Point of View

"Flight of the Intruder" is written in third person, from the viewpoint of the protagonist, Jake Grafton. The author delves into Jake's thoughts and emotions, which often are consumed by his extreme dissatisfaction over the way the Vietnam War is being conducted by leaders he has never met, who he believes are unwilling to authorize hard-hitting tactics that would allow American forces to win the war. This conviction is driven home not only through Jake's thoughts but in his conversations with fellow officers, with his girlfriend, Callie, and in a memorable speech he makes during the military hearing that is called concerning his unauthorized bombing of a Hanoi target. Also prominent in Jake's thoughts and emotional reactions are how he copes with the constant threat of death in war and an ongoing self-assessment of his mental toughness and ability to make the right split-second piloting decisions...