Book 1 is a series of stories of my company-grade years beginning with learning to be a Marine Corps officer, then naval aviator. My first squadron experiences include learning to fly the first Marine Corps CH-53, being deployed overseas to Vietnam for my first of three combat tours, which are all described in book 1.

The memoir stories contained in this book and a separate book 2 range in intensity from combat conditions during my three tours in the Vietnam War to unique escape-and-evasion-training experiences and to various leadership challenges and achievements, both in command positions as well as Marine Corps Headquarters' assignments, during his twenty-five-year career in the United States Marine Corps.

Sgt. Charles Pogany (Pogy), LCpl. Arthur J. Pailes (A. J.), and Sgt. William Whitehurst (Whitey) have had the pleasure and honor to serve alongside Colonel Wemheuer.

The three of us proudly represent the enlisted Marines in our Squadron and are proud to say that we flew with Colonel Wemheuer, then a captain, as his crew chief and aerial gunners under numerous intensive combat conditions. His calmness and clear-thinking during combat conditions gave us all the needed confidence in ourselves. The enlisted men held him in the highest respect and esteem. We flew with him with confidence that his experience and superb aviator skills would accomplish our missions and bring us all safely back to base. When we launched on our missions, we knew that the enemy was in for a major and painful demise. Instilled in his leadership traits were the Marine Corps core values of honor, courage, and commitment that made us formidable Marines with a mission.

It was an honor to serve with him.

Semper fidelis,

Sgt. Charles Pogany (Pogy), LCpl. Arthur J. Pailes (A. J.), and Sgt. William Whitehurst (Whitey)