Hangar 4: Becoming a Marine Corps Aviator
BOOK REVIEW: Hangar Four: A Combat Aviator’s Memoir
By Lieutenant Colonel Isaac G. Lee, USMC (Ret.)/ Acorn Publishing
Reviewed by: George Galdorisi
The Reviewer — George Galdorisi is Director of Strategic Assessments and Technical Futures for the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. Prior to joining NIWC Pacific, he completed a thirty-year career as a naval aviator, executive officer, commanding officer, commodore, and chief of staff. He is the author of sixteen books, including four consecutive New York Times bestsellers. His most book is Algorithms of Armageddon: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Future Wars.
REVIEW — As a career naval aviator who spent his entire professional life in the rotary wing community, I was naturally drawn to Hangar Four: A Combat Aviator’s Memoir.
It is customary to offer a bottom-line-up-front when presenting any information, so I will begin by saying that Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Lee has done a wonderful job with his memoir.
That said, a readership of just Navy and Marine Corps aviators, or even aviators in general, is not a market that lights a fire under any publisher. What is unique about Hangar Four: A Combat Aviator’s Memoir is that it will appeal to a much wider audience.
The way that Isaac Lee spins this tale accomplishes the primary ingredient of any successful story. As Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series of books, was fond of saying: “You know it’s a good book if you just have to turn the page.”
That is the case with Hangar Four. As you finish each chapter you are drawn to the next chapter as Isaac Lee takes you on a journey that provides a true insider’s look at what it means to be a combat aviator – both the highs and the lows.
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One thing in particular distinguishes Hangar Four from other memoirs. Unfortunately, too many memoirs read like a high school history book, with each event piled upon another chronologically with no narrative. I am virtually certain that many readers have suffered through reading such memoirs.
That is why readers will find this book so refreshing. Isaac Lee has crafted this work so that it reads like a novel, and again, to reference Ian Fleming, you have to turn the page to see what is going to happen next.
Another distinguishing feature of this book is that the author candidly reveals the often extraordinary difficulty of balancing one’s personal and professional life. This is a gift to all of us, because too many memoirs of former military people only address professional side and are often filled with little more than kinetics. This is not the case with this book.
When a writer presents a manuscript to an agent or editor, of the first questions he or she is asked is: “Who is the audience for this book?” As mentioned at the outset, this reviewer believes that the appeal of Hangar Four goes way beyond naval aviators, aviators in general, or even people with a military background. It is a case study in both the challenges and opportunities of a professional career, as well as how one might overcome adversity once so much is stacked against you.
Circling back to the juxtaposition of professional and family life, while anyone looking for a good read, would be well served to consider Hangar Four, from this reviewer’s point of view I believe this book is a treasure for any young person who considering joining the military.
The reason for this is clear. In detailing the tough challenges as well as the high points of his career as a combat aviator, Isaac Lee is providing a great service to the cohort who may be considering becoming the warriors of tomorrow.
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A young person of military age reading this book, an insider’s look at the joys and sorrows of a military career, will either be convinced that this is a path they want to pursue, or dissuaded from considering this walk of life. That is an incredible service to help ensure that those considering a military career join for the right reasons, and not just to grab the glitz and glamour of movies like Top Gun.
Anyone considering writing a memoir would be well served to read Hangar Four and use it as a model for the tale they would like to tell. At a minimum, a memoir such as this provides insights and background for sons and daughters of the writer, as well as grandchildren and future generations.
This is important because the military ethic is to work hard, do your best and not complain. Therefore, most military men and women leave work at work. That is good as far as it goes. However, the downside is that immediate family members, let alone future generations, never really know their military warrior. A memoir is one of the best ways to fill this gap.
Try Hangar Four out. You won’t be disappointed.
Hangar Four earns a prestigious 4 out of 4 trench coats
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