For quantity, the turnout at former Rep. Duncan Hunter's book signing Saturday wasn't much to write home about. For quality, it was sky high.

Retired Air Force Gen. Chuck Yeager, the Right Stuff legend and first pilot to break the sound barrier, quietly made his way to the center of Maxwell's House of Books with Victoria, his wife of seven years.

A handful of visitors to The Village bookstore gaped as Yeager greeted Hunter, 62, whom he's known since the former politician was 6 years old. Hunter was on a book tour to promote his recently published Victory in Iraq: How America Won.

"That was very surreal," said one witness. "Chuck Yeager just walks into a book store in La Mesa that I also happen to be in? Yeah, that did just happen."

Among the lucky bystanders was Andi Esposito, managing editor of the Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Worcester, MA. She said she had been visiting relatives and came to Maxwell's to pick up a book on birds.

She added several high fliers as well—Yeager and Hunter.

On the book's cover is a photo of Marine Cpl. Kip Yeager, Chuck's grandson and still stationed in the Middle East.

The cover—and book—has a La Mesa connection: Its editor and designer is Carrie Ash, a La Mesa resident, said Hunter's sister Bonnie Kane.

Kane arranged the three-hour bookstore visit with Craig Maxwell, owner/operator of the bookstore. While visiting Borders bookstores in Southern California, the idea came up to visit an independent store* in San Diego County.

Hunter visited an El Centro bookstore earlier Saturday, according to the book's official website.

Maxwell, wearing his "AuH20" T-shirt with Barry Goldwater portrait, posed with Hunter and Yeager between manning the register.

"This bookstore has a lot of personality and a lot of old friends," Hunter said. "A lot of character and personality. A lot of fun."

Hunter joked that he might do some shopping at Maxwell's, and said: "Maxwell might make a net profit off of me."

But the 87-year-old Yeager, the center of attention during his brief visit after 4 p.m., was modest amid the locals, signing autographs (for a $2 donation to his foundation) and chatting amiably with customers.

Yeager noted that his own 1985 autobiography had sold 7 million copies, and he was asked if he had any advice for Hunter.

"You don't tell a congressman anything," Yeager said, smiling. He has been visiting Hunter at his East County home. The Yeagers live in the Northern California town of Penn Valley.

They've known each other for decades since both are associated with the late Jackie Cochran, the first woman to fly supersonic and the first female pilot to land and take off from an aircraft carrier.

Yeager endorsed Hunter in 2007 when he ran for the Republican presidential nomination. Hunter—whose son Duncan D. Hunter succeeded him in Congress—withdrew from the White House race in January 2008.

Genesis Press—which publishes Victory in Iraq, charging $19.95—calls itself the largest privately owned African-American book publisher in the country.

"With imprints like Indigo, Indigo Love Spectrum & Black Coral, they offer readers the best in African American and multicultural romance," says its Facebook page.

From 2003 to 2007, Hunter was the chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee. His sons served in Iraq—Sam with the Army's Fourth Stryker Brigade and Duncan with the First Marine Division.

Hunter served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 28 years, but now looks forward to the holidays, saying he's enjoying his grandchildren.

*An earlier version of the story said Bonnie Kane thought of holding the signing at Wahrenbrock's in downtown San Diego.  In fact, she noted that Maxwell was a grandson of Wahrenbrock and that few independent bookstores were left and Maxwell's was one of the few in San Diego County.