War and Coffee is a first-person account of being deployed to Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot with the "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division in 2009. Observed halfway through a decades-long war, this irreverent perspective is both comical and brutally honest. In between the occasional mortar round and rocket-propelled grenades, Joshua Havill takes a direct look at the tactical and ideological substance of a conflict laced with as much debauchery as tragedy. With a Cold War perspective gleaned from nine years of US Navy Submarine Service, along with a civilian interlude, Havill re-entered the military in 2002 to pursue his enthusiasm for aviation. This checkered military career culminated with the subject of this work, a year of flying UH-60 Blackhawks out of Bagram Air Base. Time away from the cockpit was spent living in a plywood B-hut and making frequent visits to "The Lighthouse", the base's sparse yet beloved self-serve coffee shop. Set during the most pivotal year of Operation Enduring Freedom, this is a captivating illustration of life in a warzone.
About the AuthorJoshua Havill is a retired Army officer who lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his wife and children. He runs a small machine shop and enjoys flying as a private pilot. He has several articles published in aviation magazines.
ReviewsA unique war seen through the eyes of a seasoned combat pilot. Josh Havill captures a tumultuous tour of duty with candor and a gift for storytelling. It's a riveting account that captures the essence of a soldier's experience. -- General Stanley A. McChrystal, US Army (Ret.), former Commander, United States Forces - Afghanistan
Book InformationISBN 9780764367021
Author Joshua HavillFormat Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Schiffer Publishing LtdPublisher Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 499g