In a cheeky critique of the classic American airpower narrative "Twelve O'Clock High," award-winning soldier-poet, essayist, and humorist Randy Brown explores what it means to be a leader or follower at war-morally, physically, and psychologically. The book is packed full of insights into military life, as viewed through the lenses of ?war movies, history, and the author's experiences as a one-time U.S. Army-trained "lessons-learned analyst." "I started out to write 12 haiku poems about a favorite old war movie," says the author, "but my 'whimsical experiment in minimalist war poetry' mutated into a 'maximum effort' mix of memory, media, and military culture!" TWELVE O'CLOCK HAIKU: Life-Lessons in Leadership from War Poems & Films now comprises poems both old and new, a lyric essay about the film, and a list of resources for enthusiasts of World War II bomber poetry, history, and movies. Brown first encountered the 1949 movie when on temporary duty as a U.S. Army citizen-soldier.

Whether as a novel, film, or late-1960s television series, the "Twelve O'Clock High" franchise continues to be a touchstone in 21st century Professional Military Education (PME) and business-class discussions about transformative leadership, management techniques, moral injury, and veterans' healing.