S.A.C. Great Years [Paperback]

Thomas Kaye (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

S.A.C. Great Years follows the hilarious misadventures of a young man from Pennsylvania as he joins the Navy at 17, is stationed in Florida, discovers first, motorcycles and then girls.

He purchased a home at age 19 (which he still owns today). But, finding civilian life lacking in the comraderies of the military, and missing his beloved planes, only six months after his Navy discharge he reenlisted in the military (this time in the Air Force), ended up in the Strategic Air Command (S.A.C.), traveled from Florida to Europe and then to tiny Midway Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean during his 20 years of service.

Throughout the book, not only do "TK" and his motorcycle buddies learn and grow in their careers, they also mature into men and the stories of their exciting, ridiculous, and sometimes unbelievable adventures of their leaves, daily lives, and the women they encounter make for easy reading and lots of laughs.

Master Sergeant Thomas Kaye's first-page "WARNING" says it all: "This book is NOT politically correct... [this book] relates to the bare facts. If you are shy or faint of heart, this book is not for you."

The 210 page book conveniently includes a Glossary as well as "TK"s personal definition of the "Cold War" and his moving dedication to the officers and men of the Strategic Air Command which shows his pride of serving with the SAC division (now part of the Air Mobility Command) as well as his loyalty to his fellow servicemen and the love of his country.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing; First Edition edition (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425107028
• ISBN-13: 978-1425107024
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,250,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S.A.C. Great Years MSGT. Thomas Kaye Ret., April 23, 2007

By 

J. Hutchinson (MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: S.A.C. Great Years (Paperback)

S.A.C. Great Years
I liked the fact that MSGT Kaye started out with a "Warning....Correct." Then to put the glossary in the front of the book. What a great idea. It made it easier to understand the book, especially with all those military terms. It was very refreshing to read a book that told it how it was liked for a young single GI. He had me laughing through out the whole book. I just could not put the book down, until I finished it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S.A.C. Great Years...I was there, February 9, 2007

By 

Mort "Mort" (NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.A.C. Great Years (Paperback)

I served with Tom Kaye at Brize Norton AB England, Westover AFB Mass,
Homestead AFB Fla, and have known, worked with, trained, and partied with him since 1958. His representation of the Strateigic Air Command and the military in general is a hoot. He tells it like it is...or rather...was. I do recommend this book to all who have served in any branch of the military and in any capacity. We were all young once and this book lets us revisit some of those 'moments' of our past.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How it was: Youth and leadership, February 8, 2007

By 

John C. Taylor "Cal Taylor" (Olympia, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: S.A.C. Great Years (Paperback)

Tom Kaye gives a rousing picture of his experiences as a young sailor in the Fifties and then as an airman in the Air Force until his retirement in the 70s. As he puts it, "not politically correct," but those were the days before such a concept. Kaye tells how it was for a young sailor in Italy and for an airman living off base, in London. There is much detail about maintaining B-47s, B-52s, C-141s and even the C-133, at Midway Island. He goes on to describe how it was servicing reflex B-47s in Morocco and training a new generation of maintainers on C-141s, at McGuire AFB, NJ. His tale provides an excellent picture of the political and military environment of the Cold War period. The B-47 was Kaye's favorite airplane. The reader will come away with an outstanding understanding of its mission and how it was to maintain the airplane. Kaye also gives an excellent example of leadership in those days. Highly recommended.