Book excerpt: This book recounts four tours of Air Force duty in Vietnam, 1965-1968, and reports firsthand how tactics and the war effort changed each time. The routine and risk of daily airlift operations and the differing air bases are discussed--and colored with personal memories. Cargo included everything from elephants to dancing girls, and accidents and errors were all part of the mission. The author describes the work as a "history-based, humorous, satirical, and bitter recount of a major national wasted effort," with commentary on American attitudes, the costs and the lingering social impact of the war. Photographs. Index.