, and perseverance experienced by Naval Aviators and Flight Officers in peacetime and in war. As one who was there, this book brought back so many memories of people with whom I worked and flew everyday. It was very difficult to put down, and J.C.'s first-hand account of that age kept me glued to each page as he and Carol wove their story.
"Journey To Command" should be at the top of your to-do reading list. Five-star all the way.
Bart "Black Bart" Bartholomay
VF-161 - 1970-72
I WAS THERE IN 1965 Dec 29, 2006
By Michael Hanley
"FIGHTER PILOT"
I WAS A NUGGET PILOT IN VF21 AND PROUDLY SERVED WITH LT SMITH.THE BOOK CONFIRMS HIS DEDICATION, DRIVE,INTELLIGENCE, RESPECT HE GIVES AND GETS, AND UNDERSCORES HIS MULTIPLE ABILITIES TO INSTRUCT, GUIDE BY EXAMPLE, EXUDE LEADERSHIP WITH COMPASSION,HUMOR AND UNDERSTANDING, AND PROFESS HIS LOVE OF COUNTRY,FAMILY ,AND FELLOW MAN. HE WAS A MENTOR AND GOOD FRIEND WHILE I WAS IN VF 21 AND MY FEELING HAVE NOT CHANGED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. HE WAS THE RIO WITH CDR LEW PAGE AND GUIDED THE ATTACK FOR THE FIRST MIG KILL IN VIETNAM.HE ALSO RAMRODDED RESPECT FOR THE TWO MAN CREW CONCEPT BY DEMANDING EQUAL TREATMENT FOR RIOS AND PILOTS. THIS DEMAND SET THE STANDARD FOR ADVANCEMENT FOR RIOS TOWARDS COMMAND OF A FIGHTER SQUADRON. HAVING OBSERVED HIS INTESTIONAL FORTITUDE FIRST HAND, I CAN ONLY AGREE THAT HE DESERVED AND EARNED COMMAND AND HE GOT IT. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS A MUST READ FOR OFFICERS AND LEADERS IN ANY BRANCH OF OUR ARMED FORCES,AS A GUIDE FOR MAINTAINING A MARRAGE AND A BALANCING ACT FOR GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY AND COURAGE. NEVR FORGET TO INCLUDE A SENSE OF HUMORS.JC EPITOMISES THESE QUALITIES.IT WAS A SORRY DAY FOR THE NAVY TO LOSE THIS MAN THROUGH WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT. MIKE HANLEY
Air-toAir Combat: A History Nov 06, 2006
By Roger W. Harris
I served as a Naval Aviator in a carrier-based squadron with J.C. Smith and was there when history was being made.
It was the time when Naval Flight Officers (non-pilots) were first being tested in combat and would determine their career paths from then on. J.C. was the Radar Intercept Officer in the Phantom which shot down the very first MiG of the Viet Nam air war and would go on to establish the now-famous "Top Gun" air combat school at NAS Miramar. No graduate of this intensive course in aerodynamics and air-to-air tactics was ever downed by an enemy aircraft. The "Kill Ratio" improved ten-fold as graduates imparted their knowledge to their squadron mates and weapons' performance and reliability improved. It lead to new thinking on the importance of a close-in weapon (the 20 mm cannon), which is standard equipment on modern day fighters.
J.C. proved that formerly "second class citizen" aviation officers could climb the promotional ladder to become Commanding Officers of squadrons, Air Wings and aircraft carriers. They could even become Admirals.
His wife, Carol, has written a story of the love they shared while telling the story of J.C.'s battles with the Navy's bureaucracy in attaining the funds, new equipment and recognition of the skills needed to survive in the arena of Air to Air Combat.
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