Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I wish you the Peace and Joy of this Christmas Season and a Happy New Year.

Flughafen Knuffigen

Our friend George Drago sent me this very cool video of Flughafen Knuffingen (Knuffingen Airport) in Hamburg, Germany.  It’s amazing!  Take a look at the related links that you can find on YouTube. It is amazing what can be done when time and money (over 3 million Euros) are no object. This is unbelievable!!!!

It’s 16:44 minutes long, put it on full screen and watch at least long enough to see a take-off and landing (yes, a take-off and landing!”).

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gn1qMYfFrro&feature=related

Pie Anyone?

What memories does Thanksgiving bring to your mind?  I was in Vietnam during several major holidays from 1968 to 1970, you know the ones – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, my birthday. 

Anyway, whenever I think of my Thanksgivings in Vietnam, I remember the fun that Konstantine George “Tiny” Varelans and I had for one of them.  Seems that this particular holiday usually brings to mind the mouth-watering aromas of turkey, sweet potatoes and, of course, pumpkin pie!  What would Thanksgiving be without pumpkin pie?

Tiny and I got the great idea that we, the two of us, would make sure the 225^th would have pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving dinner.  The turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce – they were all taken care of by the Mess Hall crew.  So we asked the mess sergeant (I think his name was SFC Tart) if we could take charge of making pie for the whole company, all 330+ of us!  We were very surprised that he actually said “Yes!” 

The details of that evening of pie making are kinda fuzzy now some forty-three years later, but I think we must have begun preparations after the evening meal.  I’m sure that kitchen crew oriented us to the workings of the kitchen, where things were, what we could and could not use, that sort of thing.  We had all the ingredients to make the pies.  We probably had to make our piecrust from scratch, I know we didn’t have any pre-made Pillsbury crusts!

Anyway, we got the crusts ready and now it was time to mix the pumpkin filling.  Pureed pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, eggs, condensed milk.  What could be simpler?  It was whole lot of filling, let me tell you ...  a big pot full (or maybe we had several pots)!

I’m not sure what time it was when we discovered the misstep in our preparation.  But is was late enough that there was that sense of panic you have when you have planned a project and everybody is depending on you, and you just know that the result won’t what three hundred men would be thankful for just because you made a dim-witted mistake.

The problem?  I had added too much milk to the pumpkin filling mixture.  Instead of the sort of liquid that is moderately thick and not too runny, this pumpkin mixture had the consistency of consommé!

What to do?!?  Tiny and I decided that I would use the XO’s jeep to go around to all the mess halls on Phu Hiep Army Airfield to see if I could get anything to thicken the soup.  I don’t know how many stops I made, but probably it was at least four or five.  Everyone was glad to help with whatever we thought would turn our broth into real pumpkin pie filling.  We ultimately used more cornstarch, flour, and anything else we thought of to thicken our mixture.

I still have a vivid memory of driving that jeep through nearly dark company areas, going into unfamiliar mess halls and pleading for help with our situation.   Well, the short of it was that I was able to get enough of something and Tiny and I made the consommé thick enough to pass for pumpkin filling.

As I look back, I realize that driving around the airfield in the dead of night probably was not the smartest thing to do because we may have been on a yellow alert being the holiday.  Kind of like going on a mission on your last day in country; wait.... I did that too, but that’s a different story!

Well, we got the pies baked that night and we all had the whole works for dinner at Phu Hiep on that Thanksgiving Day. 

As you sit down with your family and friends this Thanksgiving in 2012, remember all that we can thank God for.  I could make a list of the blessings in my life, but I won’t bore you with that except to say that I am so thankful for my friends I first met so many years ago at Phabulous Phu Hiep By The Sea, during my three years in the Army and since.  May God bless you richly over this holiday season!

Reunion in Branson 2012

(2012 T-Shirt Graphic Designed by Keith Towler)

I was not able to go to Branson this year for the Association's 23rd Annual Reunion.  I really missed seeing all my Brothers!  I just got an email from Bill Miller who said "Great reunion and the 225^th was well represented. "  Bill also sent the link (see below) to a wonderful video that was produced this weekend at the Reunion.  It's about 15 minutes long, but well well worth your time!  And thanks Bill for sending this on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR1vuhve910&feature=plcp

Running Again!

I ran a 5K for the first time since I had surgery in February.  Last Sunday, October 7^th I participated in the Set the Pace for Prostate Cancer 5K on the Seattle waterfront.  This was to benefit the Prostate Cancer Education Council provide information and available screening services to communities. All proceeds will fund local prostate cancer needs such as free and low cost screenings, research and education, in addition to the PCEC's national awareness campaign. (prostateconditions.org)

I have been training since September 9^th and it was fun to put my Vibram Five-Fingers barefoot sports shoes back on and hit the Burke-Gilman Trail in Kenmore near our home after work to begin working toward the 3 mile run.  The picture is of our Medical Director Tony Woodward (left) and one of our Emergency Attending Physicians Neil Uspal (right) and me before the 9am start.  They did the run to support me!  How fun is that?!

My results weren’t stellar, but my time was only 3 minutes slower (42:31) than the first 5K I ran 4 ½ years ago.  Not so bad for an older guy who had major surgery 8 months ago.   (Tony’s and Neil’s time were way better than mine!)

I’d encourage you, if you are not already exercising more or less regularly, to begin by doing something you enjoy.  It can be by trying to get that little white sphere into a tiny hole a million yards distant, swimming, running or, my favorite other exercise, resistance training.  The point is that we’re never too old to begin!  I don’t know if he is still doing this, but I seem to remember that Tony Chapa told me he was riding his bike 10 miles a day; I have a friend at the hospital who is my age and she and her husband take a trip to Europe every year just to ride hundreds of miles on their bikes!  My plan is to continue running and training for a 5K in December. 

Also, check out this website: The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter 
www.senior-exercise-central.com; Logan Franklin puts out an email newsletter that I have found to be really encouraging.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Landing at LAX

Our friend Ed Balanger sent this to me a few days ago.  This is well worth the 15 minutes spent in front of your screen watching the Space Shuttle Endeavour make its last flight.  Thanks Ed!

In case you haven't already seen this is an extended view of the space shuttle Endeavour’s flight over Southern California and the landing at LAX.

This was filmed by a woman who is a NASA photographer and was riding in one of the F18's accompanying the space shuttle.  So far, this video has only been viewed by less than 200,000 people, not millions, yet, like some of the other videos - - - so not very many people know about it!

  

Turn your speakers on, please. Remember to open it to "full screen" to view. Click on the link below.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPNDhOWutk

"The Post Library"

 Over the last year or so, I’ve been reading a lot more than ever before, mostly on the bus commute to and from work.  Periodically I’ve shared with you a review on what I will call now “The Post Library.”

This 900+ page biography of Harry Truman (ISBN 978-0-671-86920-5) is both an historical evaluation of his presidency and a paean to the 33^rd President’s rock-solid American values. Truman was a compromise candidate for vice president in 1944, becoming an accidental president after Franklin Roosevelt's death 12 weeks into his fourth term. Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory in the 1948 election showed how his personal qualities of integrity and straightforwardness were appreciated by ordinary Americans, and even his political rivals, perhaps, as author David McCullough notes, because he was one himself. His presidency was dominated by enormously controversial issues: he dropped the atomic bombs on Japan, established anti-Communism as the bedrock of American foreign policy, sent U.S. troops into the Korean War and fired General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. In this winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize, McCullough argues that history has validated most of Truman's wartime and Cold War decisions.

I would recommend Truman to anyone who is interested in modern American history.  The long book will take you an amazingly quick read through the life of this complex Missouri farmer, World War I Army artillery captain, local politician and world leader.   In this 2012 political season, it was fun to see how this president, in office when I was born in 1947, help shaped the last half of the 20^th century.  No matter what your political leaning, I think you would enjoy it.

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven (ISBN 978-1-4143-3606-0) by Kevin Malarkey is a “can’t-put-this-book-down” story of the 2004 horrific car accident in which he and his six-year-old son, Alex, were badly injured.  The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex—and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. 'I think Alex has gone to be with Jesus,' a friend told the stricken dad. But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just terrible to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven is the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey. As you see heaven and earth through Alex's eyes, you'll come away with new insights on miracles, life beyond this world, and the power of a father's love.  (taken partially from Amazon.com’s book description)  This is a quick, enjoyable and uplifting read!

I would give this book a rating of a whole bunch of stars!

Caribous, Mohawks and Other Flying Machines!

Ed Paquette sent me this email and link that I'd like to share with you.  There are some nice shots of a Mohawk in the video also.  I remember clearly seeing Caribous, both in Army and in PA&E livery, at Phu Hiep during my 28 months there, but I never did ride in one.  Enjoy this video ride!  Thanks Ed!

Super cool.  I've forwarded this on, and probably duplicated some addresses to whom you have also sent it. 

There a couple of pretty good shots of the Mohawk   Watch for them  

I would like to highlight a special aircraft in this video.  The DeHavilland "Caribou", the large twin-engine painted in her original Army color, is the one that was flown by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) in aviation venues around the country.  

Over the course of time,  Caribou 149 became the focus of former Army Caribou crew members and their families who were drawn to Hampton, GA just to volunteer their time in the restoration, maintenance and flying in air shows.  That group became known as the "Bou Crew".  There was, and always will be, a special bond among the men who shared that wonderful ten year experience.  

Although the aircraft was privately owned by an individual, we considered her "ours".  Unfortunately, the owner decided to sell the aircraft and it left for the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Texas.  There, it continues to be a crowd pleaser and participates in air shows while preserving Army Aviation history for future generations.

                                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ihkVwZxyCs&feature=player_embedded

YouTube - Videos from this email

ALERTS TO THREATS IN 2012 EUROPE: by John Cleese

George Drago sent this wonderful piece a while ago, but, considering the recurring upheaval in the Middle East, I thought you'd might like to see it again. 

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."  Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross."  The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out.  Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance."  The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.  

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards."  They don't have any other levels.  This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.  

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide."  The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender."  The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.  

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and  

Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing."  Two more levels remain:  "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."  

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs."  They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."  

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .  

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy.  These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.  

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate."  Two more escalation levels remain:  "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled."  So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.  

-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person  

A final thought:  Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray.  Welcome back to 401BC.

Air Show Disaster - AIRCRAFT HITS FOUR BUILDINGS

Bud Hart and George Drago both sent this one.  This is tough to watch. It just shows the dangers of attending these events.

Amazing photo below shows great detail. The pilot at low level had no control over his aircraft. It narrowly misses a crowd gathered for the air show and slams into four buildings.

One can only imagine the horror experienced by the occupants of those buildings.

No one was killed; but it probably scared the crap out of them.

Lower Than a Snake’s Belly in a Wagon Rut!

Link to this sight for some spectacular photos of some “magnificent men in their flying machines” that Steve Hammons sent to me some time ago.  This is a long article, but well worth the time to look at it all!

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/325/language/en-CA/Lower-than-a-Snakes-Belly-in-a-Wagon-Rut.aspx

Letter to Senator Maria Cantwell

Hi everybody!  I just sent a letter to Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State, and I though you all would be interested in reading it.  I also cc'd it to Senator Patty Murray who is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

August 19, 2012

Dear Senator Cantwell,

I am a Vietnam veteran who, like so many veterans from that war, has a claim for Special Monthly Compensation under consideration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  I served in Vietnam from February 1968 to June 1970 as a photo lab tech, company clerk and flight-follow observer in the 225^th Surveillance Airplane Company, a unit of the 1^st Aviation Brigade.  Our base, Phu Hiep Army Airfield, was located where Agent Orange was regularly used during that period.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) on December 30, 2010.  Since this is an Agent Orange presumptive disease, I filed a claim for special monthly compensation with the VA on January 11, 2011.  This claim was approved on June 10, 2011, effective January 1, 2011.

On September 14, 2011, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (malignant neoplasm of prostate), also an Agent Orange presumptive disease.  I submitted an additional claim for special monthly compensation the VA on October 14, 2011.  When I called the Disable American Veterans (my representative with the VA) in June I was told that my claim was now on a desk at the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, OK, waiting to be rated.  I checked again last Thursday and was told that it was still in Oklahoma and that it had probably just moved from one desk to another.  The DAV could not give me an estimate as to when it would be rated.

I am writing not only for myself but also for so many other veterans of all wars (nearly a million I understand!) who have claims that are outstanding.

For Vietnam veterans, we were unable to tell our draft boards that we would look at our calendars to see if we have time available to take our pre-induction physicals.  We didn’t have the option of going into the Army or other service!  We couldn’t tell them that we would show up in six months to a year!  Yet the VA tells us consistently that it will take 12 to 18 months for a claim to be processed!

I know the VA is overwhelmed, but our veterans are overwhelmed with the disabilities they have incurred because of their honorable service to our country.  We all deserve swift service from a department that has as its mission statement “To fulfill President Lincoln's promise ‘To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.’” (VA website http://www.va.gov/about_va/mission.asp)

We served our country with courage and honor, and the government promised to care for us because we served.  We deserve better!

Thank you.

Gordy Darragh

Cc:  Senator Patty Murray, Chair, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

Do You Know Where This Sign Was In The Company Area?

Terry Carlson sent this photo to me that was labeled September 1969, but neither one of us remember where it was in the Company Area.  The memories are fading!  Send Terry and me a note if you remember: Terry tcarlson47@hotmail.com; Gordy darraghsplace@gmail.com.

Larry Walls

I did not know Larry in Vietnam, but had the privilege of meeting him and his wife Sherry in Las Vegas at our last reunion.

I received the following note from Bob Heckendorn in early June.

"It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Larry Walls. Larry had cancer several years ago and was cancer free for quite some time. Last winter his cancer came back and he went through the chemo process and things looked good this spring. But then it came back again and he just did not have the strength to do chemo again. He had a couple of seizures about 2 weeks ago and passed Sunday morning [6/3] at 04:00.  His wife Sherry has advised me that in lieu of flowers, she thinks it would be a good idea to give to the (not sure if this name is correct) Travelling Viet Nam Wall with a request that they bring the Wall to Enid, OK where it has never appeared. I sent flowers anyway and if you so desire, contact me for the location of the church. His memorial is this coming Friday.

Sincerely,

Bob Heckendorn"

Larry was a Pilot / Crew Chief / Mechanic in the following Units;  7th Army Avn Safety & Stand. Det. '63 - '65 Stuttgart, Germany,  225th Avn Co., PhuHiep, RVN 69 - 70.  131st MI, Ft. Hood '72 - '73

4-Star General

George Drago sent this to me, so I'm passing it along for your enjoyment!  Thanks George!

Now this is cool - and after 38 years he still has the touch!  This is a 4 star you would invite to a party.

  

For those of you that remember the Golden Age of Rock 'n Roll...remember those great instrumental songs?

Remember the Ventures and their great instrumental, Walk, Don't Run ?

Did you know that the original drummer with the Ventures, when they started out, was a 17-year-old high school kid who is now a four-star General in the U.S. Air Force?

This clip is when the Ventures get the General up on stage to sit in on that famous song.  Here is proof that the Air Force Rocks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLi_hBLy3A

The Adventure Continues: Post-Op Blood Work

I thought I would bring you all up to date on my prostatectomy post-op status. I had lab tests for my PSA (prostate specific antigen) level done in March and this month (June); the standard range is 0 to 4.0. My March 12 result was 0.05, and on June 16 it was 0.03.

So Karin and I are pleased that I have been cancer-free since my surgery on February 3rd. I certainly credit my surgeon, Dr. Jay Zink, the many prayers that have been said on our behalf and the Lord for this happy outcome!

And I want to again thank you so much for your support!

VA Claim Status Update

I wanted to give you an update on my claim for special monthly compensation for Agent Orange-related prostate cancer with the Veterans Affairs Department. I filed my claim through my service officer at the Disabled American Veterans in October 2011. I have checked with the DAV periodically regarding the progress of the claim through the amazingly sluggish VA progress, which included at least one unexplained 30-day delay. About two weeks ago the claim had finally been processed and rated, and sent on to the regional VA office in Muskogee, OK, for final processing and, hopefully, awarding of compensation.

I fully understand the burden the VA is under with so many Vietnam era claims that they now have to process (more than 40 years after we were there), and all the new claims for the service men and women back from Iraq and Afghanistan. I understand that the number is around 250,000. But, as I told my service officer, it sometimes feels like the government has very little intention of fulfilling their promise to take care of us, and that maybe they are just waiting for us to die.

Well, I’ve got that off my chest, so I’ll continue to be patient, because my claim should be settled sometime in July. I’ll let you know the results when they make themselves known.

Meanwhile, hang in their guys! I really don’t think they have forgotten us. And remember that we still have each other and our shared experience at the 225th!

Book Reviews

My son Pete gave me a Kindle for Christmas and I have enjoyed reading like never before! I was telling one of my colleagues at work that I think I have read nearly a dozen books since I got it…and that’s a record for me! Here are some thoughts about a couple of them.

“The Path Between the Seas” by David McCullough
This is a review from Amazon.com: “From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise. The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale.

“Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama.”

“Soldier Dogs” by Maria Goodavage
From Amazon.com: “A leading reporter offers a tour of military working dogs' extraordinary training, heroic accomplishments, and the lasting impacts they have on those who work with them. “People all over the world have been riveted by the story of Cairo, the Belgian Malinois who was a part of the Navy SEAL team that led the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. A dog's natural intelligence, physical abilities, and pure loyalty contribute more to our military efforts than ever before. You don't have to be a dog lover to be fascinated by the idea that a dog-the cousin of that furry guy begging for scraps under your table-could be one of the heroes who helped execute the most vital and high-tech military mission of the new millennium.

“Now Maria Goodavage, editor and featured writer for one of the world's most widely read dog blogs, tells heartwarming stories of modern soldier dogs and the amazing bonds that develop between them and their handlers. Beyond tales of training, operations, retirement, and adoption into the families of fallen soldiers, Goodavage talks to leading dog-cognition experts about why dogs like nothing more than to be on a mission with a handler they trust, no matter how deadly the IEDs they are sniffing, nor how far they must parachute or rappel from aircraft into enemy territory.

“‘Military working dogs live for love and praise from their handlers,’ says Ron Aiello, president of the United States War Dogs Association and a former marine scout dog handler. ‘The work is all a big game, and then they get that pet, that praise. They would do anything for their handler.’ This is an unprecedented window into the world of these adventurous, loving warriors.”

May We Never Forget

On this 144th observance of Memorial Day it was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, take a moment and remember those nine men who gave their lives in the service of our nation.  May God bless them all.

More Good Stuff from George Drago

Our friend George sent this to me today, and I had to pass it on to all of you!  As the guys on Mythbusters say, "Don't try this at home because [they] are what we call experts!"  At driving airplanes, that is.

    We all remember Tom Cruise in the Movie " TOP GUN" when he makes a low pass near the control tower and causes an officer to spill coffee down his shirt.

    Well here are short clips of the top 10 low pass flybys ever filmed ... and of course for nostalgia, let's see that Top Gun low pass again at the beginning.

    Pay particular attention to the last shown low pass. It is number one. Watch the halo of water around the plane. It happened during a Blue Angels event over San Francisco several years ago. It was the pilot's last show with the team and he had nothing to lose.  Many of the boats in the bay lost windows to the sonic blast. It's a kick to watch.

    Low pass number 3 was pretty impressive too.

    (Be sure to turn up the sound!)

http://biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=19448    

The Adventure Continues: Return to Work

I returned to work in Seattle Children's Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) Administration Office on Wednesday, April 4^th following eight weeks of recovery from my radical prostatectomy.  It was very good to be “back in the saddle” in front of my computer, going through emails, hearing about all that went on over the past two months.  The staff had two helium-filled balloons and some banners taped up in my area.  Our ED Admin Team did a fantastic job covering for me while I was away!  And I wasn’t overwhelmed with having to catch up on things!

I’ve been making some good recovery progress; I began going to the gym about a month ago and am doing some resistance exercises with increasing the weights incrementally to achieve some real workouts over time.  I get great satisfaction out of my gym visits.  Karin and I have also continued to participate in our Monday evening care group where we have just concluded a fairly in-depth study of the Gospel of John.  I posted earlier that my prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 0.05 when it was tested in mid-March, which was excellent news; hopefully it will remain at that level in June when I test again.

God has certainly answered the many prayers that people have prayed for Karin and me during this stressful “little-c” crisis we have been through.  The “big-C” (Jesus Christ) has been so faithful to hear and answer those prayers.  I certainly thank him for that and I thank you all for praying also!

"Unbroken"

Our friend, Roger Kent, recommended a book to me that he read in just a couple of sittings because it was so riveting.  “Unbroken- A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” by Laura Hillenbrand (the author of “Seabiscuit”) is the true story of Olympian Louis Zamperini and his ordeal as a prisoner of war of the Japanese in World War II.  I’m not a very fast reader, but this a book I finished in only a few days of reading.  Louie Zamperini was a lieutenant in the Army Air Force aboard a B-24 Liberator when his bomber crashed into the Pacific in 1943.  Author Hillenbrand really succeeded in telling a compelling story of true heroism in the face of the incredible cruelty and merciless humiliation our comrades in the Pacific faced during their captivity seventy years ago.

This amazing account is not only about the more-than-harsh circumstances that the former Olympic runner and other prisoners faced, and the realities they faced coming home after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and facing the nightmare of PTSD and all that goes with it, but with his life after attending one of the early Billy Graham crusades in Los Angeles in 1949.  I would encourage to you to pick up “Unbroken”, I’m certain you’ll enjoy reading it.  As they say, it’s available at your local bookstore, Amazon.com and also for electronic devices like Kindle and Sony eReader.

Coast Guard - Army Reunion!

There was a reunion this week between the Coast Guard and the Army.  To read all about it this wonderful get-together go the 225^th Observer website at http://225thobserver.weebly.com/reunited-with-the-coast-guard.html.