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The Final Salute: Together We Live on
The Final Salute A novel by Kathleen M. Rodgers In my debut novel, The Final Salute, I write about the aftermath of plane crashes, the tight bond between military pilots, and how crewmembers and military families cope after terrible tragedies. The story is based on the years I spent as a military wife married to an Air Force fighter pilot. I was twenty-one years old when I married into the world of military aviation. A world I thought was full of parties at the Officer s Club, the roar of jet engines, and a place where my husband and the other pilots lived on the edge of the envelope at a speed faster than the rest of us. Early in my marriage, I learned about the other side of military aviation. The side that nobody likes to talk about when a plane goes down. When a hush goes over a squadron of men like a black pall because earth and sky have collided and one of their brothers isn t coming home. A young wife is widowed, a child left fatherless, an older couple s hopes for their son destroyed in a fireball. In one year alone, my husband and I lost eleven friends in air mishaps. And this was during peacetime. But the crashes kept coming, and the death toll rose. We toasted the dead and partied on. I learned to accept two things about my husband s career choice: His job could kill him, and he loved every minute of it. When I started writing The Final Salute sixteen years ago, my goal was to give a voice to the men who perished flying for their country and the women and children they left behind. But my novel s not all doom and gloom. In the story, seasoned fighter pilot Tuck Westerfield, a Vietnam Vet and father of three, must deal with a devious commander, an animal-crazy neighbor whose husband hates pilots, a beautiful but suspicious wife, and a rebellious teenage daughter. The last thing he needs is another war. But when Iraq invades Kuwait in the middle of a muggy Louisiana summer, duty calls.
268 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2008
35 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen M. Rodgers
6 books136 followersKathleen M. Rodgers is a novelist and a former contributor to Family Circle Magazine and Military Times. Her fifth novel, The Llano County Mermaid Club, is out now from University of New Mexico Press and was named BOOK OF THE WEEK for Oct. 12 in ABQ Journal. She is represented by Tracy Crow Literary Agency. A native of Clovis, New Mexico, Kathleen resides in North Texas and is working on her sixth novel. She is available to speak at book clubs and other events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 29, 2023
This Air Force veteran was captivated by this timeless book from the first page. From the world of special ops and the Air Force Academy, I gained first-hand knowledge of the Air Force experience. Kathleen Rodgers doesn't miss a step in this story. I find it to be authentic in every way, hitting so close to home. Not only are the characters wonderfully alive but also is the community in which they live.
In a world where active military individuals will put their own lives in danger to save someone they cannot stand, "The Final Salute" holds true. It is a testament to the loyalty and courage of the people who serve our country, in combat and at home.
For my CF readers, this is a clean read with one exception. It contains profanity in a manner authentic to the military.
In a world where active military individuals will put their own lives in danger to save someone they cannot stand, "The Final Salute" holds true. It is a testament to the loyalty and courage of the people who serve our country, in combat and at home.
For my CF readers, this is a clean read with one exception. It contains profanity in a manner authentic to the military.
November 21, 2010
I loved this book! As the wife of a retired Marine fighter pilot I expected to enjoy this novel about life in the Air Force written by a retired Air Force fighter pilot's wife. However, I expected to be confronted at all times with the differences between the branches of the military. Not only did I enjoy Tuck and Gina's story, I met my sister of another mother in Kathleen M. Rodgers.
There are two sides to a life married to a fighter pilot. On one side is laughter, love and camaraderie; on the other is risk, estrangement and death. To survive and thrive, military spouses need to nurture their community, recognize their common ground, and show love--especially in the tough times.
Ms. Rodgers knows this and shows us the joys and sorrows and frustrations of military life both as a wife and a fighter pilot through characters so well-crafted they seem too real to be fictional. The services may be different in mission, expectation and duty stations, but the heart of a Marine Fighter pilot's wife and that of an Air Force wife are a lot alike.
Wow. So many things rang true--made me laugh and made me cry. It's a novel but I want to know how many of the characters are people you knew. Whether they are based on real people or not, they felt real and touched my heart. I laughed over the letters back and forth. Tuck's accident during the war was written so well I felt I was in the plane with him. Wingman has a whole new meaning. We never called the men who came after an accident Death Angels. Wonder if it is a way the Marine pilots distance themselves--names give power. Loved the theme of having a dog and why he had resisted for so long. Wynonna was a hoot--and loveable. I like the redemption in that relationship and with Shelly.
I found it fascinating the differences between the Air Force and the Marines. In the Air Force it seems the guys had to play the game--kind of like in a corporation. In the Marine fighter community there were those who tried to brown-nose their way to the top, but no one respected them. They were considered much like Bull the coward--not respected. The only way to get respect was to do the job well and be a good stick. It didn't hurt to have the troops know a pilot was also a good boss, knew his stuff, treated his men well--stuck up for them when needed.
A great read!
by Marcia J Sargent Author of Wing Wife: How to be Married to a Marine Fighter Pilot
There are two sides to a life married to a fighter pilot. On one side is laughter, love and camaraderie; on the other is risk, estrangement and death. To survive and thrive, military spouses need to nurture their community, recognize their common ground, and show love--especially in the tough times.
Ms. Rodgers knows this and shows us the joys and sorrows and frustrations of military life both as a wife and a fighter pilot through characters so well-crafted they seem too real to be fictional. The services may be different in mission, expectation and duty stations, but the heart of a Marine Fighter pilot's wife and that of an Air Force wife are a lot alike.
Wow. So many things rang true--made me laugh and made me cry. It's a novel but I want to know how many of the characters are people you knew. Whether they are based on real people or not, they felt real and touched my heart. I laughed over the letters back and forth. Tuck's accident during the war was written so well I felt I was in the plane with him. Wingman has a whole new meaning. We never called the men who came after an accident Death Angels. Wonder if it is a way the Marine pilots distance themselves--names give power. Loved the theme of having a dog and why he had resisted for so long. Wynonna was a hoot--and loveable. I like the redemption in that relationship and with Shelly.
I found it fascinating the differences between the Air Force and the Marines. In the Air Force it seems the guys had to play the game--kind of like in a corporation. In the Marine fighter community there were those who tried to brown-nose their way to the top, but no one respected them. They were considered much like Bull the coward--not respected. The only way to get respect was to do the job well and be a good stick. It didn't hurt to have the troops know a pilot was also a good boss, knew his stuff, treated his men well--stuck up for them when needed.
A great read!
by Marcia J Sargent Author of Wing Wife: How to be Married to a Marine Fighter Pilot
November 21, 2011
Kathleen Rodgers has crafted a true-to-life novel of Air Force life in The Final Salute. The characters are believable and the description of military life is real. I know what I am talking about because I grew up as the daughter of an Air Force officer. I “knew” many of the people, both military and dependant, described in this novel of military life of pilots and non pilots.
Lt. Colonel Tucker Westerfield remembers the men he has known who died in the line of duty, both during war and peacetime. He has to deal with the fact that it could happen to him every time he goes on a mission – training or real.
His wife, Gina, supports his need to be a pilot by keeping the “home fires burning” as she attends the obligatory parties and teas, protects their two sons from her own fears and goes about normal daily living on an Air Force base.
“This’ll knock them dead, she thought, holding the dress in front of her. What is tonight’s theme? “Summer casual.” A big improvement from the last coffee when the guests were asked to come dressed “cute as a bug”. Becky Spitz answered the door that night wearing a ladybug costume, spots and all.”
In the course of this out of the ordinary novel, Tuck has to deal with the cover-up of an illicit affair by a ranking officer, a neighbor who has substituted her lack of children with animals, and a rebellious teenage daughter from an earlier short-lived marriage as well as the war in Kuwait. The characters have the same hopes and fears of civilians with the added burden of serving and protecting those same civilians.
I recommend this novel as a good description of military life and the ‘inner workings’ of the way things are done, including the ‘cover-up’ process. Also, if you don’t read it for any other reason, read it or the enjoyment of it.
Kathleen M. Rodgers is a native New Mexican who followed her husband from base to base as an Air Force pilot. She has two grown sons and a chocolate lab. She now lives in Colleyville, Texas with her husband and Bubba, the Lab. Her work has appeared in Family Circle Magazine, Air Force and Army Times, and Because I Fly, a poetry anthology published by McGraw Hill.
Navigator Books recently released the Kindle edition with a new cover. Also, Leatherneck Publishing went out of business in 2009, soft cover copies and the Kindle edition are available on amazon.com. The book won a Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America in 2009.
Lt. Colonel Tucker Westerfield remembers the men he has known who died in the line of duty, both during war and peacetime. He has to deal with the fact that it could happen to him every time he goes on a mission – training or real.
His wife, Gina, supports his need to be a pilot by keeping the “home fires burning” as she attends the obligatory parties and teas, protects their two sons from her own fears and goes about normal daily living on an Air Force base.
“This’ll knock them dead, she thought, holding the dress in front of her. What is tonight’s theme? “Summer casual.” A big improvement from the last coffee when the guests were asked to come dressed “cute as a bug”. Becky Spitz answered the door that night wearing a ladybug costume, spots and all.”
In the course of this out of the ordinary novel, Tuck has to deal with the cover-up of an illicit affair by a ranking officer, a neighbor who has substituted her lack of children with animals, and a rebellious teenage daughter from an earlier short-lived marriage as well as the war in Kuwait. The characters have the same hopes and fears of civilians with the added burden of serving and protecting those same civilians.
I recommend this novel as a good description of military life and the ‘inner workings’ of the way things are done, including the ‘cover-up’ process. Also, if you don’t read it for any other reason, read it or the enjoyment of it.
Kathleen M. Rodgers is a native New Mexican who followed her husband from base to base as an Air Force pilot. She has two grown sons and a chocolate lab. She now lives in Colleyville, Texas with her husband and Bubba, the Lab. Her work has appeared in Family Circle Magazine, Air Force and Army Times, and Because I Fly, a poetry anthology published by McGraw Hill.
Navigator Books recently released the Kindle edition with a new cover. Also, Leatherneck Publishing went out of business in 2009, soft cover copies and the Kindle edition are available on amazon.com. The book won a Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America in 2009.
December 7, 2012
It's the writing, after all…
It doesn't take long for good writing to show. I was only a few pages into this book when I recognized I was reading the words and phrases of an exceptional writer. A few chapters later I could sense the makings of an excellent storyteller. These attributes kept me involved and allowed me to continue reading a story that I would have long ago put down.
I'm sure there is an audience for the dramatic tales of the spouses of our nation's serving warriors while living on military bases or deployed overseas. I'm not part of that audience. My reading and entertainment tastes do not connect me with Desperate Housewives meets the politics of the Post Commander. It's just not my thing. However, I stuck with this book because the writing was so good and the pace kept pushing the story along and there was a sufficient amount of anticipation to keep my interest.
I'm glad I did. The final few pages are riveting. The author took her already excellent writing skills up a notch and brought this story to a heart-wrenching and gripping conclusion. Don't put down this book until you're finished. The ending defines this story and is worth the ride!
John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II
It doesn't take long for good writing to show. I was only a few pages into this book when I recognized I was reading the words and phrases of an exceptional writer. A few chapters later I could sense the makings of an excellent storyteller. These attributes kept me involved and allowed me to continue reading a story that I would have long ago put down.
I'm sure there is an audience for the dramatic tales of the spouses of our nation's serving warriors while living on military bases or deployed overseas. I'm not part of that audience. My reading and entertainment tastes do not connect me with Desperate Housewives meets the politics of the Post Commander. It's just not my thing. However, I stuck with this book because the writing was so good and the pace kept pushing the story along and there was a sufficient amount of anticipation to keep my interest.
I'm glad I did. The final few pages are riveting. The author took her already excellent writing skills up a notch and brought this story to a heart-wrenching and gripping conclusion. Don't put down this book until you're finished. The ending defines this story and is worth the ride!
John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II
January 9, 2015
This is the best depiction of military family life I have read since I lived it. So true and real, I felt I was back in the Army. There really is drama, more than you can imagine, since many are stationed without family. My hat is off to Kathleen Rodgers! She nailed it!
January 17, 2015
Loved it
Thanks for writing this book Kathleen. I am not a military wife, but I appreciate how the story came across and love your writing style. Blessings, Love and Light from Jasmine
Thanks for writing this book Kathleen. I am not a military wife, but I appreciate how the story came across and love your writing style. Blessings, Love and Light from Jasmine
November 29, 2012
I enjoyed this book. The characters were engaging, the story was well written and it held my attention throughout.
January 3, 2015
Most books about the military either focus on events or on the warrior characters. The Final Salute does neither of these. The main character is an Air Force wife, trying to deal with her husband’s career, raising two children, and the everyday events of life. There are intrusive relatives, dysfunctional families, obnoxious neighbors, rumors and gossip, and new officers and their spouses to be mentored. There is also infidelity whose impact goes beyond the two individuals involved. Kathleen Rodgers is qualified to write such a story, since she lived it for some twenty years.
Dealing with death is a major theme to The Final Salute and explains the title. An extremely well-written Prologue set in 1971 is bookended with an aerial salute to a fallen comrade and the end of the first Gulf War. You cannot be a military pilot, or a family member of a military pilot without having struggled with why one flyer lived and another died. The ghosts of other pilots now passed are ever present. The reader lives through these gut-wrenching events and how they affect the family who serve, but are not members of the official U.S. Armed Forces.
We follow an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Tuck – the protagonist, nearing the end of his flying career, as he wrestles with his conscience over how far he will go to be a team player and advance in rank. His decisions drive the story forward and embroil the entire family and friends in situations probably similar in the corporate world – but without the ever-present possibility of a sudden end to both career and life. Tuck is the consummate aviator and warrior – popular with the other flyers and with a drop-dead gorgeous wife. He is a good father and gets tested in The Final Salute like all modern fathers have been tested. He does all the right things for the right reasons – the question is whether he will be rewarded for his efforts.
Opposing the protagonist are another Air Force Lt Col – Tuck’s squadron commander; and a bird Colonel – the wing commander. Both are dutiful team players. These antagonists are jealous of Tuck and actively intervene to derail his career. In addition, the wing commander is a terrible philanderer. The wing commander relies on his brother-in-law, a three-star general, for protection from his transgressions and the political connections necessary for advancement. During Operation Desert Storm the squadron commander reveals himself as a coward. If these are the type of officers that advance to command in the Air Force, then this reviewer is very glad he was a Navy and not an Air Force pilot. If these characters are simply a fictional creation of the author, then Kathleen Rodgers has done an admirable job of creating tension by her imaginative writing and loathing in the mind of the reader.
In a role that could have been written as change agent, Tuck’s wife supports his every decision even though she is often not supplied with all of the facts. Watching her interaction with Tuck and the rest of the unofficial military families provides the reader with an interesting and different perspective of life within the Armed Forces. Often this character is incidental to the overall story. In The Final Salute, Gina the good wife is the main character and it is largely through her eyes that we see life in the military. If life in base housing is as written in The Final Salute, this reviewer is glad he never lived in such a covetous environment.
The overall story takes place between 1990 and 1991, mostly in Louisiana. An Epilogue set in 2011 ties up loose ends. Resolutions may not be what the reader expects but reflect the realities of modern life. Not all the loose ends are tied up in nice bows. And all characters have their flaws even if the protagonist and main character are extremely likeable. The detail and unusual challenges to her two main characters make this reviewer believe that The Final Salute is more a fictionalized memoir than a totally fictitious novel. Kathleen is an excellent storyteller, writes totally believable dialogue, and I look forward to her next offering. Highly recommended.
Dealing with death is a major theme to The Final Salute and explains the title. An extremely well-written Prologue set in 1971 is bookended with an aerial salute to a fallen comrade and the end of the first Gulf War. You cannot be a military pilot, or a family member of a military pilot without having struggled with why one flyer lived and another died. The ghosts of other pilots now passed are ever present. The reader lives through these gut-wrenching events and how they affect the family who serve, but are not members of the official U.S. Armed Forces.
We follow an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Tuck – the protagonist, nearing the end of his flying career, as he wrestles with his conscience over how far he will go to be a team player and advance in rank. His decisions drive the story forward and embroil the entire family and friends in situations probably similar in the corporate world – but without the ever-present possibility of a sudden end to both career and life. Tuck is the consummate aviator and warrior – popular with the other flyers and with a drop-dead gorgeous wife. He is a good father and gets tested in The Final Salute like all modern fathers have been tested. He does all the right things for the right reasons – the question is whether he will be rewarded for his efforts.
Opposing the protagonist are another Air Force Lt Col – Tuck’s squadron commander; and a bird Colonel – the wing commander. Both are dutiful team players. These antagonists are jealous of Tuck and actively intervene to derail his career. In addition, the wing commander is a terrible philanderer. The wing commander relies on his brother-in-law, a three-star general, for protection from his transgressions and the political connections necessary for advancement. During Operation Desert Storm the squadron commander reveals himself as a coward. If these are the type of officers that advance to command in the Air Force, then this reviewer is very glad he was a Navy and not an Air Force pilot. If these characters are simply a fictional creation of the author, then Kathleen Rodgers has done an admirable job of creating tension by her imaginative writing and loathing in the mind of the reader.
In a role that could have been written as change agent, Tuck’s wife supports his every decision even though she is often not supplied with all of the facts. Watching her interaction with Tuck and the rest of the unofficial military families provides the reader with an interesting and different perspective of life within the Armed Forces. Often this character is incidental to the overall story. In The Final Salute, Gina the good wife is the main character and it is largely through her eyes that we see life in the military. If life in base housing is as written in The Final Salute, this reviewer is glad he never lived in such a covetous environment.
The overall story takes place between 1990 and 1991, mostly in Louisiana. An Epilogue set in 2011 ties up loose ends. Resolutions may not be what the reader expects but reflect the realities of modern life. Not all the loose ends are tied up in nice bows. And all characters have their flaws even if the protagonist and main character are extremely likeable. The detail and unusual challenges to her two main characters make this reviewer believe that The Final Salute is more a fictionalized memoir than a totally fictitious novel. Kathleen is an excellent storyteller, writes totally believable dialogue, and I look forward to her next offering. Highly recommended.
October 28, 2011
Loved, loved, loved!
MWSA 2009 Silver Medal for Historical Fiction!
Author Kathleen Rodgers' first novel, The Final Salute, is the moving story of an Air Force family dealing with the peculiar realities of their lives. On the one hand, the Westerfields are just like everyone else - they fight with their neighbors, deal with rebellious step children, resent their intrusive parents, gossip on Saturday and go to church on Sunday, bump heads at the office, keep secrets, tell tales - and generally embrace all the joys and irritations that make us human. On the other hand, Tuck Westerfield is a fighter pilot. When he goes to work each morning, there's a big chance he might not come home for dinner. Does the stress of that knowledge heighten each touch, each argument, each achievement - and each failure? Or does the shadow of mortality taint what should be sweet?
With a careful pen, Rodgers introduces the Westerfields and their large extended dysfunctional Air Force family in the months building up to the first Gulf War so that when Tuck is deployed shortly after deciding to retire, the reader feels the excitement of the times as well as the dread. The men are going on a great adventure - they are making a difference. They are serving their country - doing what they were trained to do. The flurry of letters going back and forth between the families left behind and the warriors at work over the skies of Iraq burble with the mundane activities of home. However, the cool veneer of normality covers sizzling emotions like love and fear. Will Wheaties get to see his newborn son? Who will come home a hero? Who is a coward? Will Tuck survive to retire?
When it's all over and the families are reunited, Tuck sticks with his decision to move on. So many of his friends have died in crashes -the possibility of advancement doesn't seem worth the risks anymore. As the Westerfields settle into a new life, the military subculture they leave behind marches inexorably onward - as it always has. Then, another young pilot dies. Tuck returns from American Airlines - and in a heartbreaking final salute to the many friends who didn't make it home at the end of their workday, gives the eulogy.
Rodgers' portrait is loving and frank at the same time. Military life is filled with both risks and rewards - and she makes that clear. However, this is a deep book - not a flattering Top Gun biopic. It presents real people under trying circumstances. She turns clichés upside down - the big-haired, over-blown lady living next door turns out to be a kind-hearted, animal loving, smart business-woman. The sullen Goth-girl turns out to be a sweet-natured, eager-to-please big sister to her young step-brothers. The status climbing wives' social clubs turn out to be supportive and caring networks that hold everyone together during trying times. Sparkling grandmas encourage big dreams, fearful mothers fight losing battles to protect sons from dangerous endeavors. The big and the strong sometimes don't live up to their shiny images, those who struggle to serve two taskmasters sometimes fail and sometimes win -- and sometimes defy the odds.
Readable, intimate, tender - highly recommended.
~ Joyce Faulkner, President of Military Writers Society of America and award-winning author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, For Shrieking Out Loud, and Losing Patience. Co-author of The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors.
MWSA 2009 Silver Medal for Historical Fiction!
Author Kathleen Rodgers' first novel, The Final Salute, is the moving story of an Air Force family dealing with the peculiar realities of their lives. On the one hand, the Westerfields are just like everyone else - they fight with their neighbors, deal with rebellious step children, resent their intrusive parents, gossip on Saturday and go to church on Sunday, bump heads at the office, keep secrets, tell tales - and generally embrace all the joys and irritations that make us human. On the other hand, Tuck Westerfield is a fighter pilot. When he goes to work each morning, there's a big chance he might not come home for dinner. Does the stress of that knowledge heighten each touch, each argument, each achievement - and each failure? Or does the shadow of mortality taint what should be sweet?
With a careful pen, Rodgers introduces the Westerfields and their large extended dysfunctional Air Force family in the months building up to the first Gulf War so that when Tuck is deployed shortly after deciding to retire, the reader feels the excitement of the times as well as the dread. The men are going on a great adventure - they are making a difference. They are serving their country - doing what they were trained to do. The flurry of letters going back and forth between the families left behind and the warriors at work over the skies of Iraq burble with the mundane activities of home. However, the cool veneer of normality covers sizzling emotions like love and fear. Will Wheaties get to see his newborn son? Who will come home a hero? Who is a coward? Will Tuck survive to retire?
When it's all over and the families are reunited, Tuck sticks with his decision to move on. So many of his friends have died in crashes -the possibility of advancement doesn't seem worth the risks anymore. As the Westerfields settle into a new life, the military subculture they leave behind marches inexorably onward - as it always has. Then, another young pilot dies. Tuck returns from American Airlines - and in a heartbreaking final salute to the many friends who didn't make it home at the end of their workday, gives the eulogy.
Rodgers' portrait is loving and frank at the same time. Military life is filled with both risks and rewards - and she makes that clear. However, this is a deep book - not a flattering Top Gun biopic. It presents real people under trying circumstances. She turns clichés upside down - the big-haired, over-blown lady living next door turns out to be a kind-hearted, animal loving, smart business-woman. The sullen Goth-girl turns out to be a sweet-natured, eager-to-please big sister to her young step-brothers. The status climbing wives' social clubs turn out to be supportive and caring networks that hold everyone together during trying times. Sparkling grandmas encourage big dreams, fearful mothers fight losing battles to protect sons from dangerous endeavors. The big and the strong sometimes don't live up to their shiny images, those who struggle to serve two taskmasters sometimes fail and sometimes win -- and sometimes defy the odds.
Readable, intimate, tender - highly recommended.
~ Joyce Faulkner, President of Military Writers Society of America and award-winning author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, For Shrieking Out Loud, and Losing Patience. Co-author of The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors.
October 28, 2011
Author Kathleen Rodgers' first novel, The Final Salute, is the moving story of an Air Force family dealing with the peculiar realities of their lives. On the one hand, the Westerfields are just like everyone else - they fight with their neighbors, deal with rebellious step children, resent their intrusive parents, gossip on Saturday and go to church on Sunday, bump heads at the office, keep secrets, tell tales - and generally embrace all the joys and irritations that make us human. On the other hand, Tuck Westerfield is a fighter pilot. When he goes to work each morning, there's a big chance he might not come home for dinner. Does the stress of that knowledge heighten each touch, each argument, each achievement - and each failure? Or does the shadow of mortality taint what should be sweet?
With a careful pen, Rodgers introduces the Westerfields and their large extended dysfunctional Air Force family in the months building up to the first Gulf War so that when Tuck is deployed shortly after deciding to retire, the reader feels the excitement of the times as well as the dread. The men are going on a great adventure - they are making a difference. They are serving their country - doing what they were trained to do. The flurry of letters going back and forth between the families left behind and the warriors at work over the skies of Iraq burble with the mundane activities of home. However, the cool veneer of normality covers sizzling emotions like love and fear. Will Wheaties get to see his newborn son? Who will come home a hero? Who is a coward? Will Tuck survive to retire?
When it's all over and the families are reunited, Tuck sticks with his decision to move on. So many of his friends have died in crashes -the possibility of advancement doesn't seem worth the risks anymore. As the Westerfields settle into a new life, the military subculture they leave behind marches inexorably onward - as it always has. Then, another young pilot dies. Tuck returns from American Airlines - and in a heartbreaking final salute to the many friends who didn't make it home at the end of their workday, gives the eulogy.
Rodgers' portrait is loving and frank at the same time. Military life is filled with both risks and rewards - and she makes that clear. However, this is a deep book - not a flattering Top Gun biopic. It presents real people under trying circumstances. She turns clichés upside down - the big-haired, over-blown lady living next door turns out to be a kind-hearted, animal loving, smart business-woman. The sullen Goth-girl turns out to be a sweet-natured, eager-to-please big sister to her young step-brothers. The status climbing wives' social clubs turn out to be supportive and caring networks that hold everyone together during trying times. Sparkling grandmas encourage big dreams, fearful mothers fight losing battles to protect sons from dangerous endeavors. The big and the strong sometimes don't live up to their shiny images, those who struggle to serve two taskmasters sometimes fail and sometimes win -- and sometimes defy the odds.
Readable, intimate, tender - highly recommended.
~ Joyce Faulkner, President of Military Writers Society of America and award-winning author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, For Shrieking Out Loud, and Losing Patience. Co-author of The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors.
With a careful pen, Rodgers introduces the Westerfields and their large extended dysfunctional Air Force family in the months building up to the first Gulf War so that when Tuck is deployed shortly after deciding to retire, the reader feels the excitement of the times as well as the dread. The men are going on a great adventure - they are making a difference. They are serving their country - doing what they were trained to do. The flurry of letters going back and forth between the families left behind and the warriors at work over the skies of Iraq burble with the mundane activities of home. However, the cool veneer of normality covers sizzling emotions like love and fear. Will Wheaties get to see his newborn son? Who will come home a hero? Who is a coward? Will Tuck survive to retire?
When it's all over and the families are reunited, Tuck sticks with his decision to move on. So many of his friends have died in crashes -the possibility of advancement doesn't seem worth the risks anymore. As the Westerfields settle into a new life, the military subculture they leave behind marches inexorably onward - as it always has. Then, another young pilot dies. Tuck returns from American Airlines - and in a heartbreaking final salute to the many friends who didn't make it home at the end of their workday, gives the eulogy.
Rodgers' portrait is loving and frank at the same time. Military life is filled with both risks and rewards - and she makes that clear. However, this is a deep book - not a flattering Top Gun biopic. It presents real people under trying circumstances. She turns clichés upside down - the big-haired, over-blown lady living next door turns out to be a kind-hearted, animal loving, smart business-woman. The sullen Goth-girl turns out to be a sweet-natured, eager-to-please big sister to her young step-brothers. The status climbing wives' social clubs turn out to be supportive and caring networks that hold everyone together during trying times. Sparkling grandmas encourage big dreams, fearful mothers fight losing battles to protect sons from dangerous endeavors. The big and the strong sometimes don't live up to their shiny images, those who struggle to serve two taskmasters sometimes fail and sometimes win -- and sometimes defy the odds.
Readable, intimate, tender - highly recommended.
~ Joyce Faulkner, President of Military Writers Society of America and award-winning author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, For Shrieking Out Loud, and Losing Patience. Co-author of The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors.
November 3, 2011
Reviewed by: Bonnie Bartel Latino
Kathleen Rodgers, whom I have never met, spent twenty years as the spouse of an Air Force jet jockey. Rodgers lifts the red, white and blue veil on the world of the contemporary fighter pilot and families.
The novel, the author says, was written “in memory of fallen friends, too numerous to mention” and dedicated to the author’s husband, retired Air Force fighter pilot Tom Rodgers, “whose ghosts first inspired this story.” Many of Rodgers’ former wingmen, now gone to glory, appear disguised as spirits in the novel’s most compelling chapter, which partially takes place in a cemetery.
Kathleen Rodgers leaves no doubt that she intimately knows what it’s like to love a fighter pilot and to be in endless competition with his mistress, the love of flight.
The fictional setting, Beauregard Air Force Base in Bolton, La., resembles England AFB near Alexandria, La., where Bolton is an old and respected family name. Rodgers lived at England AFB during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, although her husband only deployed during Desert Shield. She fictionalized her family background and has deftly woven it into “The Final Salute.”
Interestingly, it is not the Gulf War chapters that are the most captivating. Rodgers has created richly layered characters that compel readers to keep flipping the pages. Protagonist Lt. Col. Tuck Westerfield represents the finest of America’s military. He leads by example and leads from the front. However, he is disgusted to the point of retirement by those few whose defective moral codes diminish squadron morale and tarnish the reputation of the entire force. But before Westerfield can make his retirement official, the world tilts when Iraq invades Kuwait, and his squadron deploys to the Middle East.
Rodgers’ characters deal with the anxiety of separation, the fear associated with wartime combat, teenagers that rebel, spouses who cheat, and unbounded grief. Comic relief is provided in the character of Wynonna Sandford, Westerfield’s animal-crazy neighbor and Purple Passion cosmetics beauty consultant. However, even the outrageous Wynonna isn’t one-dimensional. Her love of all creatures great and small is fueled by her inability to bear children.
The Army Wives Network selected “The Final Salute” as their July 2009 Book Selection. The novel also recently won a prestigious silver fiction medal from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
“The Final Salute” is a great read and would be an appropriate gift for anyone who has served in the military or for those who just want a realistic glimpse into the lifestyle. However, since combat pilots have been known to use language not appropriate for a Junior League soiree or a function at the base chapel, “The Final Salute” is perhaps not a gift for your church altar guild chairwoman.
Kathleen Rodgers, whom I have never met, spent twenty years as the spouse of an Air Force jet jockey. Rodgers lifts the red, white and blue veil on the world of the contemporary fighter pilot and families.
The novel, the author says, was written “in memory of fallen friends, too numerous to mention” and dedicated to the author’s husband, retired Air Force fighter pilot Tom Rodgers, “whose ghosts first inspired this story.” Many of Rodgers’ former wingmen, now gone to glory, appear disguised as spirits in the novel’s most compelling chapter, which partially takes place in a cemetery.
Kathleen Rodgers leaves no doubt that she intimately knows what it’s like to love a fighter pilot and to be in endless competition with his mistress, the love of flight.
The fictional setting, Beauregard Air Force Base in Bolton, La., resembles England AFB near Alexandria, La., where Bolton is an old and respected family name. Rodgers lived at England AFB during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, although her husband only deployed during Desert Shield. She fictionalized her family background and has deftly woven it into “The Final Salute.”
Interestingly, it is not the Gulf War chapters that are the most captivating. Rodgers has created richly layered characters that compel readers to keep flipping the pages. Protagonist Lt. Col. Tuck Westerfield represents the finest of America’s military. He leads by example and leads from the front. However, he is disgusted to the point of retirement by those few whose defective moral codes diminish squadron morale and tarnish the reputation of the entire force. But before Westerfield can make his retirement official, the world tilts when Iraq invades Kuwait, and his squadron deploys to the Middle East.
Rodgers’ characters deal with the anxiety of separation, the fear associated with wartime combat, teenagers that rebel, spouses who cheat, and unbounded grief. Comic relief is provided in the character of Wynonna Sandford, Westerfield’s animal-crazy neighbor and Purple Passion cosmetics beauty consultant. However, even the outrageous Wynonna isn’t one-dimensional. Her love of all creatures great and small is fueled by her inability to bear children.
The Army Wives Network selected “The Final Salute” as their July 2009 Book Selection. The novel also recently won a prestigious silver fiction medal from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
“The Final Salute” is a great read and would be an appropriate gift for anyone who has served in the military or for those who just want a realistic glimpse into the lifestyle. However, since combat pilots have been known to use language not appropriate for a Junior League soiree or a function at the base chapel, “The Final Salute” is perhaps not a gift for your church altar guild chairwoman.
August 13, 2011
I loved this book! As the wife of a retired Marine fighter pilot I expected to enjoy this novel about life in the Air Force written by a retired Air Force fighter pilot's wife. However, I expected to be confronted at all times with the differences between the branches of the military. Not only did I enjoy Tuck and Gina's story, I met my sister of another mother in Kathleen M. Rodgers.
There are two sides to a life married to a fighter pilot. On one side is laughter, love and camaraderie; on the other is risk, estrangement and death. To survive and thrive, military spouses need to nurture their community, recognize their common ground, and show love--especially in the tough times.
Ms. Rodgers knows this and shows us the joys and sorrows and frustrations of military life both as a wife and a fighter pilot through characters so well-crafted they seem too real to be fictional. The services may be different in mission, expectation and duty stations, but the heart of a Marine Fighter pilot's wife and that of an Air Force wife are a lot alike.
Wow. So many things rang true--made me laugh and made me cry. It's a novel but I want to know how many of the characters are people you knew. Whether they are based on real people or not, they felt real and touched my heart. I laughed over the letters back and forth. Tuck's accident during the war was written so well I felt I was in the plane with him. Wingman has a whole new meaning. We never called the men who came after an accident Death Angels. Wonder if it is a way the Marine pilots distance themselves--names give power. Loved the theme of having a dog and why he had resisted for so long. Wynonna was a hoot--and loveable. I like the redemption in that relationship and with Shelly.
I found it fascinating the differences between the Air Force and the Marines. In the Air Force it seems the guys had to play the game--kind of like in a corporation. In the Marine fighter community there were those who tried to brown-nose their way to the top, but no one respected them. They were considered much like Bull the coward--not respected. The only way to get respect was to do the job well and be a good stick. It didn't hurt to have the troops know a pilot was also a good boss, knew his stuff, treated his men well--stuck up for them when needed.
A great read!
by Marcia J Sargent Author of Wing Wife: How to be Married to a Marine Fighter Pilot
There are two sides to a life married to a fighter pilot. On one side is laughter, love and camaraderie; on the other is risk, estrangement and death. To survive and thrive, military spouses need to nurture their community, recognize their common ground, and show love--especially in the tough times.
Ms. Rodgers knows this and shows us the joys and sorrows and frustrations of military life both as a wife and a fighter pilot through characters so well-crafted they seem too real to be fictional. The services may be different in mission, expectation and duty stations, but the heart of a Marine Fighter pilot's wife and that of an Air Force wife are a lot alike.
Wow. So many things rang true--made me laugh and made me cry. It's a novel but I want to know how many of the characters are people you knew. Whether they are based on real people or not, they felt real and touched my heart. I laughed over the letters back and forth. Tuck's accident during the war was written so well I felt I was in the plane with him. Wingman has a whole new meaning. We never called the men who came after an accident Death Angels. Wonder if it is a way the Marine pilots distance themselves--names give power. Loved the theme of having a dog and why he had resisted for so long. Wynonna was a hoot--and loveable. I like the redemption in that relationship and with Shelly.
I found it fascinating the differences between the Air Force and the Marines. In the Air Force it seems the guys had to play the game--kind of like in a corporation. In the Marine fighter community there were those who tried to brown-nose their way to the top, but no one respected them. They were considered much like Bull the coward--not respected. The only way to get respect was to do the job well and be a good stick. It didn't hurt to have the troops know a pilot was also a good boss, knew his stuff, treated his men well--stuck up for them when needed.
A great read!
by Marcia J Sargent Author of Wing Wife: How to be Married to a Marine Fighter Pilot
July 20, 2013
This is the review I wrote on Amazon, on July 11, 2010, the day before I finished this book.
Kathleen Rodgers has an amazing gift! She has really been able to articulate what life in the military is like. Although I am not familiar with the specific politics that go on among pilots and officers, as a former enlisted member of the USAF I have found so much that I can identify with in this book. I have certainly had my share of flashbacks! haha My husband looked over at me last night as I was reading through Part II and said, "What on earth are you reading?!" I was crying--not always sad tears, of course. I don't want to give anything away to anyone who hasn't read the book, but it is just so powerful to get a glimpse into such an intimate part of these characters' lives. I find it a rare treat when I encounter a book that can take me through the whole spectrum of emotions--and really make me feel them to the point I am laughing out loud or crying.
For those who are or have been in the military, they will love reading a book written by someone who has experienced the military life. For those who have not been in the military, they will enjoy the intimate look into the life of a military family and their friends--the details which you don't read about in the newspapers and magazines. And no matter what your background is, you will just love reading a story that will at times make you laugh out loud at times; and other times, cry. You will encounter characters who are totally 'real' and situations which are entirely believable.
I think I only have one or two chapters left now. I quit reading last night because I wasn't ready to let these people go. I will hate for the story to end.
Kathleen Rodgers has an amazing gift! She has really been able to articulate what life in the military is like. Although I am not familiar with the specific politics that go on among pilots and officers, as a former enlisted member of the USAF I have found so much that I can identify with in this book. I have certainly had my share of flashbacks! haha My husband looked over at me last night as I was reading through Part II and said, "What on earth are you reading?!" I was crying--not always sad tears, of course. I don't want to give anything away to anyone who hasn't read the book, but it is just so powerful to get a glimpse into such an intimate part of these characters' lives. I find it a rare treat when I encounter a book that can take me through the whole spectrum of emotions--and really make me feel them to the point I am laughing out loud or crying.
For those who are or have been in the military, they will love reading a book written by someone who has experienced the military life. For those who have not been in the military, they will enjoy the intimate look into the life of a military family and their friends--the details which you don't read about in the newspapers and magazines. And no matter what your background is, you will just love reading a story that will at times make you laugh out loud at times; and other times, cry. You will encounter characters who are totally 'real' and situations which are entirely believable.
I think I only have one or two chapters left now. I quit reading last night because I wasn't ready to let these people go. I will hate for the story to end.
April 21, 2012
"The Final Salute" has been touted as a must read for Air Force pilots and their families. I maintain that it should have a far broader audience than that. This is a book that everybody would enjoy. In fact I would go so far as to call it a must read for all Americans because it gives a solid insight into the emotional world these families inhabit.
At the beginning we find Lt. Col. Tucker Westerfield dealing with what every fighter pilot spends his entire career fearing, the loss of a close friend. Tuck is told on his first day of flight training that in a twenty year flying career, one in three of them will die at the stick. While dealing with his grief, he walks into the middle of a situation that places him in the cross hairs of the most powerful people on his base. Tuck is forced to navigate this web of intrigue while maintaining his role as a husband and father. To keep him from being bored, Tuck also has a daughter he barely knows from a short lived previous marriage dropped back into his life. This backdrop places the reader in the world of a military career spanning from Viet Nam to the first Gulf War and everything that entails.
"The Final Salute" will grab you from the first page. You will dread having to put it down and long for your next opportunity to pick it up. Author Kathleen Rodgers has lived this life herself as the wife of a retired flyer and gives you a vacation into a whole other world. If you have no first hand experience with the military, this book will come as close as anything I have found to helping you understand what this life is like.
Reviewed by J. Keith Jones
Author of In Due Time and The Boys of Diamond Hill
At the beginning we find Lt. Col. Tucker Westerfield dealing with what every fighter pilot spends his entire career fearing, the loss of a close friend. Tuck is told on his first day of flight training that in a twenty year flying career, one in three of them will die at the stick. While dealing with his grief, he walks into the middle of a situation that places him in the cross hairs of the most powerful people on his base. Tuck is forced to navigate this web of intrigue while maintaining his role as a husband and father. To keep him from being bored, Tuck also has a daughter he barely knows from a short lived previous marriage dropped back into his life. This backdrop places the reader in the world of a military career spanning from Viet Nam to the first Gulf War and everything that entails.
"The Final Salute" will grab you from the first page. You will dread having to put it down and long for your next opportunity to pick it up. Author Kathleen Rodgers has lived this life herself as the wife of a retired flyer and gives you a vacation into a whole other world. If you have no first hand experience with the military, this book will come as close as anything I have found to helping you understand what this life is like.
Reviewed by J. Keith Jones
Author of In Due Time and The Boys of Diamond Hill
May 7, 2015
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
The Final Salute is a military fiction by Kathleen Rodgers. Colonel Tuck Westerfield, a fighter pilot at Beauregard Air Force base who flew in the Gulf war, mourns the death of his friend and colleague. His unhappiness rises after catching his Commanding Officer cheating with another officer, as his boss constantly threatens him. Gina, Tuck’s wife, worries about his moodiness, which the neighbour’s dog provokes; and Michelle, her rebellious, gothic-attired stepdaughter who visits. Tuck travels down Memory Lane, reliving his childhood while remembering his friends and colleagues who died courageously, and wonders why life deals such blows. He is assigned to the Middle East after Iraq invades Kuwait and his experiences there make him more determined to consider adjustments to his life if he survives.
Kathleen Rodgers has created an engrossing military fiction appropriately called The Final Salute. She gives a very realistic account of what life is like in the air force, both from those who serve and from their family members’ point of view. It is an intriguing story that has so many emotions as the diverse characters express their joys, fears, pains and sadness in different ways. The author also demonstrated quite nicely how a few military careers may be tarnished and how some scandals or other conflicts are quickly covered up. The Final Salute is a book I did not want to put down, and I think Kathleen Rodgers writes descriptively and with compassion. She shows readers another side of military life in an original and interesting format.
The Final Salute is a military fiction by Kathleen Rodgers. Colonel Tuck Westerfield, a fighter pilot at Beauregard Air Force base who flew in the Gulf war, mourns the death of his friend and colleague. His unhappiness rises after catching his Commanding Officer cheating with another officer, as his boss constantly threatens him. Gina, Tuck’s wife, worries about his moodiness, which the neighbour’s dog provokes; and Michelle, her rebellious, gothic-attired stepdaughter who visits. Tuck travels down Memory Lane, reliving his childhood while remembering his friends and colleagues who died courageously, and wonders why life deals such blows. He is assigned to the Middle East after Iraq invades Kuwait and his experiences there make him more determined to consider adjustments to his life if he survives.
Kathleen Rodgers has created an engrossing military fiction appropriately called The Final Salute. She gives a very realistic account of what life is like in the air force, both from those who serve and from their family members’ point of view. It is an intriguing story that has so many emotions as the diverse characters express their joys, fears, pains and sadness in different ways. The author also demonstrated quite nicely how a few military careers may be tarnished and how some scandals or other conflicts are quickly covered up. The Final Salute is a book I did not want to put down, and I think Kathleen Rodgers writes descriptively and with compassion. She shows readers another side of military life in an original and interesting format.
February 19, 2013
THE FINAL SALUTE by Kathleen M. Rogers (Fiction-2008)
After Elliot left the timber business, he was involved in a number of aviation projects. Lucky me, I got to ride around on his coat tails. There were White House planes and helicopters, the space shuttle Atlantis, planes loaded with bombs headed into a war zone, Russian inspectors flying in C-130s to verify missiles destroyed, and a bazillion young pilots in their green jumpsuits flying to somewhere.
As for those young pilots, they are special military people, and Kathleen Rogers has perfectly captured a sliver of the fictional life of one military pilot---Tuck Westerfield.
Tuck’s story will pull you into his intricate tale of daily life in the military. Gosh, he has kiddo troubles, a crazy ex-wife, secrets, funny neighbors, good friends, and yep, thoughts about retiring and making a living.
However, there is one fat hazard in the book that is not generally found in the civilian world--- pilots fly planes; pilots and their planes crash; and sometimes, pilots die. In THE FINAL SALUTE, a chapter deals with the ghosts of Tuck’s dead pilot friends. They appear in his mind, and he becomes very self-reflective of his life.
If you want to experience a sense of military life, you will enjoy Rogers’ book. It should be noted that THE FINAL SALUTE won the Silver Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America.
I say, “Blessings on all those lovely young men in their green jumpsuits flying to somewhere.” <3
After Elliot left the timber business, he was involved in a number of aviation projects. Lucky me, I got to ride around on his coat tails. There were White House planes and helicopters, the space shuttle Atlantis, planes loaded with bombs headed into a war zone, Russian inspectors flying in C-130s to verify missiles destroyed, and a bazillion young pilots in their green jumpsuits flying to somewhere.
As for those young pilots, they are special military people, and Kathleen Rogers has perfectly captured a sliver of the fictional life of one military pilot---Tuck Westerfield.
Tuck’s story will pull you into his intricate tale of daily life in the military. Gosh, he has kiddo troubles, a crazy ex-wife, secrets, funny neighbors, good friends, and yep, thoughts about retiring and making a living.
However, there is one fat hazard in the book that is not generally found in the civilian world--- pilots fly planes; pilots and their planes crash; and sometimes, pilots die. In THE FINAL SALUTE, a chapter deals with the ghosts of Tuck’s dead pilot friends. They appear in his mind, and he becomes very self-reflective of his life.
If you want to experience a sense of military life, you will enjoy Rogers’ book. It should be noted that THE FINAL SALUTE won the Silver Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America.
I say, “Blessings on all those lovely young men in their green jumpsuits flying to somewhere.” <3
February 6, 2015
Good reading and insight into Air Force pilots.
Having served 23 years in the air force and working in flight simulators I spent my career around pilots. Their courage and talent never ceased to amaze me. This book takes you into their world. The characters are like many I knew, the skill as a pilot, the courage and the humor they had is show cased in this book.
Death rides close, some are brave, some not so brave. So are the pilots in the book. And let's not forget the wives and children with who bravely send their loved ones off each day with a silent strength. This book reveals their lives both the good and bad of each.
Our country owes a debt to all men and women who serve as well as their families. This book helps understand them in a very human way.
Having served 23 years in the air force and working in flight simulators I spent my career around pilots. Their courage and talent never ceased to amaze me. This book takes you into their world. The characters are like many I knew, the skill as a pilot, the courage and the humor they had is show cased in this book.
Death rides close, some are brave, some not so brave. So are the pilots in the book. And let's not forget the wives and children with who bravely send their loved ones off each day with a silent strength. This book reveals their lives both the good and bad of each.
Our country owes a debt to all men and women who serve as well as their families. This book helps understand them in a very human way.
October 27, 2011
I loved this book. Amazing story. Wonderful characters that you are so intrigued by that you cannot put the book down because you need/want to know what happens next. one of the things I loved most is the references and place setting of the Air Force. I am an air force brat and now an air force wife, I can relate and I have an understanding of the terms and phrases used. Which drew me more in the book! I cried a few times while reading this book. You get to know the characters like they are real and in front of you. So you can't help but have feelings for them all. An enjoyable book for anyone to read!!
October 27, 2011
I loved this book. Amazing story. Wonderful characters that you are so intrigued by that you cannot put the book down because you need/want to know what happens next. one of the things I loved most is the references and place setting of the Air Force. I am an air force brat and now an air force wife, I can relate and I have an understanding of the terms and phrases used. Which drew me more in the book! I cried a few times while reading this book. You get to know the characters like they are real and in front of you. So you can't help but have feelings for them all. An enjoyable book for anyone to read!!
January 5, 2015
My husband recommended that I read this book and I'm glad he did. Having been raised as an Air Force brat, it brings back many good memories of military life.
Gina is the wife of Tuck Westerfield and mother of two small boys. Tuck is an A-10 pilot. They live on base in Louisiana and Tuck has a problem with his neighbor's dog, doing his thing in their yard. He and Wynonna have words over the dog but she and Gina stay amicable.
Tuck's daughter Michelle from a previous marriage comes for a stay. Sally warns Tuck that she has changed. When she gets off the plane, little Jesse thinks it's halloween.
This is a great story about family, friendships and duty. I would recommend it.
Gina is the wife of Tuck Westerfield and mother of two small boys. Tuck is an A-10 pilot. They live on base in Louisiana and Tuck has a problem with his neighbor's dog, doing his thing in their yard. He and Wynonna have words over the dog but she and Gina stay amicable.
Tuck's daughter Michelle from a previous marriage comes for a stay. Sally warns Tuck that she has changed. When she gets off the plane, little Jesse thinks it's halloween.
This is a great story about family, friendships and duty. I would recommend it.
August 1, 2011
I loved this book. It brought back many memories of my past Air Force career. During my career in the Air Force, I was a young enlisted man. This book has given me a different perspective on what the Air Force was like through the eyes of an Officer. I loved the way the author was able to take true non-fiction characters and events and use them to create a fictional story. I could easily replace names and events in the story with events and names from my own past. I couldn't put the book down and I read it in less than a day.
March 2, 2013
A rare realistic look into the sacrifices and sorrows our nations military families face everyday told by a woman that has lived the life.
Kathleen is a gifted storyteller and character crafter. I am look forward to reading her next novel.
This is the second book this month that has made me laugh out loud and cry...
Kathleen is a gifted storyteller and character crafter. I am look forward to reading her next novel.
This is the second book this month that has made me laugh out loud and cry...
December 21, 2014
A Heart Warming Read About Life
This is a delightful tale about a man who loves his job, flying planes in the U. S. Air Force. Most every pilot I know, has a family, a community that they live in, their fears. I wish I could take this author out for a drink, share stories, and thank her for her work.
This is a delightful tale about a man who loves his job, flying planes in the U. S. Air Force. Most every pilot I know, has a family, a community that they live in, their fears. I wish I could take this author out for a drink, share stories, and thank her for her work.
April 13, 2015
An easy read and I quite enjoyed it. I didn't know a lot about airforce life and this is a story of pilots and their families. It is well told and the characters are believable but it it is not a book that will stay in my memory for long.
Set on an airforce base in Louisianna and it does bring home the danger those jet pilots live daily.
Set on an airforce base in Louisianna and it does bring home the danger those jet pilots live daily.
March 10, 2012
I am not a military involved woman, and I also thought it was a good read.
Ms. Rodgers is a great story teller, and her character development is excellent. Plus, she has a great sense of humor. This book will make you both laugh and cry. What more do we want in a story?
Ms. Rodgers is a great story teller, and her character development is excellent. Plus, she has a great sense of humor. This book will make you both laugh and cry. What more do we want in a story?
August 30, 2012
I loved this book! I really couldn't put it down. It was so much fun to be reminded of roofstomps, Friday nights at the Club, wives' coffees, base housing ...
I recommend this book highly. I don't know the author, but I know I would like her a lot!
I recommend this book highly. I don't know the author, but I know I would like her a lot!
December 29, 2014
A heart touching story...
The Final Salute puts you in the story. You will come to know the characters personally and you are bound to become part of their military family. I have gained a new respect for pilots after reading this story....Kinda hate the book came to an end....
The Final Salute puts you in the story. You will come to know the characters personally and you are bound to become part of their military family. I have gained a new respect for pilots after reading this story....Kinda hate the book came to an end....
March 13, 2009
the woman who wrote this is my neighbor.
it is absolutely amazing and heartfelt and is based off of her husbands experience in the airforce.
i recommend it to all. :)
it is absolutely amazing and heartfelt and is based off of her husbands experience in the airforce.
i recommend it to all. :)
May 28, 2013
Loved this book ....a must read!
December 24, 2014
I don't say this often, but this book needed to be longer. The plot advanced way too quickly to really be believable and the characters all needed to be developed a lot more. But I enjoyed it a lot.
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