Veterans Day by Michael Edward Little and Stephen D.
Little
Veterans Day
Jim Thurmond is an embittered Viet Nom vet with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and a drinking problem the size of Texas. When Jim suffers
a full-blown breakdown, he emerges with the realization that America’s
political, financial and legal systems have become hopelessly corrupt. Jim
hasn’t worn his country’s uniform for decades but, like all vets, he never
renounced his oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies,
foreign and domestic.
Jim and a small group of fellow veterans of the super-secret Army Security Agency decide to take matters into their own hands. Like the Founding Fathers, they form a Committee of Safety, vigilantes dedicated to making sure that America’s domestic enemies change their ways or pay the ultimate price. Branded domestic terrorists, they rush to complete their mission before the full might of the FBI can stop them.
His mission to restore America’s values forces him to confront his own demons. Can he possibly lead his group of ragtag retirees without his usual tumbler of bourbon? Can he possibly let go of the bitterness which has become his second nature? Can he outwit the hundreds of FBI agents sent to capture or kill him?
Jim and a small group of fellow veterans of the super-secret Army Security Agency decide to take matters into their own hands. Like the Founding Fathers, they form a Committee of Safety, vigilantes dedicated to making sure that America’s domestic enemies change their ways or pay the ultimate price. Branded domestic terrorists, they rush to complete their mission before the full might of the FBI can stop them.
His mission to restore America’s values forces him to confront his own demons. Can he possibly lead his group of ragtag retirees without his usual tumbler of bourbon? Can he possibly let go of the bitterness which has become his second nature? Can he outwit the hundreds of FBI agents sent to capture or kill him?
About the Authors
I joined the U.S. Army in 1966. Because of my high GT score
on my entrance exams I was assigned to the Army Security Agency, aka ASA. I’d
never heard of the ASA. After a thorough background check by the FBI, I was
chosen to become a radio and communications specialist. The Viet Nam War was
raging at the time. I thought being a radio operator and communications specialist
would be very safe. Boy was I wrong!
My first year in Viet Nam with the Big Red One I learned the Viet Cong quickly realized if they killed the radio operators, we could not call in air strikes and rain pee on their ass. So radio operators were often their first target in ambushes. Carrying that heavy PRC-25, aka Prick 25 radio around with its long whip antenna sticking high in the air waving around was like shouting, “Hey, I’m over here!”
I was listening to my radio one day in 1967 during Operation Junction City when I heard an infantry platoon get ambushed by the VC. Within minutes the platoon leader called Headquarters and asked to have a new radio operator sent to him because his original radio operator had just been killed. Within an hour or so, four replacement radio operators were killed in quick succession.
I was almost killed by sniper fire, rockets, and mortar fire several times. I was slightly wounded by friendly fire once, but I survived my two years in Viet Nam getting shot at nearly every day. But I was no war hero, I was just doing the job I was trained to do. I was simply another spirit carrier.
When I returned home, I was met at the San Francisco airport by a mob of anti-war protesters who spit on me, called me a war criminal, and a baby killer. I felt like choking the bastards I’d just risked my life for. I didn’t do one thing overseas that I’m ashamed of. Viet Nam was my generation’s war. I did not start it; President John F. Kennedy got us into that mess. My country needed help, so I volunteered.
A couple days after I enlisted I received my draft notice.
I don’t regret my service, but today America is nothing like it used to be. Our system has become hopelessly corrupt governed by a bunch of politically correct wussies who wouldn’t say shit if they had a mouthful.
After I was discharged I went to college where I studied design. After college I worked as a draftsman and mechanical designer for the electronics, medical, and automotive industries. My designs helped a lot of people, and improved our product quality. I truly loved my work.
My first year in Viet Nam with the Big Red One I learned the Viet Cong quickly realized if they killed the radio operators, we could not call in air strikes and rain pee on their ass. So radio operators were often their first target in ambushes. Carrying that heavy PRC-25, aka Prick 25 radio around with its long whip antenna sticking high in the air waving around was like shouting, “Hey, I’m over here!”
I was listening to my radio one day in 1967 during Operation Junction City when I heard an infantry platoon get ambushed by the VC. Within minutes the platoon leader called Headquarters and asked to have a new radio operator sent to him because his original radio operator had just been killed. Within an hour or so, four replacement radio operators were killed in quick succession.
I was almost killed by sniper fire, rockets, and mortar fire several times. I was slightly wounded by friendly fire once, but I survived my two years in Viet Nam getting shot at nearly every day. But I was no war hero, I was just doing the job I was trained to do. I was simply another spirit carrier.
When I returned home, I was met at the San Francisco airport by a mob of anti-war protesters who spit on me, called me a war criminal, and a baby killer. I felt like choking the bastards I’d just risked my life for. I didn’t do one thing overseas that I’m ashamed of. Viet Nam was my generation’s war. I did not start it; President John F. Kennedy got us into that mess. My country needed help, so I volunteered.
A couple days after I enlisted I received my draft notice.
I don’t regret my service, but today America is nothing like it used to be. Our system has become hopelessly corrupt governed by a bunch of politically correct wussies who wouldn’t say shit if they had a mouthful.
After I was discharged I went to college where I studied design. After college I worked as a draftsman and mechanical designer for the electronics, medical, and automotive industries. My designs helped a lot of people, and improved our product quality. I truly loved my work.
Steve worked for both the North Dakota Legislative Council and Attorney General’s Office for several years before going into private practice in 1985. Since that time, Steve has practiced primarily in the areas of workers compensation and Social Security Disability, helping injured and disabled clients obtain their benefits. Steve has been recognized by Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, Great Plains Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America as an outstanding advocate for his clients. He has held Martindale-Hubbells coveted BV rating for both legal ability and ethical standards for more than 15 consecutive years. His firm has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Veterans Day is Steve’s first novel.
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