There are many stories to tell of the prior fourty years of my life. Many people know a story or two but not many individuals knows more than a few of them. The only time I usually tell a story is if there is some kind of humor in it or a lesson to be learned and taught. If there were no humor or moral of a story, then the story would be completely self-serving. When this happens, people will just tiger-bob you until the story is complete. My intentions are to make you laugh, possibly make you cry, but most of all to teach others.

I will admit, telling this story will make me squirm. For fourty years I have lived with the feeling of pride intermittently mixed with feeling shame, as if I were on a teeter-totter. So by this act of written history I am hoping to relieve some of the mental pressure I have from time to time and to also create a testimonial to my wife, children, and friends.

I must say again, this story will be hard to tell. I tend to think that most people believe that, if put into a position of integrity, will rise like heroes, and without thought of personal loss, do the right thing. I know many people who have sacrificed themselves so that myself, or my family, didn't do without. I hope within these pages I can return the favor to someone.