Hammer from Above

"Powerful-a gritty insider's tale as only a fighter pilot could tell it."
-W.E.B. Griffin

"This is the real thing, a solid and readable account of the role Marine air support played in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Jay Stout is a veteran Marine pilot who knows how to write, especially about Marine aviation. He understands-as only someone who has been there can-the hundreds of decisions a flier makes on a difficult mission, and he describes them memorably. If you've ever wondered what it is like to fly in combat, read this book."
-Thomas E. Ricks, author of Making the Corps and A Soldier's Duty

"The 2003 ground war in Iraq has been thoroughly reported by embedded correspondents and those who fought it. Hammer from Above now brings an entirely new perspective to the conflict. Jay Stout unflinchingly portrays the battle through the lens of the Marines who fought in the skies above Iraq. He has skillfully woven the first-person stories of these men and women into a compelling tale of bravery and chance in the crucible of combat that will become an enduring part of the history of the Iraq War."
-Jon Hoffman, author of Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC

"A brilliant and exciting battle account of the 'Flying Leathernecks' who bravely supported their brother grunts in Iraq. It truly captures the emotions, actions, and feel of that battlefield unlike any other writing."
-Gen. Tony Zinni, USMC (Retired)

"A veteran aviator's superb account of a short, sharp war. A revealing portrait of airpower at its finest-supporting the riflemen on the ground-Jay Stout's book does a great service not only for the Marine Corps and our country, but for readers everywhere."
-Ralph Peters, author of Beyond Baghdad: Postmodern War and Peace