Professionally edited: for line and content. Fly back to a time to when most planes had propellers and jet aircraft where new. This adventure thriller is a pleasing blend of Catch 22, Biloxi Blues, and Full Metal Jacket. As with all good stories, the journey begins with turmoil and life-threatening stress. From the shores of Lake Michigan, it weaves its way through military training, the bayous of Louisiana, across the Pacific Ocean, to a stormy landing in a crippled plane, on Pago Pago, and a conversation with death. The adventure continues to Australia where friendly young women of the Royal Australian Women's Air Force help create pleasing memories and smiles. Fate enters the game and carries our reluctant hero to Southeast Asia, with his trusty Nikon and forty-five automatic. Humor tempers personal loss and reality, through this adventure. Personal values are continually measured alongside of reality. This poignant journey leads to the understanding that it is all a game. The Game of Life. Our hero learns the potent value of mistakes, how to treasure friendship when found, and how to avoid the cold clammy fingers of being alone. He learns life is similar to chess. A serious game that has rules, but the rules can be bent.