Chapter 12, Chapters 45 -47 Summary and Analysis

Helicopters are like Harleys and MGs and Porsches in that they require a lot of TLC, specialized handling from people who know them intimately in order to approach reliable functionality. Beckwith explains that in Viet Nam, this practice was understood and followed. In Eagle Claw there was an error to the opposite end—crews unfamiliar with their finicky nature who didn't even know what it was like to need to rely on these helicopters under life/death conditions tended to them. President Carter assures the survivors that he is very proud of them, even though the effort failed and reminded Colonel Beckwith that "we" still needed to come up with something that would work to rescue the hostages.

Chapter 46: Charlie is now called into Washington. He meets with the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...