Whither America

'Whither America' is the autobiography of C. Ben Basye, supplemented by a significant amount of relevant history. The nine-decade long life story started on a Missouri farm in the midst of the Great Depression. He was a 15 year old high school graduate in 1943, while World War II was raging. He enlisted for military pilot training in 1944, thus beginning a military career which lasted for almost 43 years. Ben was one of the early U. S. Navy carrier-based jet fighter pilots. Following some nine years as a Navy fighter pilot flying eight different jet and piston engine fighters, he served more than three additional decades. Service as a Navy Aircraft Maintenance Officer was followed by duty as a Naval Reserve Engineering Duty Officer. Some 18 years of this Naval Reserve duty was performed for no pay. He is now a Captain in the Retired Reserve of the U. S. Navy.