Charley Carr is a relatively new Air Force pilot flying the F-105 "Thud" during the Vietnam War. He has been assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing in Lampang, Thailand. His immediate goals are not only to survive but also to earn the coveted 100 Mission Patch that will distinguish him as a member of an elite group of Air Force pilots. Early in his assignment he develops a particular disdain for the SA-2 Guideline missiles or SAMs. Eventually he earns an assignment to the Wild Weasels, a specially designated force of F-105s that go after these missile sites. The course of his career eventually takes him beyond Southeast Asia to the Persian Gulf. His encounters give an inside look at the perilous art of dueling with the deadly SAMs, Migs, and triple-A in each of these two wars. Along the way he must deal with the triumphs and losses, both personal and professional, that come with successfully fulfilling the obligations of an honorable and exciting military career.