Customer Reviews

She's Just Another Navy Pilot: An Aviator's Sea Journal

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Before reading "She's Just Another Navy Pilot", I knew about the author from Jean Zimmerman's "Tailspin: Women at War in the Wake of Tailhook". I had seen her letters of rebuttal to reactionary editorial in the San Diego Union Tribune, and to unfavorably slanted articles in Newsweek. I knew her name as a successful Naval aviator and very credible advocate of women in her profession. When I received her book from Amazon, I opened it immediately, and did not put it down until I had finished it. What a fascinating autobiography of a most extraordinary person! Loree Draude Hirschman was one of the US Navy's first female fighter-pilots to transfer to fleet combat operations. She describes the early opposition to women in the jet-jock community and the sometimes open hostility she encountered. She details her first deployment, in which female aviators were isolated and ostracized. By the end of that cruise, one had been killed, another grounded for poor performance, and another had turned in her wings. But with perseverence and dignity, the majority of the sixteen women in the pioneer group had succeeded. By her second deployment, female aviators had already begun to find acceptance -- especially after one new F/A-18 pilot won the "Top Nugget Award" for best score in qualifications. (Loree herself earned placement in the Top Ten.) I hope this book will be read by opponants of female aviators. The author exposes the distortion of fact they have presented to the public. Yet she is refreshingly frank about problems which still exist in the gender-integrated Navy. I hope her book will be read by aspiring pilots in search of a role model. Her descriptions of flying and the flight deck are vivid, and make the reader feel right there with her. And her pride in her Naval service is inspiring, even though she relates her accomplishments with modesty.

While books like Jarhead become best-sellers, this
well-written account of a female navy pilot has remained
hidden from the mass market. And that's our loss.

Loree Draude Hirschman, daughter of a Marine general,
joined the aircraft carrier Lincoln as an S-3 pilot, and thereby made history. That year the Lincoln was the first West Coast based ship to depart with an integrated male-female crew. Hirschman flew jets off the deck of the carrier and brought them back -- a test of skill and professionalism. And she describes, in detail, life aboard a carrier, where the frustrations come more from living under a microscope than from battling with the enemy.

She probably pays more attention to details a woman would notice -- and enjoy reading about. For example, pilots work crazy hours, yet the mess officer was adamant that no cereal would be distributed after 10:30 AM! Four women in a cramped stateroom have to work to get along, especially when one brings her "boyfriend" home, in defiance of the rules.

Hirschman was ideally suited for her role. She knew how to be one of the boys and she genuinely enjoyed navy life. She has moments of doubt and despair, but overall she cares about her crew and manages to make a tough situation seem easy. I suspect she left only when her husband became medically disqualified; otherwise she'd probably be on her way too becoming an Admiral.

Loree's book offers insight into a world many of us will never know. Her relaxed and descriptive writing style brings you into her world. As you read the book you are able to visualize what she is describing and feel both her elations and frustrations. Her honesty about her experiences with the controversial issue of women in combat positions is clear and her willingness to share her emotions in the midst of the experience is both touching and powerful. I laughed with her and cried for her chapter after chapter.

A modest person, Loree does not fully let on in the book what an amazing person she is. The book brings the reader into a representative and important part of her life but there is so much more to her. In addition to her dedication to the Navy, her country, and her family, she is one of the most creative and generally caring people I have had the honor to know.

I encourage you to read this book to educate yourself. Most of us have experienced women and men working together in the private sector and have heard much about the struggle of women to gain acceptance into the ranks of corporations. However, few have had the opportunity to understand this same challenge in the military. The deployment Loree describes in the book made strides to putting men and women on an even level, allowing them to work together to preserve the freedom many of us take for granted.

Loree Hirschman tells her story with candor and lets the drama of her story speak for itself. She serves as a role model for women who are passionate about their work, especially in male-dominated environments, and her narrative is an encouragement. Ms. Hirschman paints a complete picture of her life as a Navy pilot- both the personal and the professional.

Loree Hirschman's book provides the reader with a rare and in-depth account of her career as a Navy fighter pilot. Her stories range from technical descriptions of her first flying experiences to the death of a fellow pilot, as well as her marriage and family life. The author does an excellent job of telling a high-level, yet personal story that involved flying in the Middle East and risking her life to protect countries where women's rights were severely restricted.

An interesting and educational book, as well as a fun summer read.

From the first chapter, She's Just Another Navy Pilot keeps you turning the pages. An incredibly personal and insightful memoir into life on board an aircraft carrier and into the life of an impressive pilot. I highly recommend this book!

She's Just Another Navy Pilot: An Aviator's Sea Journal is absolutely one of the most authentic and personal accounts of what its really like to wear Navy wings of gold. Reading this book, you'll be there when she's about to land on a pitching deck... It's an absolute page turner. You'll love it.

This was a great book! Open, honest and to the point. There is no sugar coating here, just straight simple truthful writing. I recomend it to anybody who wants a dose of reality about trans-gender issues in a hostile environment.

I was recommended this book when I shared with a friend my interest in the Air Force and Army. I never read much, but this got my attention. Her discription of life at sea, and all the little things she had to deal with, that civilains never think about on land. The author made it easy to understand her emotions, and her life style. It was an excellent resource to how woman were integrated into the Navy, and how difficult it was. It was facts, and also her opinions as she lived through it. I loved it!