"America had a secret weapon," writes Steve Call of the period 
immediately following September 11, 2001, as planners 
contemplated the invasion of Afghanistan. This weapon consisted of 
small teams of Special Forces operatives trained in close air support 
(CAS) who, in cooperation with the loose federation of Afghan rebels 
opposed to the Taliban regime, soon began achieving impressive—
and unexpected—military victories over Taliban forces and the al-
Qaeda terrorists they had sponsored. The astounding success of CAS 
tactics coupled with ground operations in Afghanistan soon drew the 
attention of military decision makers and would eventually factor into 
the planning for another campaign: Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    But who, exactly, are these air power experts and what is the 
function of the TACPs (Tactical Air Control Parties) in which they 
operate? Danger Close provides a fascinating look at a dedicated, 
courageous, innovative, and often misunderstood and misused group 
of military professionals.

    Drawing on the gripping first-hand accounts of their battlefield 
experiences, Steve Call allows the TACPs to speak for themselves. 
He accompanies their narratives with informed analysis of the 
development of CAS strategy, including potentially controversial 
aspects of the interservice rivalries between the air force and the army 
which have at times complicated and even obstructed the optimal 
employment of TACP assets. Danger Close makes clear, 
however, that the systematic coordination of air power and ground 
forces played an invaluable supporting role in the initial military 
victories in both Afghanistan and Iraq. This first-ever examination of 
the intense, life-and-death world of the close air support specialist 
will introduce readers to a crucial but little-known aspect of 
contemporary warfare and add a needed chapter in American military 
history studies.

_________________________________________________________

STEVE CALL is an assistant professor at Broome Community 
College in Binghamton, New York, teaching both American and 
military history. During his twenty-year career in the air force, Call 
held many command and staff positions, including liaison officer with 
the army, Pentagon staff officer, and squadron commander. His 
Ph.D. in military history is from Ohio State University.


Number 113: Texas A&M University Military History Series


What people are saying about this book

"Many of us watched the war on TV—or thought we did.  This 
book brings forth previously untold and important accounts of 
airpower used to decimate Taliban and Iraqi forces, ahead of U.S. 
ground-force advances into enemy held terrain. . . ."—Col. Mark 
Buckman, USAF, Council on Foreign Relations

" . . . explains one of the most important and least understood keys 
to success in conventional military operations—that is, actions 
against an organized enemy . . . Call catches the cadences and the 
mentality of today's professional soldiers . . . seeks to tell a straight 
story, presenting shortcomings and errors as well as positives."
—Dennis E. Showalter, Colorado College