“I’m proud to have worked, sweated, argued with, yelled at, and honorably served with Captain Michael “Mak” Makatura, even when I had to remind him that he was a lieutenant, and I was a lieutenant colonel, and the silver oak leaf on my shoulder carried more weight than the single little bar on his shoulder. And I’m even more proud to still call him a dear friend today.
He scored a “shack,” a direct hit on the bullseye, with this book.”
Edward “Julio” Houle
Colonel (Ret), USAF
Sabre 1 (June 1989 to June 1991)
Wow, does THE FIGHTIN’ TENTH bring back some memories…military life on the Mosul, the Cold War, NATO, Nuclear Cert and 250 feet at 540 knots in Low Fly 7 to…SCUD hunting, AAA, SAMs, high 45 deliveries and “friendly” combat Crud at the Viper’s Pit.
Mak captures it all in vivid detail. the 10th played hard, trained harder, and fought to win! This book is a must read for the military enthusiast.
Joey “BooBoo” Booher
F-16 Pilot, 10th TFS
LPA 1990 - Desert Storm - 1991
Ever wondered what life was like for the pilots and personnel in an F-16 squadron in West Germany in the midst of the Cold War? In his book, "THE FIGHTIN' TENTH", Michael Makatura details how a squadron was organized, operated and rigorously trained to repel a full-scale attack by forces of the Soviet Union and its Eastern Block partners. Then, through his access to wartime journals and personal accounts, Mak puts the reader into the cockpit of an F-16 Viper during Desert Storm combat operations against Iraqi forces, and helps the reader appreciate the challenges and stresses of conducting high-tempo air combat operations in an unforgiving and hostile environment.
Personally, I am humbled and honored that Mak chose to share the Tenth’s story. I have no doubt you will come away with an appreciation for not only the men and women of the Fightin’ Tenth, but also all the men and women who commit to serve and defend the United States and her allies against the forces of evil and oppression.
Terry “Ragin” Bull
Lt Colonel (Retired)
10TFS B Flight Commander
December 1988 to August 1991
This is a must read!
Mak describes squadron life, family life, and the psyche of a fighter pilot perfectly! Greatly enjoyed it.
Doug “Frenchie” French
Colonel (Ret), USAF
Fighter Weapons School Graduate & Instructor
THE FIGHTIN’ TENTH is an outstanding read that I couldn’t put down.
As an integral part of the Fighting Tenth Sabres, a NATO F-16 squadron, Mak puts you in the middle of the action of a story that’s exciting and true. After protecting Europe, the Sabres deployed and fought in Desert Storm, striking targets all over Iraq and hunting SCUD missiles aimed at Israel.
Paul “Doodle” Dordal
Brigadier General (Ret), USAF
Sabre 1 (1987-1989)
Michael Makatura takes you on a journey from Officer Training School to Iraq to experience the lives and sacrifice of those that served as the "terrors of the sky" during the Iraq war. Using several actual journals and his own experience, Mak writes with honesty, humor, suspense, and loss. The country needs to know their stories. So buckle up and ride along in F-16s as they risk their lives in service to their country.
Stephen Reed
(Ret.) Special Markets, Penguin Random House