Short book written from the point of view of helicopter crews. This book provides accounts of about 10 pre-US special operation command and later US special operations and what their mission preparations entailed. The missions usually required going above and beyond the call of duty which all of these crews did. The title comes from a chapter on the Iranian rescue where despite meticulous planning and valiant air crews the mission still was ultimately doomed to fail, hence these men were launched aboard their "chariots of the damned." Very nice work with each chapter delivering a tightly focused conclusion. ( )