The Graduate
By Mark Berent
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
"The Graduate" is a short story about a retired fighter pilot who, at 74, went back to college, Cowboy College, that is.
Mark Berent
MARK BERENTLt Col Mark E. Berent, USAF (Ret), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended Cretin HighSchool in St. Paul, Minnesota and St. Thomas College. Later he graduated from Arizona State University under the Air Force Institute of Technology program with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.Lt Col Berent began his Air Force career as an enlisted man, then progressed through the aviation cadet program. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and then Laredo Air Force Base, Texas flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 aircraft and then moved on to F-86s at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He served on active duty for 23 years until retirement in 1974. He began his operational flying career in the F-86 and F-100 flying at various posts throughout the United States and Europe. He later served three combat tours, completing 452 combat sorties, first in the F-100 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, the F-4 at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, and then in Cambodia for two years to fly things with propellers on them and, through a fluke in communications timing, to personally run the air war for a few weeks.He has also served two tours at the United States Space and Missile System Organization (SAMSO) at Los Angeles, California working first in the Satellites Control Facility and later as a staff developmental engineer for the space shuttle. In his expansive career he has seen service as an Air Attaché to the United States Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and also as Chief of Test Control Branch at the Air Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He also served as an instructor at the Air Force's Squadron Officer School.During his flying career he has logged over 4300 hours of flying time, 1084 of those in combat missions in the F-100, F-4, C-47 and U-10 over North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has flown 30 different aircraft.His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with twenty four oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Cambodian Divisional Medal, and numerous Vietnam Campaign ribbons. He completed jump school with the Special Forces at Bad Tolz, Germany. Later, he jumped with and was awarded Cambodian paratrooper wings. He also flew with and received Cambodian pilot wings.After leaving the Air Force he lived in Europe to establish and direct international operations for the sale of spares for combat aircraft. He has flown many foreign aircraft such as the Swedish Viggen and Royal Air Force Jaguar and Hawk. He also established Berent and Woods Inc, a firm that managed many aviation related activities.Over the years he had published numerous articles for such publications as Air Force Magazine and the Washington Times and for 18 years wrote a monthly pilot/reporter column for the Asian Defense Journal. Under the name Berent Sandberg he and Peter Sandberg collaborated on three novels. He now has five Vietnam air war flying novels in print, Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, Phantom Leader, Eagle Station, and Storm Flight.Berent states it is never too late for any endeavor: he published the first of his five books at age 58, ran his first Marathon at 59, bought a T-6 warbird and flew in airshows at 64, and rode in his first cattle roundup in Montana at 74................"Powerful!" --- Publishers Weekly"The pride of the Air Force. The challenge of Vietnam.""A taut, exciting tale of good men in a bad war. Berent is the real thing." --- Tom Clancy"Rolling Thunder is terrific - a novel of exceptional authenticity that hits like a thunderclap. A decorated Vietnam pilot, Mark Berent knows planes and men and battle, and he whirls them around in a story of uncommon strength. I can't wait for his next book." --- W.E.B. Griffin, best-selling author of Brotherhood of War and The Corps"Mark Berent writes with great authority and utter realism, immersing the reader in his characters' every sensation and emotion." --- Dale Brown, best-selling author of Flight of the Old Dog and Silver Tower"The fighter pilot's war - you love it and hate it at the same time, and Mark Berent writes it that way." --- Stephen Coonts, best-selling author of Flight of the Intruder"Berent tells it like it was!" --- Chuck Yeager"The best Vietnam air novel I have read. Berent captures the essence of flying men at war, their agony, emotions, courage, and triumph." --- Brigadier General Robin Olds
Related to The Graduate
Related ebooks
Trails to Sails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeaving the Wild: The Unnatural History of Dogs, Cats, Cows, and Horses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUncle John's Bathroom Reader Horse Lover's Companion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCowboy: The Ultimate Guide to Living Like a Great American Icon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Red Book of Cowboy Wisdom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Vignettes - Life's Tales Book Two Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAin't This Romantic!?! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSTOLEN IN PARIS: The Lost Chronicles of Young Ernest Hemingway: Fishing the Great Two Hearted River Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Reading the Signs and other itinerant essays Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCow Range and Hunting Trail Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShe Rode Madly Off In All Directions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Log of a Cowboy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Horse’s Tale by Mark Twain (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdventures in the Far West Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOh, You Tex! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTracks in the Sand Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sky Pilot A Tale of the Foothills Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAviona the Flying Carousel Horse of Long Beach Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsArizona Nights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSun Sagebrush and Saddle-Sores: Travels of a Cowboy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Mesozoic Adventure Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStand Up and Die Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dogs and I: True Tails from the Mississippi Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Adventures on Horseback Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSimple Man'S Dreams: Stories of the Hunt Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTurtle Rider Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStick Riders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the American Old West Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Sports & Recreation For You
Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revis Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Field Guide to Knots: How to Identify, Tie, and Untie Over 80 Essential Knots for Outdoor Pursuits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeak: The New Science of Athletic Performance That is Revolutionizing Sports Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Pocket Guide to Essential Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Everyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBen Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Body by Science: A Research Based Program to Get the Results You Want in 12 Minutes a Week Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Anatomy of Strength and Conditioning: A Trainer's Guide to Building Strength and Stamina Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Getting to Neutral: How to Conquer Negativity and Thrive in a Chaotic World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStraight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate BodyWeight Workout: Transform Your Body Using Your Own Body Weight Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Guide to Improvised Weaponry: How to Protect Yourself with WHATEVER You've Got Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIt Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Knot Bible: The Complete Guide to Knots and Their Uses Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen in the Art of Archery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Vegetarian Athlete's Cookbook: More Than 100 Delicious Recipes for Active Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Breathing Book: 11 Exercises to Increase Relaxation, Reduce Stress, and Improve Physical Performance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons And Teachings From A Lifetime In Golf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Graduate
0 ratings0 reviews