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Gregory M. Acuna is a commercial airline Captain for a major U.S. air carrier and writer. Prior to becoming an airline pilot, Mr. Acuna spent seven years on active duty with the U.S. Air Force flying C-141 transport aircraft. In addition he spent eleven more years in the U.S Air Force Reserves flying C-141s and KC-10s. In August of 1990, he was recalled to active duty and served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew several combat support missions. In 1995, then Major Acuna participated in Operation Deliberate Force, flying KC-10s over the Adriatic Sea providing in-flight refueling support for NATO aircraft.
Mr. Acuna has traveled extensively throughout the world and has studied the history and geography of Europe and Latin America.
In 1980 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Acuna lives with his wife and two children in Roseville, California near Sacramento and he continues to fly a full-time schedule as an airline Captain. Mr. Acuna is currently writing a World War II espionage thriller and will then write a sequel to the Balkan Network.
Reviewed by Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite
In March 1999, a NATO air armada is ready to strike strategic targets in Serbia. Since the end of the Cold War there are few friendly human assets in the Balkans. The CIA doesn't have time to set up a network, so they seek assistance from the Defense Intelligence Agency. Because of their specific skills, a team of secret operators, all US military personnel, are recruited, trained and inserted into Serbia to help downed NATO pilots with safe passage and escape to friendly territory.
As the mission escalates, two of the operatives, Navy Lieutenant Commander Karol Koskov and Air Force Major Dan Radivich, help rescue a downed F-117 pilot. Along the way they discover Serbian military secrets. These secrets could significantly tip the balance of air power and change the outcome of the war. Unfortunately for them, there’s a traitor feeding information to the enemy. Targeted by enemy forces, they desperately attempt to continue their mission and also get this vital information to NATO headquarters before it’s too late.
The Balkan Network is very well written, reminiscent of a Ludlum thriller. There is an excellent mixture of intrigue, drama, action, and danger. The characters are convincing, consistent, and motivated; the plot is well thought out. The author used enough description so the reader could feel like he was actually there. Without excessive graphic violence, strong language or sex, the author tells a story that is powerful and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would very much like to read more work from this gifted author.
