Ever since I was a small boy,
I wanted to be a United States Marine.
Back in the late 50’s and 60’s I watched every movie that had anything to do with the Marine Corps. I dropped out of high school to join the Corps and spent the next 25 years serving. I had two combat tours of duties, 1969-1970 Vietnam, then again in 1990-1991, the Gulf War, liberating Kuwait.
Following my return from Vietnam, I finished my time on active duty and began raising a family. Staying in the Corps proved to be too much for my wife. Dropping out of the Corps to save my marriage proved to be the dumbest thing I could have done. I divorced after 15 years. I married again. My new wife Cindy was a beautiful woman, 7 years my junior. Eventually, all my children came to live with Cindy and I. Our family was now six. With that many mouths to feed, active duty was no longer an option. I returned to the Corps as a reservist.
On September 20, 1992, all our lives changed forever. Involved in a carbon monoxide accident, Cindy died and the doctors all said I should have. This is where I went from a state of declared brain dead, to awakening and struggling back to a life filled with love, happiness, and Godly redemption.
Today I live in a wonderful retirement community in central Florida. Married to a wonderful woman named Kim. She came into my life when I needed her the most, sent from above. God has led me down a path to where I am today. I have tried to follow, but on more occasions than I wish to admit, I have wandered off trying to find my own way. This always ended in disaster, and a quick return to God.
I started writing a book I called Faith in a Box after Kim was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. My fear of losing her had me remembering a promise I had made to God 18 years earlier. A promise to tell all who would listen, I was saved by God. I published the book but it has failed to reach the people I believe God wants it to reach. I have begun rewriting the book the way the Lord had intended me to write it. Look for its release soon.
Silent Heroes took place long before I found our Lord Jesus, it happened while I was still just a teenager. Silent Heroes started out as only something intended for my children about their dad. After I joined a writing group, I received encouragement to write this as a novel. The book changed from a memoir to a story based on actual events. Everything that I write about happened during my tour of duty from September 1969 to 1970. The book is as truthful as I could write it while keeping the reader interested and continuing to read. I hope you will enjoy Silent Heroes and the soon to be released revision, Faith in a Box.