GULF in the WAR STORY: Inside the Navy's Real Top Gun During Desert Storm Think Top Gun is all slick jets and macho bravado? Think again. For six months aboard the USS RANGER (CV-61) during the Gulf War , life was adrenaline, chaos, and absurd adventure — from exotic ports like Subic Bay and the Province of Zambales to the notorious “Bye-Bye Beach,” teenage mischief, and unpredictable thrills at sea. This you-are-there diary reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of a Navy carrier during Desert Storm : hidden LGBTQ+ struggles, chain-of-command chaos, and the offbeat humor of life at sea. Gripping, funny, and eye-opening, this is a story every Navy veteran, Gulf War history enthusiast, or military memoir reader will never forget. And it's more than a memoir -- it's a diary, written in real time!