Storm center

The tragic shootdown of a commercial Iranian airliner by a U.S. Navy cruiser in 1988 drew worldwide attention and became the subject of a heated debate that continues even today. The man at the center of the controversy, the captain of the Vincennes, has until now avoided public discussion of the tragedy. With this book, however, he breaks his silence and gives a full accounting of what happened. Captain Will Rogers details shipboard events that led up to the firing of the Aegis missiles and describes the Navy's investigation of the incident. His wife, Sharon, tells about the upheaval at home in San Diego, and together they reveal the events that followed, including the March 1989 bombing of the van and the community's reaction. In telling his story, Rogers brings into sharp focus the cold realities of the speed, complexity, and ambiguity of modern high-tech warfare and the stresses placed on those who must instantly react to life-and-death situations while operating state-of-the-art electronic equipment. On a more intimate level, the book presents a vivid picture of an ordinary couple thrust into the midst of extraordinary circumstances: A skipper boosting the morale of his crew w