Skip O’Neil is dying. He knows it, his doctor knows it, and his pretty young nurse Nancy knows it. Skip has leukemia, and he does not have much time left. As he lies in his New York hospital bed he drifts in and out of a morphine-induced stupor, reflecting on his life in the Air Force.
That's where Ron Standerfer begins The Eagles Last Flight. We meet an altruistic young man who after spending two years at the University of Illinois studying music decides that his destiny is not in music, but to become a pilot. We follow Skip as he chases his dream.
Skip’s initial efforts in the Air Force are far from stellar. There are questions about his abilities, and as a result, he finds himself not as a pilot, but as the backseat driver, looking after the radar. His solution to this problem is to go back to school and get the degree he needs to advance. It is during this time that he meets Christine, his wife to be.
The Eagles Last Flight is not so much an Air Jocks story as it is a reflection on the achievements and adversaries that face all of us. In many ways this book is a love story. Although there are many great tales of derring-do, the main theme is the developing relationship between Skip and his wife Christine. Like any couple they face difficult decisions. Both mean well, and it is clear that they are very much in love, however this does not prevent them from making mistakes.
Much of the book is set overseas, and follows the relentless uprooting of the family, as is the life of the active duty member of the armed forces. The lack of local friends and family lead to temptations and situations that put a severe strain on the O’Neil family.
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