From the Prairie to the Pacific is the story of one man's journey from rural North Dakota to the cockpits of U.S. Navy jet fighters and ultimately Captain of a flagship aircraft carrier. Gil Rud flew combat missions over Vietnam in A-7 Corsair II aircraft before taking command of his own squadron. His success as a Naval aviator led to the ultimate reward - "Boss" of the world-famous Blue Angels aerobatic display team, overseeing their successful transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. Gil Rud reflects on his experiences and emotions as a husband and father as well as a pilot and an "officer and a gentleman." His stories of triumph and tragedy, from nights on the flight deck to nights on the town and the loss of close friends, reveal deep feelings, great insight and a wonderful sense of humor, as well as meticulous attention to detail.

About the Author

Gil Rud grew up on a small farm in North Dakota ten miles from the nearest town. He attended a one-room country school where one teacher taught all eight grades. His high school only had a total of 100 students, which did afford him, as a self-described mediocre athlete, the opportunity to play football, basketball, baseball, and track. He attended North Dakota State University, graduating with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics. His intention was to take over the family farm, but the Vietnam War and advice from his father derailed that career path. He was always amazed by the skill of the local crop dusters and flying in general, which led to him earning a private pilot license while still a college student. Although the Air Force was not interested in hiring him with his non-technical background, the Navy jumped at the opportunity to pick up a potential student pilot with some prior experience. This memoir details his improbable journey from a hell-raising, immature, adventure-seeking wild man, all the way to the Flight Leader of the "Blue Angels" and eventual command of an aircraft carrier. Gil is a great example of living the American Dream.

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